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Sony’s next bundle includes six God of War games and a blood red — scratch that, “garnet red” PlayStation 3

Earnest Cavalli
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God of War: Ascension Legacy Bundle
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Come March 12, Sony’s favorite action hero leaps back into the fray with God of War: Ascension. As Kratos’ adventures make up Sony’s flagship action franchise it’s no surprise that the company would want to do something ostentatious to promote the game, but few could have predicted the surprisingly generous bundle pack the corporation has assembled.

The aptly-named “God of War: Ascension Legacy Bundle” features a $350 price tag, and should be available at retail at the same time as the standard version of God of War: Ascension. Included in the bundle is a 500GB PlayStation 3 that the official PlayStation.blog describes as “Garnet Red.” Given the trademark gory combat seen in God of War it would probably make more thematic sense to officially describe the machine as “blood red,” but that could upset parents who might otherwise buy the bundle for their kids. Thus, the PlayStation.blog says that the machine’s color is actually an homage to Kratos’ famous torso-spanning Omega tattoo.

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More impressive than the new console are the list of games included with the Legacy Bundle. Alongside God of War: Ascension, the Bundle also features a title called “God of War Saga.” This is not a new release, but is instead a compilation of all five main God of War titles released to date. This includes both PlayStation 2 entries (God of War and God of War II), the two titles released for the PSP (God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta), and the PlayStation 3’s God of War III. Notably absent is God of War: Betrayal, but as that game was released exclusively for mobile phones (and wasn’t very good) it shouldn’t be seen as a huge oversight.

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Finally, closing out this bundle is a gratis 30 days of PlayStation Plus service. Those of you who are not familiar with the PlayStation 3’s online offerings may still know that unlike the Xbox 360, Sony’s console allows players to compete online for free. However, the company also offers a subscription service called PlayStation Plus that offers a number of useful extras to subscribers, including free big-budget games, sizable discounts on downloadable content, and periodic early access to betas and demos for the most heavily-anticipated titles on Sony’s console. Previously it would have been a minor addition, but over the past few months Sony has worked hard to bolster the offerings seen in PlayStation Plus and it’s rapidly becoming a must-have for anyone who routinely plays games on either the PlayStation 3 or PS Vita handheld.

That’s a pretty solid bundle all by itself, but Sony actually failed to mention one other item that will be found in the God of War: Ascension Legacy Bundle. As we reported last week, when God of War: Ascension hits retail it will include a chance for players to enjoy the first public demo for The Last of Us. It seems inevitable that this will drive a few extra sales of God of War: Ascension, just as the recent Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance demo drove sales of the Zone of the Enders HD Collection, but it’s unknown if anticipation for The Last of Us is great enough to move these $350 bundles.  

Actually, scratch that. Devoted gamers will buy anything you attach an intriguing premise to. Expect these things to sell like blood-red hotcakes.

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Earnest Cavalli
Earnest Cavalli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Earnest Cavalli has been writing about games, tech and digital culture since 2005 for outlets including Wired, Joystiq…
Bringing VR’s best Star Wars game to PlayStation VR2 was a no-brainer, devs say
star wars tales from the galaxys edge psvr2 interview ilmxlab starwarstalesee screenshot c 3po and r2 d2

When ILMxLAB learned about the PlayStation VR2, Director Jose Perez III thought it was a "no-brainer" for the studio to bring the Oculus Quest game Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge to the new headset.
"We're always looking at how we can push the fidelity of the work that we're doing," Perez III tells Digital Trends in an interview. "PlayStation VR2 is ridiculously powerful; we got really excited about what we could bring to that. We started talking with our friends at Sony because we had a great relationship with them for Vader Immortal, and it was really a no-brainer. Then, you put the headset on, you start feeling the haptics, and you start seeing what you can do with the visual fidelity and lighting, and it's like, 'Oh, this is awesome!'"
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge - Enhanced Edition | Official Trailer | PS VR2
PlayStation VR2's launch and its first wave of games are nearly upon us, and Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge Enhanced Edition is one of those titles. This is a make-or-break time for VR, which is still struggling to move into the mainstream but could become more popular if Sony's headset can offer a compelling and accessible virtual reality experience. Ahead of its release, Digital Trends spoke to Director Jose Perez III and Producer Harvey Whitney from ILMxLAB to learn about the process of crafting one of these critical "no-brainer" launch games and PlayStation VR2 will ultimately stand when it comes to the future of VR gaming.
The power of PlayStation VR2
Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge was originally released for Meta Quest VR headsets in November 2020. It's set on the planet of Batuu, which people also explore at Dinsey parks, and follows a Droid Technician who gets caught in the middle of a grander fight against the First Order after crash-landing on the planet. At the time, it was meant with decent reviews and only got better as its story was completed and expanded with the Last Call DLC.
After getting the "Enhanced Edition" of the game for PlayStation VR2 greenlit, ILMxLAB actually had to go and make it. As the team was dealing with new hardware for the first time, producer Harvey Whitney thought it was good that the team's first project on PlayStation VR2 was an enhanced version of an existing game.
"Early on, knowing that we already had the content that was created for the original, that changes things quite a bit," Whitney tells Digital Trends. "We're not redeveloping the story and coming up with all of that. We just had that opportunity to work as a team and ask, 'What do we really push here, and where are the changes that we want to make, and what we can do to really take advantage of this hardware?'"

