Sony continues to clean up the PS4 in the background: As has now been officially announced, a long-standing third-party service for the console’s Internet browser will soon be discontinued – a loss that most gamers probably won’t even notice.
Die PS4 has now been around for well over a decade – and as we all know, time doesn’t stand still. So Sony is slowly but surely – now completely obvious – ushering in the end of the PS4 era and is already doing a lot of cleaning up in the background.
After the activity feeds and various social features on the console were deleted in recent years, the next function will soon be available. However, this is a loss that very few players will even notice.
A relic from another console era
Like Sony on its official support page announced that security services provided by Trend Micro for the PS4’s integrated Internet browser will be completely discontinued.
The affected services are the options “Kids Safety”, a parental protection filter that blocks inappropriate content, and “Web Security”, which offers protection against phishing and fraudulent websites.
Trend Micro introduced these services on the PS4 back in December 2014 – at a time when the console was still fresh on the market and, due to the lack of omnipresent smartphones, many gamers still used it regularly to surf the Internet from the comfort of their sofa.
There was already a similar offer on the PS3, PSP and PS Vita – here the services were discontinued on May 31, 2023 – which was even free at times. On the PS4, however, Sony charged a tidy sum in the PS Store: anyone who wanted to subscribe to the filter had to pay the equivalent of just under $20.
The schedule for the final exit
Since surfing the Internet via the PS4 now hardly plays a role, the active user base of Trend Micro protection is now likely to be negligible. Accordingly, the decision to hire will probably have been made.
However, Sony doesn’t just let the service disappear overnight, but rather chooses a phased transition that gives the remaining users enough time to adapt:
25. August 2026: The sale and renewal of licenses in the PS Store will be stopped completely.
25. August 2027: The servers will be shut down permanently. From this day onwards, the service for PS4 will cease to exist.
Important to know: This shutdown has no impact on normal everyday gaming, the online functions of your games or the PlayStation Network (PSN). And if you don’t use the PS4 browser anyway, you don’t have to do anything.
If parents have used the filter to secure the browser for their children, Sony will refer you to the system’s own, free parental control settings on the PS4. If necessary, the Internet browser can also be completely blocked for certain user profiles.
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As soon as “Kingdom Hearts 4” returns with a new trailer, events surrounding the hotly anticipated role-playing game begin to accelerate: a retailer leak and the statements of a prominent voice actor are now causing a lot of conversation.
The official announcement of „Kingdom Hearts 4“ was already more than four years ago, so fans had to endure a long dry spell – which finally came to an end last Tuesday.
As part of the recent Nintendo Direct, Square Enix presented one completely unexpectedly brand new gameplay trailer to the upcoming action role-playing game. It was also confirmed that the release will take place simultaneously for all platforms.
Those responsible have kept a specific date to themselves, but right now the rumor mill is in full swing.
Dealer leak: Is the release year certain?
So it was insider TropicalMaku who came across extremely interesting product descriptions at several major Australian retailers. Like he said in a post on the short message service X the dealers already listed the newly announced one in advance „Kingdom Hearts Collection (I~III)“.
Since the collection, which brings the first three main parts of the “Kingdom Hearts” series natively to modern consoles, has already received a release date, the entries are nothing unusual so far.
What’s interesting, however, is the fine print in the product description, which literally stated: “Experience the entire KINGDOM HEARTS series in one comprehensive package, ahead of the release of KINGDOM HEARTS IV in 2027.”
The highlight of the matter: Since several independent dealers use exactly the same text, this is most likely not the error of a single employee. It’s even more likely that it’s an official text template from Square Enix that went live too early.
Of course, it still remains to be seen whether “Kingdom Hearts 4” will actually be released next year. However, there is also a special milestone for 2027: Then the “Kingdom Hearts” franchise will celebrate its 25th anniversary. And what would be a better way to celebrate than the release of the latest main part.
Hades speaker shares insider knowledge: “One of the best in the series”
And as if the potential release period wasn’t enough, one of the voice actors has now also fueled the fans’ anticipation.
James Woods, voice of the sharp-tongued underworld god Hades, spoke via X about the new trailer and wasn’t sparing with advance praise: “I may have a little bit of insider knowledge about it. I’ll just say: it’s fantastic and perhaps one of the best in the entire series.”
