Sony has been granted a patent for PlayStation 5 faceplates. The design patent for the removable plates fixed to both sides of the console was recently spotted online and has since sparked debate on what Sony could be planning.
OP Attack first discovered the patent for Sony’s PlayStation 5 faceplates was granted on November 16th, 2021. However, Sony initially filed for the patent on November 5th, 2020, a week before the launch of the PlayStation 5 in North America.
The patent covers both faceplates of the PlayStation 5 and is described as an “ornamental design for a cover for electronic device.” Product developer Yujin Morisawa is credited as the inventor of the faceplates within the patent filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Earlier this year, Toronto-based DBrand found itself threatened with legal action from Sony after the company started selling its own matte black PlayStation 5 ‘Darkplates.’ The company was so bold that it encourages Sony to sue it, and unsurprisingly, the tech giant eventually followed through. DBrand was then forced to pull the original faceplates from its store and replace them with a new design.
PlayStation 5 owners have been clamouring for alternative faceplate options. Sony has not currently confirmed whether a black option will officially be available. However, it has started branching out. The company is currently selling a ‘Midnight Black’ version of its DualSense controller and Pulse 3D Audio Headset.
It isn’t surprising to see Sony filed the patent ahead of the PlayStation 5 launch. The company likely had enough foresight to know third-party companies would try to offer custom designs. The real major question remaining is whether or not the Sony will begin selling its own standalone faceplates, allowing PS5 owners to customize the aesthetic of their console with an official option.
The latest shooter from Dice and a number of EA support studios takes gamers to the future for some Battlefield hijinks. And that is exactly what you are getting here, signature BF fun, but fun that is marred by technical hiccups and an overall lack of substance.
Battlefield 2042 is a solid entry to the franchise, and feels like a direct sequel to the likes of Battlefield 3 and 4, with more of a focus on modern/futuristic combat, rather than the trips through history of the last few Battlefield games.
The biggest talking point that will get the attention of many is the lack of any real single-player content in 2042. Gone is any semblance of a campaign, leaving only multiplayer. The absence of a traditional solo adventure is not too big a deal here in 2021; however, it is noticeable in a package that feels a little light on content upon release.
Battlefield 2042 comes packed with three main verticals: ‘All-Out Warfare’ is your more traditional capture and defend Battlefield experience, ‘Hazard Zone’ plays like a battle royale (but instead of eliminating other squads, your goal is to retrieve valuable data and escape without dying), and ‘Battlefield Portal’ is a creative suite where players and creators can devise innovative new game modes with assets from Battlefield 2042 as well as past Battlefield titles.
Of these three, Battlefield Portal shines brightest. Playing through community-created game modes feels like the glory days of all-night Halo ‘Forge mode’ parties. Portal opens a Pandora’s Box of gameplay opportunities; it’s just a matter of finding the diamonds in the rough. If Dice can continue to curate the best of the best within Portal, then I can see myself spending many an evening playing through these fan-crafted modes and having fun with friends.
Hazard Zone was an unexpected joy for me. While I went into it thinking it would be some Call of Duty: Warzone rip-off, I came out pleasantly surprised. The conceit of fighting for and collecting data banks, then heading for a plane to take you to safety is a creative twist upon the Battle Royale genre. There were moments of pure adrenaline as my squad ripped across frozen tundra, headed for the exfil point, only to cross paths with others trying to do the same thing. At times it can feel like you and your teammates are starring in the latest Michael Bay action thriller, and it feels glorious.
“…these new massive maps and gargantuan 128 player counts can make it feel overwhelming at times, especially if you do not have access to an air or ground vehicle.”
Lastly, All-Out Warfare is your standard Battlefield fare of capturing objectives and eliminating the enemy team. ‘Conquest’ is classic BF where two teams compete to capture and defend five or six points on a map, whereas ‘Breakthrough’ offers two objectives at a time with the map opening up as an attacking team successfully takes those two points.
Breakthrough for me was where I has the most fun of these two. Having to push on attack or push back on defense makes for a constantly moving frontline, meaning that you are never far from the action. While Conquest is still as enjoyable as it ever has been, these new massive maps and gargantuan 128 player counts can make it feel overwhelming at times, especially if you do not have access to an air or ground vehicle.