The VR space is full of different headsets with unique specs, with the much higher specs of the PS VR2 standing out. The PlayStation VR2 sports some impressive specs compared to its VR peers, displaying content in a 4000x2030 HDR format at a 90Hz or 120Hz frame rate. Plus, games have the PS5's power, spatial, and brand new Sense controllers to take advantage of, rather than the 2013 console and 2010 motion controls that limited the original PlayStation VR.
PlayStation VR2 supports Roomscale, Sitting, and Standing play styles, which added more complexity as Tales from the Galaxy's Edge supports all three. Thankfully, Perez III that bringing Tales from the Galaxy's Edge to PlayStation VR2 was relatively manageable because of how impressive the system's specs were.
"A lot of the development processes are similar [to other VR platforms]," Perez III says. "We're still working inside of Unreal, and we're doing a lot of those same processes. But we don't have to look at performance quite as much as we do on some of the other devices, so we're able to open up a lot of things or not be as concerned about certain things. That comes with better hardware."
Better hardware, better games
Looking at the biggest games of the PlayStation VR2 launch window lineup, the visuals of titles like Horizon Call of the Mountain and the VR modes of Resident Evil Village and Gran Turismo 7 are impressive. In our discussion, Whitney also made it quite clear that one of the real advantages of working on this remaster was not having to worry about strict limitations on the visuals or even the audio. "We got lucky in the sense that there's a lot more to PlayStation VR2 that we hadn't had previously," Whitney says. "We could really push the graphics and make it shine. But then there were also some other things that came into play. We totally redid the audio, it sounds amazing."

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Over 100 PlayStation VR2 games are in development, Sony says
Playstation VR2 headset on a PlayStation-themed wallpaper.

Sony has released a massive FAQ about the PlayStation VR2 on the PlayStation Blog ahead of the headset's February 22 launch. It reveals some key new details about games for the platform, namely that over 100 PS VR2 titles are in development, and that Sony doesn't plan on giving its games physical releases for now. 
For the most part, the FAQ is full of basic information about the PlayStation VR2's specs, how to set it up, and what's required to use it. But the Games section of this FAQ reveals quite a few illuminating details about the future of the system. It reiterates that there will be around 30 launch titles for the system, but also reveals just how much is in the works for the headset. In response to the question, "How many games are in development for PS VR 2?" Sony writes, "There are currently more than 100 titles in development for PS VR2."

That's a good sign, as a new, expensive VR headset like this lives or dies on its game lineup. PSVR2's early days might be a bit odd as Horizon Call of the Mountain is one of its only true exclusives -- and it's not backward compatible with PlayStation VR titles (something this FAQ reiterates. However, those picking one up can still know that lots of games are in the works for it.
Another FAQ question asks, "Will PS VR2 games be digital only or will there be physical disc releases?" -- which is sensible to clarify as this headset's predecessor had physical games. "Initially at launch, PS VR2 games will be digital," Sony says. "Physical disc releases for select titles may be available at a future date." So don't hold on to the idea of picking up a physical copy of Horizon Call of the Mountain; you'll be getting PS VR2 games through the PlayStation Store for the time being.
Check out the full FAQ if you have any technical questions about PS VR2's setup and which games it supports. PlayStation VR will be released on February 22. 

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Our most anticipated PlayStation 5 games of 2023
Peter and Miles from Marvel's Spider-Man 2.