This should be good news for fans in two respects: On the one hand, it shows that the project is obviously in excellent condition internally when the first voice recordings are already in the can and the team is so convinced. And on the other hand, Woods makes it clear that the Olympus world – including Hades – will once again play a role.
As long as Square Enix does not make an official statement, all of this information should of course be viewed with the appropriate caution as usual. However, one thing is already certain: “Kingdom Hearts 4” will be released at the same time for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2 and the PC.
And to while away the remaining waiting time until probably autumn or the end of 2027, the “Kingdom Hearts Collection (I~III)” is just the thing, which will be available from October 8, 2026 for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Switch 2.
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In addition to the presentation at the Xbox Games Showcase 2026, Halo Studios released a gameplay video for “Halo: Campaign Evolved” that is almost ten minutes long. This shows one of the biggest innovations of the shooter remake.
Also the shooter remake „Halo: Campaign Evolved“ was one of the titles that Microsoft released as part of the großen Xbox Games Showcase presented last Sunday.
The Halo Studios team didn’t just use the show for publication a new story trailer. The developers also confirmed reports of a planned release at the end of July. In addition to the appearance of “Halo: Campaign Evolved” at the Xbox Games Showcase, Halo Studios released around ten minutes of gameplay for the new edition of Master Chief’s legendary first adventure.
These show one of the biggest innovations of the remake with the optional third-person perspective, which allows players to experience the classic shooter from a completely new perspective.
Campaign remix and skulls provide variety
Players can access the third-person view in Halo: Campaign Evolved by activating the Perspective skull. When it comes to the skulls, which the community can use to customize and individualize their gaming experience, the developers at Halo Studios didn’t do things by halves in the shooter remake.
As the studio recently explained again, There are more than 40 skulls availablewhich can be used by players, for example, to increase the difficulty of the campaign or to provide additional visual effects and the spawning of certain enemies such as the Brutes.
Also new is the “Campaign Remix” feature, which primarily relies on the surprise factor and randomly generates various parameters such as the opponents, the placement of weapons or the AI behavior before the start of the campaign or a mission.
An innovation that massively benefits the replayability of “Halo: Campaign Evolved,” as Halo Studios assures players.
“Halo: Campaign Evolved” will be released on July 28, 2026 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. An appointment, however, only for them Standard Edition costs 59.99 euros applies. Players willing to purchase the Premium Edition If you decide, you will not only receive a digital art collection and the exclusive “Halo Alpha Armor Pack” for the price of 79.99 euros.
The Premium Edition also gives all buyers five days early access to “Halo: Campaign Evolved”. This means that playing here will be possible from July 23, 2026. Both editions are activated at 5 p.m. Central European Time.
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After “Alien: Isolation 2” was given a first trailer, media representatives were now able to play the prologue of the upcoming horror hope – and thereby revealed a number of details. This also includes returning to a familiar place.
After more than twelve years of waiting, the survival horror milestone arrives „Alien: Isolation 2“ finally a sequel. The first glimpses were given last week when an atmospheric trailer was presented as part of the Summer Game Fest.
But the big question is probably: How does the whole thing play? And after selected media representatives were able to play the prologue of “Alien: Isolation 2” for around 20 minutes, the first solid information is now available. This makes it clear: the developers are breaking with the traditions of the first film without betraying the roots.
Welcome to LV-921: When freedom becomes a threat
The most important innovation first: the main character is no longer Amanda Ripley, but a Weyland Yutani employee named Blake.
The story of “Alien: Isolation 2” picks up just a few months after the events of the first part: Blake is part of a survey expedition on the stormy planet LV-921 when an unknown spaceship crash-lands on the surface.
And this is exactly where Creative Assembly breaks with the biggest core feature of its predecessor: you are no longer just locked in narrow corridors, but out in the open – in the case of the prologue, in a lashing storm of rain and mud. But foresight does not necessarily mean security.
