Sony has announced a new way for users to customize their DualSense Edge controller on PC.
As revealed in a new X / Twitter post today, PC players will now be able to fully customize their DualSense Edge controller directly from their desktop thanks to the brand-new PlayStation Accessories app.
With this app, which you can download here, Windows users can change settings and update the controller's firmware directly from their PC. All you'll need after installing the program is a USB cable or Bluetooth to connect your controller to your PC.
In a short tutorial video provided alongside the announcement post, it looks like users can not only change button layouts but also change other aspects of the controller, such as Stick Sensitivity/Deadzone, Trigger Deadzone, and Vibration/Trigger Effect Intensity.
Starting today PC gamers can unleash the full customizable power of the DualSense Edge controller directly on their computer.With the PlayStation Accessories app, customize the controller’s settings and update its firmware directly from your Windows PC: https://t.co/QoPFGu8qC7 pic.twitter.com/FQHNkkfbSfAugust 27, 2024
Sony calls PlayStation Accessories the new name for "Firmware updater for DualSense wireless controller" in the Version 2.0.0.13 patch notes on the download page, and notes that it's made "significant improvements to the overall design and user experience."
The company also recommends installing the latest update for your app and controller as soon as possible now that the update has been released.
The company cites a "challenging external environment" that includes the "current fluctuations in the global economic situation" for its decision to deliver a price hike to its PlayStation tech.
This means that both the PS5 standard and digital edition will cost an additional 13,000 yen (roughly $90), making it the third price hike since the console launched in Japan in 2020.
That's according to a new PlayStation Japan Blog post (which we machine translated), where Sony announced that it will be revising the suggested retail price of the PS5 and "related peripherals" on September 2, 2024.
"Given the recent challenging external environment, including the current fluctuations in the global economic situation, and the impact it will have on our business, we have reached this decision," the company explained.
This means both versions of the PS5 - the standard and digital edition - will cost an additional 13,000 yen (roughly $90), making it the third price hike since the console launched in Japan in 2020.
As of September 2, the PS5 will cost 79,980 yen ($552.39 / £417.98) and the PS5 Digital Edition will cost 72,980 yen ($504.05 / £381.39).
Sony is raising PS5 prices in Japan on September 2nd. Both models are going up by 13,000 yen (nearly $90), in the third PS5 console price hike in Japan since its launch in 2020 https://t.co/1i3QOEkdDV pic.twitter.com/J7Y5OCT8YYAugust 27, 2024
As Sony details in the blog post, other PlayStation tech will also be getting a price increase, including all DualSense Wireless controllers and their color variations, which will now cost 11,480 yen ($79.29 / £59.99), as well as the PlayStation VR2 and the PlayStation VR2 "Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle", both of which will cost 89,980 yen ($621.15 / £470.19) and 94,980 yen ($655.67 / £496.11) respectively.
The latest retail price increase comes just after new rumors recently emerged about the PlayStation 5 Pro.
According to industry commentator Jeff Grubb and reported by GameSpot, Sony is gearing up for an upcoming State of Play in September, where he said it could potentially reveal its next console. Grubb also said that if it were to be announced at this time, it could then go on sale in October at an estimated price of $600 - $700.
Thanks to a Direct event that aired in early June, we know that we'll be getting the Worldwide Multiplayer Reveal event at Call of Duty NEXT, on August 28. Stay tuned for more details so you can be prepared to jump into the MP Beta and experience the incredible Omnimovement and additional innovations for yourself.
The Call of Duty Black Ops 6 beta will allow players to jump into the game before launch, giving them a taste of the new weapons and Omnimovement mechanics later this week (commencing Monday, August 26).
There are two distinct beta periods, one week apart, with different ways to access each one. If you're looking to play Black Ops 6 as early as possible, you'll need to know the details on the Early Access weekend, before the game is opened up to more players the following weekend.
From what we've seen of Black Ops 6 so far, it's certainly got a great chance of ending up on our best FPS games list by the end of the year, with a globe-trotting campaign, a new set of movement skills, and new Warzone integration. The upcoming beta is the best way to find out how the game feels, and whether or not you'll be diving in fully when launch comes around.
Here's everything you need to know about the Black Ops 6 beta start date, including how to get Early Access, and when the open beta goes live. As we approach launch day, we'll update the page with the latest comms from developer Treyarch.
Black Ops 6 beta start date
(Image credit: Activision)
The Black Ops 6 beta goes live on August 30 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST. This is the early access period, the first of two weekends that'll allow players to jump into the game early. You'll find the full schedule below:
Early Access (Weekend One): August 30 - September 4
Open Beta (Weekend Two): September 6 - September 9
As we get a bit closer to Friday, Activision is likely to reveal the exact timings per time zone. Once it does, this section will be updated.
