Sony continues to gift free games to PlayStation Plus subscribers every month. These titles can be permanently added to players’ libraries and enjoyed without any additional cost as long as the subscription remains active. Now, the company recently revealed the monthly games for February 2024 for both PS4 and PS5 owners. Here are the details…

PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for February: Foamstars, Rollerdrome, Steelrising

Sony has revealed the free PlayStation Plus games for February, featuring Square Enix’s vibrant online party shooter, Foamstars. Alongside it, Rollerdrome and Steelrising have been included in this month’s lineup. All three games will be available to PlayStation Plus members from Tuesday, February 6, to Monday, March 4. Now, let’s explore each game in more detail.

In February, PlayStation Plus users can enjoy Foamstars, a 3D platform game available on both PS4 and PS5. The game lets players guide a group of cheerful aliens on an exciting interstellar adventure. Using foam balls, players can jump between platforms, take on enemies, and solve puzzles. Foamstars has garnered acclaim for its vibrant graphics, creating a lively atmosphere, and its engaging gamepla

Rollerdrome is an exhilarating 3D roller derby game where players can engage in fierce competition on challenging tracks. Using agility, speed, and skills, players aim to conquer opponents and achieve objectives. Praised for its fast paced gameplay and distinctive graphics design, Rollerdrome will be accessible on both PS4 and PS5, just like Foamstars.

Steelrising is a 3D action RPG that unfolds in 18th century Paris amid the French Revolution. Players guide Aegis, a steel-made robotic creation of French King Louis XIV, in a mission to suppress the revolution and free the French people. The game is acclaimed for its challenging gameplay and immersive setting, and it’s exclusively accessible to PlayStation Plus subscribers with a PS5.

Unfortunately, the entirety of PlayStation Plus’s February games is like this. To put it mildly, using the expression of disappointment is possible for the list, especially considering the games given to players in previous months. Still, if you have a PlayStation Plus Premium or Deluxe membership, there is a small consolation. If you don’t want to buy Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 without trying it, you’ll have access to a 2-hour time-limited trial starting February 6.

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Nintendo has long been rumored to be working on a successor to the original Switch handheld console. The next gen entry is expected to offer a notable bump in performance thanks to more powerful hardware, but now, we might have a fair idea just how capable this Switch 2 model could be.

Nintendo Switch 2 could be on the same level as the Xbox One & PS4

Interestingly enough, the information this time around weren’t shared by some tipster or an anonymous source. Rather, the details comes from Activision Blizzard’s CFO Armin Zerza. To elaborate, the executive in an email sent to Nintendo stated that Activision can ‘make something compelling for NG (next generation) switch as well’. Apparently, the development plans for new the titles for the upcoming Switch 2 model is thanks to the handheld console being ‘closer’ in performance to Gen8 platforms.

The 8th Gen consoles are basically the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. In terms of raw performance, these consoles operated within a performance range of between 1.3 TFLOPS and 1.84 TFLOPS (FP32) and featured 8GB of RAM. However, the next gen Switch console can possibly output up to 4 TFLOPS from its new Nvidia Tegra T239 processor. This chipset is the customized variant of the Tegra T234 chip that features Team Green’s Ampere architecture and 2,048 CUDA cores.

If this rumor is true, then the Switch 2 could possibly offer around 10 times the power of its predecessor. While this is a huge jump over two generations, Nintendo hadn’t updated its Switch series in years, except a Lite model and an OLED refresh. So stick around for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available regarding this matter.

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The eighth-generation console wars have come to an end with the introduction of the PS5 and the Xbox Series S/X. Sony, with the PS4, was the company that managed to sell the most products. Although the Xbox side did not meet expectations, the real surprise came from Nintendo. The Switch, introduced in 2017, exceeded everyone’s expectations and has become the popular handheld console that has outsold the PS4. Here are the details…

The Nintendo Switch has outsold the PS4, but Nintendo sees tougher times ahead

According to the latest reports, the Nintendo Switch has sold over 122.5 million units as of the end of 2022, surpassing both the legendary Game Boy and Sony’s PlayStation 4 to become the third best-selling gaming console of all time. However, looking at the last nine months of 2022, we see that sales have dropped to 14.91 million from 18.95 million during the same period the previous year. Additionally, total revenue has declined by 5.6%.