Art director Ana Sopikova explains the psychological trick opposite Xbox Wire as follows: “You still have these claustrophobic spaces, and it’s still this clunky, lo-fi, sci-fi technology that’s guaranteed not to save you. And then when you add that touch of outdoor spaces, it’s a different kind of fear, right? First you’re locked in, and then you’re exposed. It’s still as desperate as ever.”
Just because you’re traveling in larger outdoor areas in “Alien: Isolation 2” doesn’t mean you’re automatically safe.
The interplay of emotions in particular is said to be the sequel’s absolute secret weapon, as creative director Al Hope added: “I love the idea of the players feeling really trapped and claustrophobic indoors and just wanting to get out, just like before. But after that initial rush of ‘I’m not trapped anymore’, they suddenly feel exposed and vulnerable. Riding that wave of emotions and motivations felt like a damn good mix.”
The Iconic Return: A wreck with a dark past
The interior of the crashed wreck also provides a big surprise in the gameplay demo: While trying to restore power to the seemingly abandoned research laboratory, Blake uncovers information about the ship’s origins: it is a separate dangerous goods laboratory from the Sevastopol station.
So here you explore part of the legendary space station from the first part. But as soon as the truth comes to light, all hell breaks loose: the xenomorph breaks through the ceiling and the familiar hunt begins again. The alien uses both the ventilation shafts and the new outdoor areas to surround the player.
The weather conditions on the planet don’t make it any easier: the storm completely confuses the background noise, while the alien is harder to see in the rain. Thus, according to Hope, the game becomes a pure “information war – what do I know compared to what the enemy knows?”
More options, but no weapons
By the way, anyone who hoped – or feared – that “Alien: Isolation 2” would develop into an action shooter can breathe a sigh of relief. The developers remain true to survival horror, so there will be no weapons in the sequel that can kill everything.
In return, significantly more freedom should be offered when sneaking. Lead game designer James Green emphasized how important small successes are: “We wanted more freedom of action for the player, more choices, more small victories. Even if you only move 3 or 4 meters, but it feels like the biggest thing you’ve ever achieved in a game. These little moments are really important, and we wanted more of them.”
And should you despair at some point because the Xenomorph is blocking your way, the expanded crafting and gadget system should allow new tactics to distract the beast. However, the goal is and remains escape.
“It’s still about distracting and trying – it’s not about overpowering the alien or killing it. That’s not what we’re about. It’s just about giving you tools to distract it and escape. That’s the focus,” Sopikova made it clear.
It will still be a while before the alien starts hunting again: “Alien: Isolation 2” is still in the middle of development for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2 and the PC. A release date is still pending.
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The takeover of Electronic Arts is considered the largest leveraged company purchase in history. Behind the billion-dollar deal with Saudi participation are questions about debts, future games and the actual plans of the new owners. What do experts think about this?
In September 2025, a consortium of investors led by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF made an offer for Electronic Arts away. The key dates have now been determined. PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners take over the publisher for $55 billion. The US bank JPMorgan is providing more than $20 billion of this as a loan. The purchase should be completed by June 30, 2026.
This makes it the largest externally financed corporate takeover in history. Electronic Arts will become a private company and will no longer be required to provide quarterly reports to shareholders. This creates scope for long-term decisions.
At the same time, the loan moves to EA’s balance sheet as a debt. As of March 2026, debt stood at $1.49 billion, rising to over $20 billion upon closing. Because more than 30 percent of the purchase price comes from borrowed capital. So it is a so-called leveraged buyout (LBO).
After all: In a letter to employees, EA stated that “its mission, values and commitment to players and fans around the world remain unchanged.” How do experts view the deal?
Debt and the question of reinvestment
Experts have different assessments of how the debt burden affects you. A managing partner of an investment fund, who wishes to remain anonymous, sees this primarily as a motivation. “The company needs to focus on generating cash flow,” he told GamesIndustry.biz.
He added: “Debt forces the company to focus much more on return on capital. Debt is actually a very good and healthy engine and promotes shareholder value creation, good capital management and responsible corporate governance.”
Nick Button-Brown, angel investor and former EA employee, sees more risks. He points out that EA has consistently invested its profits into its own games, such as the spin-offs of “EA Sports FC”, which have been “fantastic” every year. From his point of view, that is exactly what is at risk.
