Alien-blasting Earth Defense Force games coming to PlayStation platforms

By Danny Cowan November 19, 2015

Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair - BlooperTrailer

Publisher Xseed revealed that a pair of new games in developer Sandlot’s bug-blasting Earth Defense Force series will hit PlayStation platforms in time for the holidays.

Earth Defense Force 4.1 for the PlayStation 4 and an upgraded version of predecessor title Earth Defense Force 2 for the PS Vita will launch in December, Xseed confirmed today.

Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair is a remastered version of Earth Defense Force 2025, a third-person shooter originally released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2014. The upgraded PS4 edition boasts a 1080p presentation at a consistent 60 frames-per-second, addressing criticism frequently leveled at Earth Defense Force 2025‘s fluctuating performance.

Originally a collection of budget-priced releases for the PlayStation 2 in Japan, the Earth Defense Force series made its stateside debut in 2007 with Earth Defense Force 2017 for the Xbox 360. In the Earth Defense Force games, players use an arsenal of high-powered weaponry to fend off swarms of giant alien insects who infest the cities of Earth.

Several Earth Defense Force games were localized after the series earned a cult following, including a PS Vita port of Earth Defense Force 2017 released in 2013. Xseed digs even deeper into the series’ back catalog with the upcoming PS Vita port of Earth Defense Force 2, which was never previously localized for a western release.

Earth Defense Force 2 introduced the Pale Wing character class, giving players the ability to soar over battlefields using a jetpack. The upcoming PS Vita version, Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders from Planet Space, features all content included in the original PS2 release, along with a new online multiplayer mode and an additional character class.

Earth Defense Force 4.1 will be priced at $50, and the Vita version of Earth Defense Force 2 is up for pre-order at $30. Both games will launch digitally and at retail on December 8th.

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As The Last of Us is one of Sony's most popular modern franchises and has a TV show on the way, it's understandable why Sony and developer Naughty Dog eagerly want a modernized version of The Last of Us Part I on store shelves at full price. Still, those who've already bought the game twice and aren't impressed by the visual and accessibility overhaul don't seem as compelled to pick up the game for the third time. Sony would remove this significant roadblock plaguing The Last of Us Part I by putting the game on a subscription service.
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The Last of Us Part I is in a similar situation, even with the multiplayer content removed. This demonstrates why a subscription service release could lessen some of the negative stigmas around the game. The successful Stray, which was included in PS Plus at launch, shows that day one PlayStation Plus games can still generate plenty of positive buzz. The game's subscription service availability ensured that the conversation stayed on the game's cute cats, not the fact that it was a $30 game that only lasted about five hours.
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