There are two basic reasons for this. Firstly, game sales fell by 4% despite the release of the new Pokemon Scarlet/Violet titles (which totaled an impressive 20.61 million units), unable to offset the decline. The second reason is the inability to supply enough products in the market due to the global chip crisis. Although the number of products has increased with the disappearance of the pandemic from our lives, this time demand has decreased.

Although the company has lowered its expectations for next year, exclusive games could change that. Titles like Zelda, which has a massive fanbase, can drive much higher console sales on its own. Another highlight in the company’s report is the preference of users. While sales of the Nintendo Switch with an OLED screen increased, there was a decrease in sales of the standard and lite models. This indicates that users want better and more powerful hardware.

It’s worth remembering that the Nintendo Switch just surpassing the PlayStation 4 in sales does not mean it is taking the lead in the eighth-generation console wars. Sony and Microsoft have prioritized the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, while Nintendo has not yet shown a new console that it is working on and continues to sell the device, which was released in 2017, with minor improvements. For this reason, it is possible to say that the PS4, which has sold approximately 120 million units, is still the winner!

Nintendo said last year that the transition to its next console is “a major focus for us,” and it could start becoming more urgent soon. It’ll be interesting to see if the Switch can hang around long enough to become the best selling console of all time, but Nintendo will have to sell around 33 million more units to surpass the PlayStation 2.

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Sony has just launched a new system software beta for the PS4 and PS5 which brings many quality of life changes to the operating system along with some new features. The most intriguing out of these is the voice command preview which will enable users to use voice commands on their Playstation 5 consoles pretty much like a voice assistant. So let’s check out all the changes that come with the new software beta.

New Party Chat Options

Open and Closed Parties (PS5 and PS4 betas)

• When you start a party, you can now select either an open party or a closed party:
  • An open party lets your friends see and join the party without an invite. Friends of party members can also join.
  • A closed party is only for players you invite

Voice chat reporting feature update (PS5 beta)

• If you want to report something that someone in a party said, there are now visual indicators for you to identify who was speaking. This will help PlayStation Safety take appropriate action based on your report.

• Share Play update (PS5 beta)
  • Start Share Play directly from the voice chat card. You no longer need to start Share Screen first to use Share Play.

• Voice chat volume (PS4 beta)
  • You can now individually adjust the voice chat volume of each player in a party on PS4, just like on PS5.

New PS5 UI Features

• Filter by genre
  • Playstation has added an option to filter your game collection by genre, letting you quickly find specific types of game experiences.

• Keep in Home
  • You can now keep the games or apps you choose on your home screen by selecting “Keep in Home” with the (options) button.
  • You can keep a maximum of five games and apps on each home screen with this feature.

Voice Command (Preview)

• Playstation is testing the voice command feature on PS5 consoles for finding and opening games, apps, and settings, as well as controlling media playback.
• To get started, enable Voice Command (Preview) from the Settings menu. Then, call out “Hey, PlayStation!” and ask your PS5 console to find a game, open an app or setting, or control playback while enjoying a movie, TV show, or song.
• Do note that this feature is currently available in English for beta participants with accounts registered to the U.S. and U.K.
  

PlayStation has confirmed the final system software updates will be available globally later this year. Players selected to participate in the betas will receive email invitations when the updates are available to download tomorrow. To check out the complete changelog of this new beta program, click this link.

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The Japanese tech giant Sony released their PlayStation 5 consoles back in November 2020. Although never officially announced, the company had planned to stop making the PS4 by the end of 2021. However, a new report has surfaced stating otherwise.

According to a new Bloomberg report, Sony will continue producing PlayStation 4 consoles throughout 2022 as it navigates disruptions to the global supply chain that have limited output of its PlayStation 5.