“The problem with a debt-financed company purchase is that from this point on, the profits are no longer reinvested in the games,” believes Button-Brown. Instead, they go toward interest and servicing the debt. He sees the consequences with a time lag: “You won’t notice it next year, but you will in five years.”
Concerns also came from politicians:
Some players also fear that EA will focus more on monetization. Button-Brown believes this is unlikely, as the group, as a listed company, was already strongly focused on making a profit. He still expects cuts: Cost savings and layoffs are planned for takeovers of this type, and less profitable areas are likely to be downsized or closed.
What happens after the purchase?
Unlike a classic LBO, subsequent resale is difficult here. “EA was already listed at a fairly high price and with a reasonable valuation. The only way to sell it is through one of the big companies like Apple or Microsoft,” says Button-Brown.
After closing, the PIF will own around 93.4 percent of Electronic Arts. The anonymous investment partner expects well-known brands such as “EA Sports FC” and „Battlefield“ get more attention, while series like “The Sims,” which are less in keeping with Saudi culture, could be sold.
George Osborn of “Video Games Industry Memo” and author of “Power Play: Video Games, Politics and the Battle for Global Influence” classifies the purchase as a step in the Saudi soft power strategy. The Esports World Cup can be further expanded with titles such as “EA Sports FC”, “Madden NFL”, “College Football” and the “F1” series. It remains to be seen whether this reach can be converted into influence without damaging EA’s relationships with the sports world.
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The rumor mill about “Cash Bandicoot” is bubbling: After an insider recently correctly predicted the return of Spyro the Dragon, he is now following up. Accordingly, a brand new game with the cheeky bandicoot is said to be in development.
In the era of the first PlayStation was „Crash Bandicoot“ still an absolute permanent guest. In the years that followed, however, things became increasingly quiet around the box-smashing, Wumpa fruit-loving bandicoot before it almost completely disappeared into obscurity.
In 2017, however, the brilliant comeback followed in the form of „N. Sane Trilogy“closely followed by the one released in 2020 „Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time“ – a genuine, brand new main part.
Since then, fans have been eagerly waiting for the next big adventure with the whirling hero, but so far in vain. But now there is a new glimmer of hope.
“A new Crash Bandicoot is planned”
The latest hint of a potential successor comes from leaker no arms and no legs, who is currently on everyone’s lips in the rumor mill. It wasn’t just Ubisoft’s that he said recently „Rayman Legends Retold“ accurately ahead, but also the official announcement of „Spyro: A Realm Beyond“which was revealed last Sunday as part of the Xbox Games Showcase.
And now the insider spoke out in a post on the short message service X directly to the fans of the bandicoot: “A new ‘Crash Bandicoot’ game is also planned, but will not be revealed yet. Patience, Wumpa lovers!”, it says briefly but unmistakably.
Accordingly, a new “Crash Bandicoot” is reportedly already in development, but an official announcement is still a long time coming. But even though the leaker was spot on twice recently, the same applies as always: This information should initially be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Who is responsible for the development?
Should actually be a possible „Crash Bandicoot 5“ is in the works, the most exciting question is of course who is responsible for the development. But the community already seems to agree on this: Toys for Bob is the safest bet.
The studio already delivered the great “Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time” and is now also bringing back the little purple dragon.
In addition: After the studio was temporarily used as a pure support studio for Activision Blizzard as part of Microsoft’s takeover „Call of Duty“ was shut down, the team is now going its own way again.
They started their own business, but signed a publishing deal with Xbox. And since the trademark rights to “Crash Bandicoot” still belong to Microsoft, the circle would come full circle.
At the same time, that would also mean that the new “Crash Bandicoot” is still a while away. Toys for Bob is a comparatively small studio and the current focus is likely to be on completing “Spyro: A Realm Beyond”, which is scheduled for release in spring 2027.
Accordingly, the bandicoot would first have to take a back seat. But who knows what will happen next – and maybe the dream of “Crash Bandicoot 5” will become reality after all.
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Just in time for the 25th anniversary of the “Halo” franchise, Xbox is giving the first part of the legendary first-person shooter series a remake in the form of “Halo: Campaign Evolved”. We’ve already been able to jump into battle in the role of Master Chief and we’ll tell you how much we enjoyed it!
