Sony also released the first images of its upcoming PlayStation VR2 headset.
The shortest month of the year happens to bring us a lot of PlayStation news.I fudged this review a bit by including PlayStation’s acquisition of Bungie that happened on January 31st, but that’s only because my January review and that announcement were in precise at the same time. PlayStation is already off to a fiery start to 2022 with the release of Horizon Forbidden West, and it’s only going to catch up with games like Gran Turismo 7 and Ragnarok.
In addition to having a ton of games, PlayStation isn’t slowing down when it comes to live-action. Uncharted posted mediocre reviews, but we had high hopes for HBO’s The Last of Us. Without further ado, this is what happened in February.
PlayStation surprises everyone with its acquisition of Bungie
Here’s an interesting story: I’ve been writing these recaps all month, adding more sections as I progress. I usually finish them a few days before the end of the month so that my editor has time to edit and schedule them on the last day. On January 31st at 1pm, my January review begins. Surely there won’t be any big news that day?
Well, guess what else happened on January 31st at 1pm? Sony has announced that it has acquired Bungie, the studio behind the massive live-service shooter Destiny 2. What are the odds? Either way, that’s why the entire article is now in the February review. Because time hates me.
In any case, PlayStation’s acquisition of Bungie is big Take action for the company, especially at its $3.6 billion list price. At first glance, it’s an odd deal, especially as Bungie remains largely independent. However, it makes more sense than you might think. While the PlayStation is known for its cinematic single-player adventures, it can’t put all its eggs in one basket. Bungie can use its experience and expertise to help create live service games that can generate recurring revenue for Sony.
Not only that, but this gives Bungie a way to expand the Destiny universe to TV or the big screen. Between Sony Entertainment and PlayStation Productions, the team has more than enough ways to adapt to popular franchises.
It’s also a big move, as it comes on the heels of Microsoft’s announcement of its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. While hardly comparable (Microsoft’s deal would cost nearly $69 billion), it shows that both companies want to boost their value and ecosystem over the next few years. We can expect more announcements.
PS VR2 gets a new look
It’s been a long time, but PlayStation has finally revealed the final look of the PlayStation VR2 headset. It’s designed with the PS5 in mind, so it has a slim aesthetic with a white finish and black accents. Sony notes that it has carefully balanced the weight to make it ergonomic and comfortable. Even with the built-in motors, it’s lighter than the first-generation PSVR.
Senior Art Director Yushin Morisawa revealed that its new one-piece vent design is one of his favorite parts of the headset. “When I started designing for the PlayStation VR2 headset, one of the first areas I focused on was the idea of creating a vent in the headset to let air out,” he said. “Similar to the vents on the PS5 console, allowing air to circulate. Our engineers came up with the idea as a great way to allow ventilation and avoid lens fogging when players are immersed in their VR game. I researched a number of Design concepts to achieve this, and in the final design you can see a little bit of space between the top and the front surface of the scope that includes integrated ventilation.”
Horizonn Forbidden West launches to critical acclaim
Horizonn Forbidden West launched on February 18 to almost everyone’s acclaim. It currently ranks 88 on Metacritic based on 106 reviews, including a perfect 5/5 from Android Central. In short: Horizon Forbidden West is a masterpiece in every sense.I was lucky enough to review it for us and it was Astonishing.
This should come as no surprise given Horizon Zero Dawn’s reputation, but it’s still good news for a guerrilla game that can continue the franchise. Horizon Forbidden City ends with a massive suspense that establishes the decisive third (and possibly final) act. Aloy faces the struggle of her life, and it will take everyone working together to stop it. I don’t want to spoil the essence of it, so you’ll need to play through Forbidden West and find out for yourself.
It took me 45 hours to complete my review, and 10 hours thereafter to complete side quests and dismantle the machine. After looking at all its trophies, I thought I’d go for platinum. It’s an easy time sink and a lot of fun to play.
The Uncharted movie… ok
Fake Shock: The Uncharted Movie Starring Tom Holland beautiful. Obviously there’s nothing to write about (I haven’t actually looked at it, but I’m trusting the opinions of others). It might be a fun adventure movie, but Holland and Mark Wahlberg are mistaken for Nathan Drake and Sully, and it misses a lot of the charm we know from the game. It currently has a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 189 critics. However, it has a better audience rating, at 90% of the more than 2,500 viewers.
Uncharted also made $44 million domestically over its three-day opening weekend, a record so far in 2022 (via Variety). With continued success, and keeping in mind its $120 million budget, we may see more live-action Uncharted projects in the future. In fact, the CEO of Sony Pictures called it “the company’s new hit movie franchise.”
Gran Turismo 7 headlines first State of Play this year
Sony’s first big state of the game of the year focused on Gran Turismo 7. Polyphony Digital calls it the most complete Gran Turismo ever, with over 400 cars, 30 locations and 90 layouts at launch.
The wildly popular racing sim series looks bigger and better than ever thanks to the power of the PS5, but players on PS4 can still have fun, too. Gran Turismo 7 is a cross-generational game, but unlike Horizon Forbidden West, those looking to upgrade from the PS4 version to the PS5 version will have to pay an extra $10.
Gran Turismo 7 on the horizon
On the heels of Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7 is expected to launch on March 4. Sony doesn’t seem to be slowing down this year.Even if its PS VR2 headset doesn’t arrive in 2022, we’re sure to hear a lot of in the next few months. until next time 👋
– Jennifer Locke
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