Black Ops 6 Early Access - how to get in
(Image credit: Activision)
To get into the Black Ops 6 Early Access beta weekend, you'll need to have pre-ordered the game, or be an Xbox Game Pass subscriber (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console).
You can often find cheap Game Pass deals, so that's what we'd recommend if you're unsure about pre-ordering Black Ops 6 just yet. Note that the Early Access beta ends on Wednesday, September 4 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST.
Black Ops 6 open beta
(Image credit: Activision)
The Black Ops 6 open beta weekend runs from September 6 - September 9. It'll go live at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST on the Friday, and then end at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST on the Monday. You'll be able to download the beta from the PlayStation, Xbox, and Battle.net storefronts.
What to expect from the Black Ops 6 beta
(Image credit: Activision)
We don't yet know what'll be included in the Black Ops 6 beta, but we expect that to change on Wednesday, during the Call of Duty NEXT event. Looking at last year's beta, Modern Warfare 3 offered up a handful of maps, preset loadouts, and modes for players to try out. The selection is likely to be expanded with the arrival of the second beta period, alongside the open beta. Stay tuned to find out exactly what maps and modes will be available.
Black Ops 6 beta FAQ
Can you preload the Black Ops 6 beta?
You can preload the Black Ops 6 beta from August 28, 2024, on all platforms. This works whether you're jumping into the Early Access weekend, or the open beta the week after. Just search for it in your respective store, and free up enough space (we estimate it'll be around 70 - 80GB).
What is the Black Ops 6 beta Vault Edition bonus?
If you pre-ordered the Black Ops 6 Vault Edition, you'll be able to use some of your bonuses during the beta. Expect to play as any of the four Operators from the Hunter vs Hunted Operator Pack. These include Park, Adler, Brutus, and Klaus. You'll also get to try five weapons from the Mastercraft Weapon Collection.
Is the Black Ops 6 Beta on Game Pass?
The Black Ops 6 beta will be available on Xbox Game Pass starting August 30 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST. Just log into your Xbox or PC subscription and it'll appear in your collection. Game Pass Subscribers can access both beta weekends at no extra cost.
Following its PC and combat spotlight last week, the studio has officially kicked off what it's calling the "Companion's Week" part of its roadmap ahead of the release of its next Dragon Age game.
In an updated blog post, BioWare offered new insight into the characters you'll be able to recruit as the playable hero Rook with updated character profiles, including Harding, Davrin, Bellara, Taash, Lucanis, Emmrich, and Neve.
We've already seen sneak peeks of the characters through the 20-minute gameplay demo and the release date trailer the studio has previously released, but now we finally have confirmation on how these companions will aid you in battle, as well as what faction and class they belong to.
You can take a look at their character profiles below, but we know that there will be two warriors, two rogues, and three mages available for you to build a party. As for what exactly their abilities do, BioWare could potentially release additional gameplay teasers showcasing each character in action as we proceed through Companion's Week.
Lace Harding (Rogue) - Inquisition
Harding's skills with the bow are unmatched - her arrows can stagger enemies and shred armor.
Abilities:
Davrin (Warrior) - Grey Wardens
Fiercely loyal, Davrin brings his enemies down hard with a combination of mighty attacks, teaming with Assan to keep their companions out of danger.
Abilities:
Bellara Lutare(Mage) - The Veil Jumpers
Bellara manipulates the Fade and uses electricity and control magic to support her Companions and diminish the powers of their foes.
Abilities:
Tassh (Warrior) - The Lords of Fortune
Blunt and straightforward, Taash is a mighty warrior, who wields dual-axes and breathes out flames, igniting enemies with draconic fury.
Abilities:
Lucanis Dellamorte(Rogue) - The Antivan Crows
Lucanis stylishly deals necrotic damage in battle with his dual-daggers, whilst supporting his companions with potions and buffs.
Abilities:
EmmrichVolkarin(Mage) - The Mourn Watch
Emmrich summons forth spirits of the dead to both entangle and hinder his enemies and heal his companions.
Abilities:
Neve Gallus(Mage) - The Shadow Dragons
Neve uses her talents as an ice mage to freeze and slow enemies, stopping them in their tracks.
Sony's upcoming live-service multiplayer shooter Concord has been in development for eight years.