In the past few days, Microsoft has released not just one, but two new trailers „Halo: Campaign Evolved“ published. However, that’s not all, because shortly after the publication of the… Cinematic Story Trailers we had the opportunity to play a demo version of the highly anticipated remake ourselves! So we were able to take a first detailed look at the new edition of the cult shooter.
We also had the opportunity to talk to Executive Producer Damon Conn and Creative Director Max Szlagor via video call for about half an hour. In this preview article, we’ll tell you what they told us about the remake of the milestone first-person shooter and how we liked the new edition of the Xbox hit. So then: buckle up, Spartans, and let’s go!
What did we play from Halo: Campaign Evolved?
We played “Halo: Campaign Evolved” on the Xbox Series We were able to take a look at two of the most legendary “Halo” missions of all.
Furthermore, in the sample version we had a selection of different modifiers available that we could use to adjust the level of difficulty. We were also able to take a look at the two graphics modes offered (Performance & Quality), although we spent most of the time playing in Performance mode, which prioritizes the frame rate of the shooter.
We got to play the legendary mission “The Silent Cartographer” in “Halo: Campaign Evolved”!
We were able to get a good first look at the upcoming remake of the iconic Xbox shooter and experimented with different things in the hours we spent with the preview version. We were particularly impressed by the modifiers just mentioned. Among others, the following were available:
Enemies have increased health
The explosion radius is increased by 2x
Randomly places weapons for the mission
You constantly take damage when you touch the ground
Change the player camera to third-party perspective
A mix of classic Halo feel and modern improvements
But first let’s address the big question: Was the development team able to retain the familiar feel of the first-person shooter classic in the remake? In short – no. On the one hand, “Halo: Campaign Evolved” still feels like “Halo.” It plays nicely and directly, and at the same time the Master Chief’s weapons and actions have noticeable weight. The hit feedback feels great!
However, if you were hoping for a 1:1 implementation of the Xbox cult game, just with a contemporary technical look, you might be a little disappointed. Those responsible have taken up various elements from the more recent offshoots of the franchise in order to carefully modernize the original game. Adjustments include a zoom, which is now available on every weapon, and the ability to sprint. The latter leads to a slightly higher pace of play.
The shooter action in “Halo: Campaign Evolved” is pretty powerful.
Another change is that from now on you can no longer find medipacks in the levels. The development team has decided to change the way the health display works. Once your energy shield is depleted, each additional hit reduces your life energy. However, if you don’t get hit for a few moments, it will automatically refill. Medipacks like the original become obsolete. So “Halo” veterans have to rethink a bit.
What about enemy AI and vehicles?
But how did the enemy AI perform in the demo version we played? Overall, pretty decent, albeit with some drawbacks. During most of the fights, the Alliance aliens were quite aggressive and repeatedly forced us to seek cover. There were also situations in which they tried to overwhelm us with their superior numbers, which sometimes worked. If we allowed ourselves to be backed into a corner, it was often “game over.”
However, there are also some dropouts. It happened every now and then that we were standing right next to an opponent and it took them a few seconds to notice us. In other places the AI seemed to get stuck for a moment. Since the “Halo: Campaign Evolved” demo we played was still an unfinished version, we don’t want to overstate these errors.
Of course, various vehicles are also included in the “Halo” remake, here the M808B Scorpion.
Those of you who still remember “The Silent Cartographer” will of course know that Master Chief didn’t just go into battle against the Alliance with various shooting fights. At various points in the mission, John-117 was allowed to get behind the wheel of various vehicles or, if available, operate the stationary gun located there. In “Assault on the Control Room” the M808B Scorpion (tank) is also added.
These sections still play the way you’re used to from the Xbox original or its 2011 remaster. The developers have managed to recreate the driving physics very accurately and driving the Warthog through a group of opponents is still as much fun as it was back then. In addition, the classic control via the two sticks was retained.
Was the switch to Unreal Engine 5 successful?