All maps in 2042 (aside from the classic maps in Portal) feature massive dynamic events that happen throughout the course of a game. Whether it be a tornado ripping through and causing destruction, or a massive sandstorm whipping up blinding players, these ‘levelutions’ work on an unmatched scale and truly make you rethink your tactics mid-game. However, after the seventh or eighth time seeing a sandstorm ravage the battlefield, the luster can kind of wear off. These forces of nature turn what feels like a world-ending event into nothing more than a minor annoyance.
Gameplay-wise this 2042 is Battlefield through and through. It feels more tactical/measured than the pulse-pounding close combat of Call of Duty, mixing in air, land, and water vehicles. There are no major changes here, and the ones that do show up are mostly welcome. Two of the most impressive additions come in the form of ‘Specialists’ and the ‘Plus Menu.’
Specialists add even more variety to Battlefield. Instead of just filling roles (Assault, Medic, Engineer, and Sniper) like in previous games, there are a couple of Specialists within each. Want to play as a medic who has a healing pistol akin to Ana from Overwatch? You can. Or how about an Assault soldier equipped with a wingsuit or a grappling hook? You bet. This change allows for players to cater to their playstyle within a role, and when you find the Specialist perfect for you it’s magic.
As for the Plus Menu, when you see it you will know exactly what I’m talking about. This ingenious holographic form of gun customization can be pulled up at any time during battle, allowing the player to swap attachments in and out from their current loadout. At first, it feels a little gimmicky, but in practice its utility is invaluable. In one firefight I found myself trading blows at close range with a red dot sight, then spotted another foe a few yards down, switched over to a longer scope, and boom, I got the kill. It’s a great idea that I am honestly surprised we haven’t implemented in other games before.
The act of playing Battlefield 2042 isn’t where I have problems, it’s on the technical and presentation side of things where some pressure points seem to stick out. Visually, this game is beautiful — the guns sound and look stunning, and the various locales can be downright gorgeous — but at times this can feel a little like a beta test.
On multiple occasions, upon loading into a match, I was greeted with either a frozen deploy screen or a crash out to the main menu. When I did get into games, there were instances of glitching animations, players getting stuck on geometry, and hud elements that should disappear but wouldn’t. It’s moments like these that make you think this game was not 100 percent ready for prime time. Now, Battlefield games coming out in various states of unreadiness is nothing new, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay.
Another one of my biggest gripes comes in regards to the amount of content that is in the box on day one. Standard features like in-game voice chat are missing, with no indication of when they will come to the title. There is plenty of fun to be had here but after a few hours of playing Conquest, Hazard Zone, or Breakthrough on the same six or seven maps, the sparkle of a new game can start to wear off. EA and Dice have already promised that more content is coming to the game post-launch, but it feels like just two or three additional places to do battle would have been perfect to start off.
Overall, I am super conflicted on Battlefield 2042. While there are moments of greatness, I just can’t get over the state the title has launched in.
With things like the “only in Battlefield” moments found in standard multiplayer, the thrill of racing for the exit in Hazard Zone, or “Battlefield Portal’s creative potential, there is plenty to love about Battlefield 2042 at launch. But it’s hard not to think that this will be a much better, more refined experience four or five months down the line. With a game that is only going to improve as more people play it and continue to play it, let’s just hope the community sticks around long enough for it to reach its full potential.
Battlefield 2042 is now available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Physical copies can be found at Best Buy, Amazon and more.
Image credit: Electronic Arts
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In celebration of the PlayStation 5’s first release anniversary, Sony has revealed the top 10 games in terms of hours played from the console’s initial release year.
Unsurprisingly, Fortnite comes out on top, followed by Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and, of course, FIFA 21. Next up is NBA 2K1, and out of left field, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla follows in the 4th position. Other recognizable titles like Demon’s Souls, Destiny 2 and more also appear on the list.
Below is a full list of the top titles on the PS5 in terms of hours played:
Fortnite
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
FIFA 21
NBA 2K21
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Destiny 2
MLB The Show 21
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Demon’s Souls
NBA 2K22
In the same blog post, Jim Ryan, the president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, writes that more than 360 games launched on the PlayStation 5 in its first year and that more than 25 games are currently in development at PlayStation Studios (for the record, I doubt Ryan actually wrote this post himself). While it’s been a monumental year for current-gen console gaming across both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, it’s hard not to imagine how much more massive it could have been if the ongoing chip shortage didn’t hit the production of both systems.