This comes from Concord's lead character designer, Jon Weisnewski, in a X / Twitter post celebrating the launch of the 5v5 first-person shooter, where he said he joined the project when Firewalk Studios was five years deep into working on the game (via IGN).
"The game has been in development for around 8 years and I’ve been there for almost 5 of them," Weisnewski said. "We don’t get a lot of Launch Days in our careers so today is special for a ton of reasons. Oblige me some good vibes today."
The hero shooter is available right now on PlayStation 5 and PC for those who purchased the Digital Deluxe Edition, but will be playable for all users when it officially releases tomorrow, August 30, 2024.
According to Weisnewski, it's just the beginning for Firewalk Studios as it prepares for the "years to come".
"Concord has so much humanity and depth to it," the developer added. "I really hope people give it a shot. Insanely proud of the game and we’re strapped in and ready to push it for years to come."
Despite being a live-service shooter, it's been confirmed that Concord won't have a Battle Pass, since Firewalk wanted to focus its attention on making the game a "rewarding and robust experience on day one, where just playing the game, leveling up your accounts and characters, and completing jobs yields meaningful rewards."
The shooter will, however, feature microtransactions in the form of downloadable content (DLC) that will allow players to purchase optional cosmetics like character skins.
Concord will also receive free post-launch content that will bring additional Freegunners (playable characters) maps and more "regular post-launch seasons and updates".
Sid Mier's Civilization 7's narrator has been revealed to be the actor behind a fan-favorite Game of Thrones character.
The next installment in the popular strategy series is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on February 11, 2025, and as with every Civilization game, there must be a narrator along for the journey.
In a new live-action reveal trailer shared during Gamescom 2024, developer Firaxis confirmed that actor Gwendoline Christie will narrate Sid Meier's Civilization 7.
Best known for her role as Brienne of Tarth in the hit HBO television series Game of Thrones, and more recently Netflix's Sandman, Christie's role as narrator was teased alongside a new glimpse into what to expect in the upcoming sequel. You can check it out below:
This isn't the first time a Game of Thrones star has played a narrator in the Civilization franchise. Actor Sean Bean, known for his role as Ned Stark in the fantasy series, served as the voice in Civilization 6.
Previously, Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy narrated Civilization 4, followed by William Morgan Sheppard in Civilization 5.
Pre-orders for Civilization 7 are currently available on Steam alongside the digital-only Sid Meier's Civilization 7 Founder's Edition, which is only available until February 28, 2025, as well as the Deluxe Edition.
Each edition comes with its own unique extras, like additional content packs, civilizations, and cosmetics, but pre-purchasing either version will offer advanced early access on February 6.
2K Games and Hangar 13 have confirmed that Mafia: The Old Country will have Sicilian voice acting after fans notice the absence of an Italian dub option on Steam.
For the final, surprise announcement at Gamescom Opening Night Live, it was announced that the next game in the Mafia series, Mafia: The Old Country, in now in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S and will launch in 2025.
Although we only received a short cinematic teaser trailer, the game is now available to wishlist on its respective stores.
Soon after the reveal, however, some fans found additional information on the Steam page that suggested that the game wouldn't feature an Italian audio option, despite its Italian roots.
Instead the page lists six available languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Czech, and Russian, but does feature Italian subtitle and interface options.
"Listen, I ain't very picky with voice acting in video games but why the first game of the whole Mafia franchise to be set in Sicily has no Italian audio?" one user wrote.
Mafia: The Old Country> is about mafia> is set in Italy> doesn’t have Italian voice actingMake it make sense please pic.twitter.com/Z2xAt7aF6pAugust 20, 2024
Luckily, 2K Games and Hangar 13 have now offered some insight into the matter in a new statement shared on X / Twitter, explaining that The Old Country will include the Sicilian dialect authentic to the game's 1990s Sicily setting, not Italian voice acting.
"Authenticity is at the heart of the Mafia franchise, and Mafia: The Old Country will offer voice acting in Sicilian, in line with the game's setting in 1900s Sicily," the post reads. "Additionally, Italian language localization will be available for both in-game UI and via subtitles."
Mafia: The Old Country doesn't have a release date just yet, but Hangar 13 has promised an additional look at the game in December. We've also received a brief description of what the next installment will be about:
"Uncover the origins of organized crime in Mafia: The Old Country, a gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily," it reads.
"Fight to survive in this dangerous and unforgiving era, with action brought to life by the authentic realism and rich storytelling that the critically acclaimed Mafia series is known for."
Perhaps the biggest announcement of Gamescom Opening Night Live, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has officially been confirmed for PlayStation 5 after previously being set to launch as an Xbox and PC exclusive title. Now, CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer has explained the surprise release, calling it a business move for the company.