Before we come to our conclusion, we would also like to take a look at the graphics from “Halo: Campaign Evolved”. After “Halo Infinite,” Halo Studios said goodbye to the Slipspace Engine and switched to Unreal Engine 5. It is a graphics engine that has been used in recent years by, among others, “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor”, “Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II” and “Black Myth: Wukong”.
“Well, the thing is, it’s hard to develop your own engine, maintain it, and constantly update it. Let’s face it, it’s a difficult task,” Halo: Campaign Evolved executive producer Damon Conn told us. The UE5 version that the development team is using for the remake benefits from the “tremendous effort that has been put into this UE engine, and (we) can use that to our advantage here, so that our people developing the game can spend more time designing gaming experiences instead of updating a new rendering or shadow technology (…)”.
However, the framework of the original Blam! still runs under the new Unreal Engine 5. Engine used in “Halo: Combat Evolved” and other games in the franchise. According to Conn, this is meant to make people who play the remake feel the gameplay, so “the trajectory of the grenades, the movements, the shooting, the recoil – all of that is actually the DNA of the original game.” While the feel of the game is retained, the graphics should benefit from the UE5.
During our time with the demo version of “Halo: Campaign Evolved,” we repeatedly paused to take in the revised graphics. The graphical leap compared to previous versions of the first-person shooter classic is enormous and the game looks great even in motion, apart from small technical problems such as poorly displayed shadows.
You could probably already tell from our preview article: We had a really good time with the demo version of “Halo: Campaign Evolved”. As we stormed that beach at the beginning of “The Silent Cartographer” while the iconic soundtrack started, we couldn’t help but smile. There was a direct “Halo” feeling here! However, this is not only thanks to the familiar sounds, but also to the still very good shooter gameplay. The different weapons all had a lot of oomph and the playful modernizations fit in wonderfully.
We also had a lot of fun with the available modifiers, as they sometimes turn the familiar feel of the game on its head. At the end of the day, we primarily remember some technical inconsistencies as negative. An AI dropout here, a graphics error there and a small stutter elsewhere. However, because the version we played was a “pre-release build”, we don’t want to make these inconsistencies too important. After all, these are problems that could still be fixed by the release on July 28th (if that hasn’t already happened).
What we unfortunately can’t tell you about is the new story content, because unfortunately it wasn’t available to us. We also can’t tell you anything about the co-op mode at this point. Ultimately, for us, the positive things clearly outweighed the negatives during our time with the preview version, which is why we are already extremely excited to see how the final version of “Halo: Campaign Evolved” will perform.
What does Cliff Bleszinski actually think of Microsoft’s change of course? The “Gears of War” creator has now made his opinion public.
The exclusivity of „Gears of War: E-Day“ for Xbox platforms remains a key topic of discussion. Cliff Bleszinski places this decision in the context of a completely new corporate strategy. He sees a positive development for the future of the brand.
According to Cliff Bleszinski, this is a step in the right direction
Although Xbox has increasingly relied on a cross-platform strategy in the past, marked the revelation “Gears of War: E-Day” is a clear course correction. During the Xbox Games Showcase, CEO Asha Sharma confirmed that the title will launch exclusively for Xbox consoles next October. This move is well received by Cliff Bleszinski, the creator of the series.
Bleszinski said to Eurogamer: He thinks the decision is a very smart move. In his opinion, the approach of releasing as many titles as possible on other platforms may have weakened the perception of the Xbox community. Bleszinski thus puts into perspective his earlier enthusiasm when he welcomed the appearance of the series on PlayStation under the leadership of Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond. With the return to exclusivity, Xbox now seems to want to consolidate the trust of this loyal fan base.
Bleszinski also highlighted how Xbox has been working harder to win back its regular customers since Asha Sharma took office in February of this year. An essential part of this strategy are exclusive titles to underline the hardware value. He praised the response to the game so far and emphasized the company’s return to the right course.
Before this event, retailer listings at Walmart and a listing with the testing agency PEGI strongly suggested one planned PS5 version there. Current observations suggest that those responsible only revised this decision at short notice. A trailer shown in the official Xbox podcast massively reinforces this suspicion due to technical inattention. At the end of the video, the PlayStation logo could be seen for a brief moment right next to the Steam symbol.