As per the report, industry insiders have stated that Sony has told its assembly partners that it would continue making the PS4 throughout 2022. The strategy is expected to add about a million PS4 units this year to help alleviate some pressure on the company’s PS5 production.

PlayStation chief Jim Ryan has said that Sony had planned to make a quick transition to the latest hardware (PS5) which has been hindered due to the global pandemic slowing down software development across the gaming industry making for a relatively weak portfolio of must-have exclusive games. The pandemic also triggered a surge in hardware demand making the most basic components scarce which has resulted in the PS5 being hard to find on the market.

Sony’s PlayStation division will continue to rely on the PS4 to provide a substantial portion of its revenue while it figures out solutions for the slower-than-expected PS5 production pace and online scalpers choking off the retail supply of the newer console.

Amid the PlayStation 5 supply chain difficulties, Sony is also exploring new avenues. The brand is preparing to release more powerful virtual reality headsets to take advantage of the recent metaverse boom. The company recently revealed the PSVR 2 at CES 2022. Sony also seems interested in the fast-emerging EV sector as the brand showcased the Vision-S 01 and Vision-S 02 EVs at CES 2022.

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Ghost of Tsushima has achieved another record, as the game becomes the fastest selling PlayStation 4 Original title. It has already sold over 4 million copies worldwde and has even beaten other notable titles like Horizon Zero Dawn.

Earlier this week, PlayStation Worldwide Studios head Hermen Hulst shared a tweet that revealed that Ghost of Tsushima has become the fastest selling first party PS4 game with more than 5 million copies sold, despite being launched back in July 2020. This also marks an incredible achievement for the Sucker Punch game studio (which has also developed the popular Infamous series).

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An important aspect to note here is the “Original” tag on the game since other titles have performed better than Ghost of Tsushima. A great example being Marvel’s Spider-Man, which sold over 3.3 million copies in just three days alone. Although, the IP is owned by Marvel and not Sony. Furthermore, Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II had also released a month prior to Ghost of Tsushima and had sold over 4 million copies in three days. However, it was not considered an original title as it was a sequel.

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Backward compatibility is a phrase that you see often when a new generation console is released. What it means in the simplest of terms is if a new game console supports games from the previous generation. Sony has released a blog post explaining how it will work on the PlayStation 5 (PS5).

When the PlayStation 5 goes on sale next month, its catalog of games will be very small but the good news is that, for those who own the PlayStation 4, they will be able to play their current catalog of games on the new game console. These games include exclusives such as The Last of Us Part II and Ghost of Tsushima.

When the PlayStation 5 launches this November, more than 99 percent of the 4000+ games available on PS4 will be playable on PS5 – Hideaki Nishino (SVP, Platform Planning and Management)

We all know the PS5 comes in two versions – an all-digital version and a version with a Blu-ray disc drive. According to the post, the mode of playing PS4 games will differ on both.

For the digital edition of the console, users will be able to play the digital edition of their compatible PS4 games on the PS5 Digital Edition. These games include those they already bought or those they plan to purchase on the PlayStation Store on the PS4, PS5, web, or via the PlayStation mobile app. Those who have PS4 discs but pick up the PS5 digital Edition will not be able to play their disc-based games on the console.

If you pick up the PS5 with a drive, you will be able to play the digital version of the games you bought on it. If you also have disc-based games, you will also be able to pop them in the drive and play. Sony advises that users update their consoles to the latest version and also apply any game patches available. Supported games for both versions of the PS5 include PlayStation VR games too.

It doesn’t end there. The PS4 games you play on the PS5 will have a different experience. They will load faster and also take advantage of Game Boost for better and more stable frame rates. The post also says that these games will take advantage of some of the new console’s new UX features but doesn’t explain which ones. Users will also be able to move game saves (based on developer decision) from the PS4 to PS5 using LAN cables, WiFi, external storage USB, and cloud storage for those who have a PS Plus account.

Sony says not all games will work and have released a list of unsupported games (below). To make it easier, games that do not work with the PS5 will have a description that says “PS4 only” on the PlayStation Store. Also, supported games may exhibit errors or unexpected behavior when played on the PS5, and certain features such as the SHARE menu, tournaments feature, In-Game Live, and PS4 Second Screen app don’t work with the PS5.