"Obviously, last spring we launched four games, two of them on the Switch, four of them on PlayStation, and we said we were gonna learn," Spencer said. "We said we'd watch. I think at Showcase, I might have said, from our learning, we're gonna do more.
"What I see, when I look, our franchises are getting stronger. Our Xbox console players are as high this year as they’ve ever been. So I look at it and I say, okay, our player numbers are going up for the console platform. Our franchises are as strong as they’ve ever been."
Xbox chief Phil Spencer responds to a Q about how Indiana Jones on PS5 connects back to how / when this happens to other Xbox titles:"We have to anticipate there’s going to be more change in some of the traditional ways that games are built and distributed. That’s going to… pic.twitter.com/Kd9xF9I8VMAugust 21, 2024
"We run a business," he said. "It’s definitely true inside of Microsoft the bar is high for us in terms of the delivery we have to give back to the company because we get a level of support from the company that’s just amazing and what we’re able to go do.
"So I look at this [as], how can we make our games as strong as possible? Our platform continues to grow, on console, on PC, and on cloud. I think it’s just going to be a strategy that works for us."
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will launch as a timed exclusive on December 9 for Xbox Series X|S and PC, before coming to PS5 in Spring 2025.
As promised in its official roadmap that was released last week, the studio has shared a new blog post detailing everything players need to know about the PC version of the upcoming role-playing game (RPG), along with a list of exclusive features for the platform.
BioWare explained that it created a dedicated team to focus specifically on PC because "getting the PC experience just right was crucial." This resulted in PCs making up 40% of the studio's platform testing effort, amounting to over 200,000 hours of performance and compatibility testing.
In addition to the testing hours, BioWare did close to 10,000 hours of user research when it came to testing controls and UI on both keyboard and mouse, and controllers.
This means that The Veilguard on PC will feature native support for PlayStation 5 DualSense controllers with haptics support, as well as the Xbox controllers, with the option to transition between controllers or keyboard and mouse while playing or in menus.
The Veilguard will have numerous ways to play, BioWare said, so it's implemented a way for players to choose by adding the ability to customize class-specific keybinds that you can easily switch between.
(Image credit: Electronic Arts)
In terms of graphics, the game will support 21:9 Ultrawide monitors alongside standard resolution options, as well as full HDR support. PC players will also be able to disable the option "Cinematic Aspect Ratio", which will remove the black bars during cutscenes, adjust the field of view with the FOV slider, and experience an uncapped framerate.
Unlike previous games in the series, players will now be able to change their graphics settings without having to reboot their game after saving their preset. With The Veilguard, graphics and display settings are reflected in real-time on screen, so players can see exactly what tweaks they are making.
Although previously confirmed last month, BioWare has reiterated that the upcoming Dragon Age game will be Steam native - no EA App required - and Steam Deck verified with Cloud Save support, allowing players to switch between the handheld and PC seamlessly.
As for the advanced settings, the RPG will offer a series of ray tracing features, an Ultra RT mode for high-end builds, as well as upscaling options, such as NVIDIA DLSS 3 and FSR 2.2, which BioWare said has been "heavily modified", and XeSS.
The game will also support DLSS 3 with frame generation and NVIDIA Reflex, but you can take a look at the complete specifications below.
Cinematic Aspect Ratio (Disable this option for cinematic 21:9 ratio)
Graphics Settings
Presets Available (Low, Medium, High, Ultra)
Texture Settings
Texture Quality
Texture Filtering
Light & Shadow Settings
Lighting Quality
Contact Shadow
Ambient Occlusion
Screen Space Reflections
Volumetric Lighting
Sky Quality
Ray Tracing Settings*
Ray-Traced Reflections
Ray-Traced Ambient Occlusion
Ultra Ray Tracing
Geometry Settings
Level Of Detail
Strand Hair
Terrain Quality
Terrain Decoration Quality
Visual Effects Quality
Camera Effects
Depth of Field
Vignette
Motion Blur
Post Processing Quality
Field of View
Controls
Class-specific Keybinds
Keyboard + Controller Bindings
Ray Tracing can be "ON" or turned to "Selective". Selective Mode enables Ray Tracing features in specific areas that can best take advantage of the feature.
Microsoft has announced a new range of 'Designed for Xbox' accessibility controllers at Gamescom 2024. One has been created in-house, while others come from manufacturers Byowave and 8BitDo.