Gears of War: E-Day will be released on October 6th for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Incidentally, in the future even more exclusive games come out, said Xbox boss Asha Sharma.
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At a time when more and more studios are relying on the use of generative AI when working on their games, the developers at Asobo take a clear stance on this. But what does this look like in “Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy”?
As part of the Summer Game Fest 2026, the developers of Asobo donated „Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy“ a specific release date and announcedthat the narrative action adventure will be released in August.
After Sega caused a lot of criticism with the obvious use of generative AI in “Crazy Taxi: World Tour”, Asobo’s producer Eric Chort also commented on this topic in an interview. As Chort explained, the Asobo team consciously decided not to use generative AI when working on Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy.
Even though Asobo is a fairly small studio, with just around 70 people working on the new “A Plague Tale” adventure, the producer does not believe that the use of AI tools in development is absolutely necessary.
Asobo emphasizes your own creativity
“We don’t use them and we don’t want them,” Chort said to Eurogamer on the topic of generative AI in game development. “This is a conscious decision. We believe our games resonate with fans, the community and critics because they are original.”
“They offer unique worlds, characters and a distinctive artistic direction,” the producer continued, pointing out that developers at Asobo see artificial intelligence as a real threat to the way they develop games.
“All of this is at great risk from AI as we understand it. We simply want to maintain the way we develop games and keep our creativity and authenticity in mind when designing,” Chort explained.
At the same time, the producer warned small teams and studios not to overextend themselves and then try to compensate by using generative AI.
Rather, developers should be concerned with consciously leveraging their strengths. With “Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy,” the Asobo team decided to once again focus on a linear gaming experience instead of, for example, trying to create a larger game with an open world.
A prequel to the Plague Tale series
“We prefer to forego it altogether and preserve our creativity. Asobo is a family business. We have many experienced employees who stay in the studio for a long time and many young talents. For this reason, we select our teams carefully. This is how we handle production,” concludes Chort.
“Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy” will be released on August 27, 2026 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
The action-adventure is seen as a prequel that tells the story of the previous two spin-offs. 15 years before the events of „A Plague Tale: Requiem“ Players take control of the young looter Sophia.
The search for answers to questions about her past leads her to the island of the Minotaur, where she becomes the target of an army from which she has to escape again and again.
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The action-adventure “Stellar Blade” started as a PS5 title and later landed on PC. It doesn’t stop there: This year, Shift Up is expanding the list of platforms to include another console.
For months there were indications of an implementation for the Switch 2. During the recent Nintendo Direct The confirmation followed: „Stellar Blade“ will be released in 2026 for Nintendo’s new successful console. This means the action role-playing game ends up on a third platform.
In terms of content, the Switch 2 version remains with the familiar structure. Players take on the role of Eve, a warrior who fights against mysterious forces and is supposed to retake the earth. The plot revolves around the demise of the planet and is set in a science fiction world.
Switch 2 version with Joy-Con 2 controls
“Stellar Blade” comes from the South Korean studio Shift Up and combines action-adventure with role-playing elements. The title was initially released exclusively for the PS5 on April 26, 2024, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. A Windows version followed later.
Eve battles alien creatures called Naytibas on a devastated Earth. The game relies on fast-paced melee action, extensive character customization and graphics based on the Unreal Engine.
The Switch 2 version of “Stellar Blade” was announced with a trailer.
Players develop their character through customizable skills, equipment and fighting styles, which play a role especially in the boss fights. A new addition is the motion control of the Joy-Con 2, which is used not only in battles but also in other activities.
When the PS5 launched, the reviews were mostly positive. PLAY3.DE also dedicated a test to the title:
The exact date is still pending
In May, Shift Up had already hinted at a possible expansion of “Stellar Blade” to other platforms and stated that they were examining corresponding options. There was no official confirmation at the time. As of today, Nintendo players have certainty.
Named an exact date Shift Up not. At the end of the trailer it simply says “Coming 2026”. It also remains unclear whether the Switch 2 version will have additional content compared to the versions that have already been released.
Already last week Shift Up made a sequel official. „Stellar Blade: Blood Rain“ continues the story of the first part and focuses on a new main character. The reveal came during Summer Game Fest.
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