PS4 games not compatible with the PS5

• DWVR
• Afro Samurai 2 Revenge of Kuma Volume One
• TT Isle of Man – Ride on the Edge 2
• Just Deal With It!
• Shadow Complex Remastered
• Robinson: The Journey
• We Sing
• Hitman Go: Definitive Edition
• Shadwen
• Joe’s Diner

The PS4 games you play on the PS5 can be played with the DualShock 4 controller, the DualSense controller of the PS5, and licensed third-party controllers. For PS VR games, you also need the PS VR headset, a PS Camera that needs to be bought separately, and a PS camera adaptor. Officially-licensed racing wheels, arcade sticks, and flight sticks will work with compatible PS4 games on the PS5 and also with PS5 games, however, the DualShock 4 controller can’t work for PS5 games.

More details about the PS5’s backward compatibility and how to get your PS4 games on the new console are explained here.

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The whole world is going through troubled times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the severely affected countries by the virus are under lockdown in order to maintain social distancing. Because of this, several business industries are suffering in a way they had never dreamt of. But the current situation has turned out to be favorable for the gaming industry as the sales of consoles and games surged higher.

To stop the spread of the coronavirus, people around the world are being advised to stay home and follow social distancing as much as possible. Some countries even went ahead and ordered total lockdown to enforce people to stay indoors.

Thus, people have nothing to do (those who can’t work from home) other than stream media and play video games. According to an analysis by Gamesindustry.biz on the recent data from Games Sales Data (GSD), the consoles and games sale climbed between March 16 and 22.

Ever since Microsoft and Sony started hinting the release of their next-generation gaming consoles, the sales of consoles declined in recent months as people are waiting to invest in the latest products expected to release in the holiday season. However, the current situation urged people to buy the existing current-gen consoles like PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. 

As per the data, the sales of consoles rose to 155%, which is significantly higher in recent times. The consoles’ sales in Australia were up by 285.6%, 250% in the UK, 140.6% in France, 84% in Italy, and 66% in Spain. Whereas, digital game downloads were up by 52.9% in 50 markets without including Doom Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Interestingly, even physical games sales jumped to 82%.

During these hard times, video gaming has become a viable option to kill time for most people according to the sales data.

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A man traveling through Portland International Airport apparently had a layover long enough that he decided to play some video games. Playing games at the airport isn’t such a big deal if you’re using something like a Nintendo Switch, laptop, or smartphone. Where gaming at the airport can become a big deal is if your preferred gaming platform is a PlayStation 4.

An Apex Legends player made headlines after he decided to kill some time while waiting on a flight the old-fashioned way – by plugging his trusty PlayStation 4 into one of the airport’s many monitors and getting in some game time. Unfortunately, he discovered that one isn’t exactly allowed to do such things at an airport, to absolutely no one’s surprise.

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When approached and asked “to unplug and cease using the monitors at the airport” by operations supervisors, he reportedly asked “very politely” if he could finish up his round first. That request was denied, and Port of Portland spokesperson Kama Simonds took the opportunity to use the incident as “a good reminder of what not to do at the airport.”

Simonds added that power outlets are fair game to travelers, but monitors are out of the question. She said this incident demonstrates the addictive nature of screens and urges travelers to keep their game systems in their luggage until they arrive at their final destination. She adds that it’s extremely important not to use airport information monitors to play them. “Don’t try to set them up and play them in the airport,” she says.

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If you have Sony’s Playstation 4 gaming console and if you need an extra remote controller, the one offered by lightinthebox.com has a lot of features for the current price of $45.99.

The controller sports a great build quality as it is made of high-grade plastic and ABS materials. It also has all the controls you need, just like on the original Sony’s controller.

Another standout feature includes a great battery life. You can use the controller on a single charge for about 5-8 hours. Also, the controller has the standby time of about 9 hours.

You can get this controller in either black or white color options. The device usually retails for about $58.99 but you can now get it for just $45.99.

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