Monthly Archives: March 2019
The State of Sony PlayStation’s First-Party Studios
Updated as of December 19, 2019.
As we enter 2020, it’s time to take another look at the state of Sony’s first-party studios. Since we looked at the slate of PlayStation in-house developers, several games have been released and a new team has been added to the fold.
From recently released hits to the eventual debuts of The Last of Us Part 2 and Ghost of Tsushima, let’s take a look at what every studio in Sony’s stable is working on.
Though one quick note — we’re specifically discussing internal, first-party owned studios. So no third-party exclusive or second-party games will be included.
Bend Studio
The State of Sony PlayStation’s First-Party Studios
With Sony’s first stab at a Nintendo Direct style-presentation, the State of Play, in the books, it’s time to take a look at what all of Sony’s major first-party studios are working on.
From recently released hits like God of War to imminent releases like Days Gone to the eventual debuts of The last of Us Part 2 and Ghost of Tsushima, let’s take a look at what every studio in Sony’s stable is working on.
Though one quick note — we’re specifically discussing internal, first-party owned studios. So your Insomniac’s and Kojima Productions’ of the world don’t count, even if they are working on PlayStation exclusives.
Bend Studio
Close to the Sun: First Preview
Close to the Sun is such a luxurious-looking game, dripping in faded wealth and shattered dreams, it’s hard to believe it was built by a 15 -person team. The comparisons to BioShock it’s had leveled at it are far from unfounded - Close to the Sun is also steeped in art deco, set in a dystopian reality at sea, and ruled over by an idealistic madman. But, there are certain things that set it apart. Let’s shine some light.
Set in the late 1800s, Close to the Sun sees protagonist Rose on a call to adventure from her sister Ada, who is one of the most prominent scientists aboard the Helius, a giant ship created by inventor and mechanical engineer Nikola Tesla whose wonders are attracting the greatest minds from around the world. This particular dystopia sees Tesla as a successful visionary, able to flex his creative genius without the interference of fellow visionary Thomas Edison, who famously screwed him over in our reality.
Close to the Sun: First Preview
Close to the Sun is such a luxurious-looking game, dripping in faded wealth and shattered dreams, it’s hard to believe it was built by a 15 -person team. The comparisons to BioShock it’s had leveled at it are far from unfounded - Close to the Sun is also steeped in art deco, set in a dystopian reality at sea, and ruled over by an idealistic madman. But, there are certain things that set it apart. Let’s shine some light.
Set in the late 1800s, Close to the Sun sees protagonist Rose on a call to adventure from her sister Ada, who is one of the most prominent scientists aboard the Helius, a giant ship created by inventor and mechanical engineer Nikola Tesla whose wonders are attracting the greatest minds from around the world. This particular dystopia sees Tesla as a successful visionary, able to flex his creative genius without the interference of fellow visionary Thomas Edison, who famously screwed him over in our reality.
The Top 25 Futurama Episodes
For even more Top 25 lists, check out our picks for the 25 Best Harry Potter Characters, the 25 Best Disney Animated Movies, the Top 25 Marvel Villains, or the 25 Best Adult Cartoon TV Series!
It may not have stuck around as long as The Simpsons, but with 14 years and 124 episodes under its belt, Futurama had a pretty great run. And unlike so many shows that run more than a decade, Futurama maintained its quality over the long haul. Some of the show's best episodes came at the very end.
Sigourney Weaver Compliments High School Production of Alien
Students at North Bergen High School recently went viral for putting on an amazingly intricate stage production of the 1979 horror classic Alien. With a small cast, intricate props, and a detailed recreation of a Xenomorph suit, the students were able to make a successful adaptation from mostly donated and recycled materials and a $3,500 budget.
Ripley actress Sigourney Weaver recorded a video message for the cast and crew, congratulating them and sending the regards of others involved in the making of the 1979 original and the 1986 sequel Aliens.
Borderlands 3 Finally, Officially Announced
Update March 29, 10 a.m. PT: Since the reveal and confirmation of Borderlands 3 being in development, IGN has taken a deeper dive into what we've seen of the long-awaited sequel so far.
Be sure to watch IGN's trailer rewind of the Borderlands 3 reveal below to see all the Easter eggs, gameplay details, and other secrets you may have missed below.
Be sure to read on for all of the information we know so far about Borderlands 3, and be sure to stay tuned to IGN as more details are revealed.
Original story follows:
Update: 2: Randy Pitchford and Paul Sage at the end of Gearbox's PAX East 2019 finally, officially announced and confirmed Borderlands 3 is in development.
Borderlands: GotY Edition Fixes Fans’ Issues With Original Game
Borderlands fans have even more to look forward to in the lead-up to its launch, including a release next week of the original Borderlands with a number of updates.
In addition to Gearbox confirming Borderlands 3 is in development, the company announced Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition is being released for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on April 3, and will include a few quality-of-life updates. These include a Borderlands 2-style mini-map in addition to the game's original compass, inventory updates that allow players to lock and label weapons as junk, and auto-pick-ups of items from the ground.
Biggest Comic News and Reviews Roundup
Another new comic book day has come and gone. If you want to know what the biggest and most noteworthy comics of the week were, you've come to the right place.
Scroll down to hear about some of our favorite plot twists and new debuts, and to read our new reviews and editorials. And as always, be sure to let us know your favorite books in the comments below.
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Heroes in Crisis #7!
Detective Comics Hits 1000
We Happy Few DLC Release Date Announced
Gearbox has announced the release date for the first DLC pack for We Happy Few, entitled They Came From Below.
The announcement came during the studio's keynote address at PAX East 2019. The first piece of downloadable content will launch on April 4, 2019, and cost $7.99 individually or can be purchased along with the rest of We Happy Few’s Season Pass for $19.99.
The first of three additional stories in the WHF world, They Came From Below casts players as Roger, an NPC appearing in the main game, as he and his partner James attempt to survive a “robot uprising” - though the initial announcement for the DLC suggests that “all is not as it seems.”