After a landmark year featuring games like Horizon Forbidden West and God of War: Ragnarok, PlayStation 5's 2023 has a lot to live up to. The earliest part of the year will be driven by third-party exclusives and the launch of the PlayStation VR2, while the back half of the year will rely on yet another sequel to a critically acclaimed PS4 game. It looks like Xbox and Nintendo will only be stepping up their competition next year, so Sony needs to deliver a lot of great PS5 exclusives to say relevant. 
Ahead of the new year, we're rounding up the 2023 PS5 exclusives that should be on your radar. We're only including games with firm release windows, so don't expect to see Marvel's Wolverine, Death Stranding 2, or Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake on this list. Still, from Forspoken to Stellar Blade, these seven titles should provide a lot of varied fun on PS5 next year. 
Forspoken -- January 24
Forspoken Deep Dive | Exploring Athia
Forspoken was one of the first PS5-exclusive titles that we learned about, and we don't have to wait much longer to finally get our hands on it. This magic-based action RPG follows a girl from New York named Frey (played by Ella Bulinska) after she's whisked away to the magical world of Athia. Although there are some concerns surrounding the game's narrative, its colorful magic-based combat and fast-paced exploration look like a lot of fun. While we'll have to wait until January 24 to play the full game, there's actually a demo for Forspoken available now on the PlayStation Store. 
Season: A Letter to the Future -- January 31
Season: A Letter to the Future - Release Date Reveal Trailer | PS5 & PS4 Games
Season: A Letter to the Future looks like the most relaxing upcoming PlayStation console exclusive. It looks like a cozy game about biking around, recording sounds, and taking pictures of a beautiful world that's about to end, so it seems like it could be one of the first indie darlings of 2023. Unfortunately, its development has been rocky, with reports of workplace abuse emerging in the middle of Season: a letter to the future's development. If that doesn't bother you and the concept intrigues you enough, then consider checking out its demo on the PlayStation Store ahead of its January 31 launch. 
Horizon Call of the Mountain -- February 22
Horizon VR: Call of the Mountain - Official Gameplay Trailer | PlayStation State of Play 2022
While next Spring might seem a bit quieter for PS5 owners, that's when Sony will launch the PlayStation VR2 on February 22. The crown jewel of its launch lineup is Horizon Call of the Mountain, a first-person VR game that lets players explore and fight the cybernetic-infused enemies of Horizon's dystopian, sci-fi world. There are plenty of other PlayStation VR2 launch titles to look forward to as well, including Fantavision 202X, a sequel to a cult classic PS2 puzzle game, as well as Until Dawn: Rush of Blood's on-rails horror spiritual successor The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR. Still, because of its impressive graphical fidelity and first-party developer status, Horizon Call of the Mountain is the one must-play PlayStation VR2 title on PS5 that we currently know about. 
Final Fantasy XVI -- June 22
FINAL FANTASY XVI - REVENGE
The next mainline Final Fantasy game will be a PlayStation console exclusive at release, and it looks great. Final Fantasy XVI follows a man name named Clive who is on a quest for revenge right in the war-torn world of Valisthea and can summon Eikons based on Final Fantasy series summons to assist him in battle. This entry looks darker than previous mainline Final Fantasy games, playing up the dark fantasy and political turmoil hooks popularized by Game of Thrones. Its real-time action RPG gameplay also looks quite exhilarating, so we can't wait to get our hands on Final Fantasy XVI when it finally comes out on June 22.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 -- Fall 2023
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 - PlayStation Showcase 2021: Reveal Trailer | PS5
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is the biggest upcoming first-party PS5 game heading into 2023. Its 2018 predecessor is one of the most enjoyable superhero games ever made, thanks to how satisfying it is to swing around New York as Spider-Man, and the 2020 follow-up focused on Miles Morales is just as fun while telling a more contained and emotional story. We can't wait to see what Insomniac Games does with a new Spider-Man game where both Peter and Miles are playable as well as what they do with new characters like Kraven the Hunter and Venom. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will likely be the standout PS5 game of the year when it launches in fall 2023. 
Pacific Drive - TBA
Pacific Drive - Coming 2023 to PlayStation 5 and PC
Self-described by developer Ironwood Studios as a "road-like," Pacific Drive is a supernatural roguelike survival game where players try to survive harsh storms and supernatural threats while they continuously upgrade their car while driving through the Pacific Northwest. While Forza Motorsport will deliver high-fidelity racing gameplay on Xbox, Pacific Drive is having a lot more fun playing with what the premise of a game about driving a car can be. Because of its weirdly charming premise, Pacific Drive is on our radars heading into 2023, even if it doesn't have a specific release date or window within next year just yet.
Stellar Blade -- TBA
Stellar Blade (previously Project EVE) - State of Play Sep 2022 Story Trailer | PS5 Games
Stellar Blade is a fast-paced action game that has made a strong impression on the PlayStation's game announcement livestreams it has shown up in. It's a post-apocalyptic sci-fi game following a girl named Eve who is trying to save the Earth from alien invaders. For fans of action titles from developers like PlatinumGames, Stellar Blade looks like it will scratch the same intense combat itch. It also features overexaggerated characters and world design that will appeal to fans of manga and anime. It doesn't have a specific release date, but we know that Stellar Blade will release for PS5 sometime in 2023. 

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