First up is the Xbox Adaptive Joystick. Launching in 'early 2025' and being sold exclusively through the Microsoft Store for $29.99 (around £24.99), this will be an entry-level wired joystick "designed to meet the needs of players with limited mobility as a companion for the Xbox Adaptive Controller and other Xbox controllers, including the Xbox Wireless Controller or Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2," according to a Microsoft press release.
Next up is Byowave's 'Designed for Xbox' Proteus Controller. Available to buy now from Byowave's website, this is a highly modular controller that allows players to snap together individual, sphere-like pieces to tailor a gaming experience to their needs and preferences. Some examples include stacked vertically to resemble a flight stick or as a 2x2 layout with sticks and modules facing outwards. At $299 (around £229) it certainly doesn't come cheap, though.
Lastly is 8BitDo's contribution: the 8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller for Xbox. 8BitDo regularly features in our guides to the best Xbox controllers and best PC controllers, and it's no surprise here that the brand's new accessibility pad has low-resistance face buttons, Hall effect thumbsticks, and a symmetrical layout for greater ease of use. It's also compatible with the Xbox Adaptive Controller and is purchasable now for $59.99 from 8BitDo's website.
Microsoft is also expanding its Xbox Design Lab service with 3D printable files for adaptive thumbsticks toppers. Microsoft is providing this service at no extra cost, and six thumbstick designs are available to suit a variety of playstyles and preferences.
Nacon has announced the Revolution X Unlimited wireless controller, the brand's latest gamepad that's compatible with Xbox consoles as well as PC and scheduled to launch during 'Fall 2024.'
It's already looking to be a big improvement over the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro, as the Revolution X Unlimited is an Xbox controller set to feature drift-resisting Hall effect thumbsticks, micro-switch d-pad, face buttons, six remappable buttons, and trigger locks. The controller supports 2.4GHz connectivity, as well as Bluetooth and wired connections.
What sets the Revolution X Unlimited apart, though, is the inclusion of an LCD screen in the center of the gamepad. Similar to the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra, it looks like the screen can be used to switch between custom button profiles, monitor battery life, and - judging by the reveal trailer - enable a 'shooter pro mode' that's likely to be tailor-made for games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
In terms of battery life, Nacon has stated the controller can manage "up to 10 hours." That appears to fall short of its closest competitor, the aforementioned Stealth Ultra, which hardware writer Dash Wood noted lasted around 18 hours in his review. Still, the addition of an LCD screen is always going to eat into battery life so we're not too surprised by the relatively lower number here.
Nacon hasn't made any announcements in terms of price just yet. The Revolution 5 Pro retailed at $199.99 / £199.99. However, the PS5 controller didn't have some of the improvements the Revolution X Unlimited is bringing to the table - such as the LCD screen or micro-switch modules. With that in mind, I expect the Revolution X Unlimited to come in at its slightly more expensive price point. Still, those looking for a more premium Xbox or PC controller in the near future should take note.
Gaming hardware manufacturer Razer has just launched the latest in its iconic lineup of wireless gaming headsets. The Razer Kraken V4 is available to purchase now, and a wired model - known as the Razer Kraken V4 X - is coming sometime during 'Q3 2024' according to a Razer press release.
The Razer Kraken V4 sits at the higher end of that mid-range price spectrum, coming in at $179.99 / £179.99. Meanwhile, the upcoming wired model will retail for significantly less at $79.99 / £79.99 when it launches sometime this year.
The Razer Kraken V4 seems like it's quite a versatile headset. It's got three connection types (Razer HyperSpeed Wireless via 2.4GHz connection, Bluetooth, and wired) and is compatible with PlayStation consoles, Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck, and mobile devices.
It features Razer-specific titanium 40mm drivers, which the brand says allows the Kraken V4 to push out "exceptional highs, mids, and lows that do not muddy, providing a rich listening experience for deeper immersion."
Furthermore, the headset has support for THX spatial audio. This should provide an enhanced soundstage across a range of supported titles. It could be exceptionally immersive in single-player games, or give you that slight edge in tense multiplayer matches online.
Of course, it wouldn't quite be a Razer headset without a smattering of RGB, and the Kraken V4 delivers. This is the first Razer headset in the brand's history to feature 9-zone earcup lighting, which should provide even richer color detail and a more convincing RGB effect overall. As ever, RGB pattern presets will be available via the Chroma Studio software, allowing you to customize the color pattern to your liking.
The Razer Kraken V4 could well end up being a contender for the best wireless gaming headsets. It seems to have a very impressive feature set, especially in regards to the improved RGB lighting, THX spatial audio, and those slick titanium drivers.