The company is now reportedly expecting to manufacture 15 million consoles by March 2022, which would be down slightly from the 16 million it had publicly announced last month.
However, the outlet also notes that there are logistical challenges stemming from uneven COVID-19 vaccine rollouts in countries where these chips are being made.
Ultimately, though, one million fewer consoles isn’t a drastic reduction, and hopefully, PlayStation can maintain its relatively steady production of the consoles going into the new year.
There’s a possibility that Sony’s PlayStation 5 may be crackable at some point in the future.
Over the weekend, well-known hacking group FailOverflow tweeted that it was able to get its hands on the PS5’s root key, which then allowed the console’s firmware to be decrypted. FailOverFlow was the first group to get through the PS3’s security features back in 2010.
The Verge also reported that Andy Nguyen, a security engineer at Google that goes by the online handle @theflow0, accessed the console’s debug settings. Though not directly related to FailOverFlow’s efforts, this is another example of someone circumventing Sony’s security software.
Though these exploits don’t mean much yet, in the future, it could eventually lead to hackers having more access to the PS5’s software, allowing it to be reversed-engineered. While this would allow the installation of emulators, Linux and homebrew software to be installed on the PlayStation 5, it will also, unfortunately, lead to game piracy.
It’s important to remember that Sony is likely aware of these hacks and is working to patch them. In a sense, exploits like this are inevitable and happen whenever a video game console releases. Whether it’s running emulators on the Xbox Series S/X or jailbreaking the Switch, life always finds a way.
Riders Republic is an expansive extreme sports game that effectively builds on the foundation set by 2016’s Steep.
I used to pour hours into games like SSX Tricky and Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX as a kid. The extreme sports game genre was important to me during my formative years. Though, as time went on, my interest waned. Riders Republic takes the inherent spirit of the classics and modernizes it with contemporary systems and an open-world setting.
Ubisoft Annecy first broke into the extreme sports genre with Steep. While still having an emphasis on snowboarding and skiing, Riders Republic adds BMX circuits and wingsuits into the mix. This combination added a bit more variety and texture for me. As a newcomer to the Riders Republic, I found myself thrust into a career mode centred on ranking up in hopes of participating in the Riders Ridge Invitational. The narrative outside of this base concept is thin. You’re mentored by a character that is the embodiment of Steve Buscemi’s ‘How do you do, fellow kids’ meme. The dialogue is silly and inconsequential. My focus was always driven to get to the next track and unlock new aspects of the game.
The game is set in the expansive social playground comprising seven regions based around national parks, including Yosemite Valley, Bryce Canyon, and Zion. To build a name for myself and reach those career highs, I had to begin tackling the five different careers — Bike Race, Bike Tricks, Snow Race, Snow Tricks, and Air Sports. As you progress through each career, you unlock new tracks and bigger events. It’s not before long that the map is covered in various event icons for you to complete.
The progression system in Riders Republic is built around accumulating stars. To hit new milestones and unlock additional tracks, circuits, and sponsors, I found myself on a mission to win as many stars as possible. You’ll earn a single star simply for completing a track, whether it’s a straightforward race, time trial, or score competition. Each event also offers optional challenges to earn more stars. The criteria can range from completing the track in a certain amount of time or accumulating a certain score by completing tricks.
On top of the multitude of events to complete, you can earn stars by seeking out collectibles through the map. Relics reward you with special rides and boards like a pizza delivery bike. Additionally, stars can be earned by completing stunt tracks and finding landmarks.
“At no point did I find Riders Republic demanding in how it wanted me to approach an event.”
New gear is obtained by completing events. You’ll slowly amass a full collection of different boards, bikes and wingsuits, all with their unique stats. Cosmetics can be purchased using in-game currency earned by completing sponsor and weekly challenges. There are also legendary outfits that can be purchased using real-life currency in the store.
What I find truly compelling about the game is how much emphasis it places on the player’s personal preference. At no point did I find Riders Republic demanding in how it wanted me to approach an event. If you’re like me and feel drawn more to the racing aspects than the tricks, you can lean into that or vice-versa. The game offers two options of Racer and Trickster riding options. The Racer option is more forgiving, while the Trickster option raises the skill gap for advanced players. You can even customize whether landing tricks are manual or automatic without taking a penalty. There’s simply no wrong way of playing.
I found the controls relatively tight, especially when tricking out over jumps. Each sport handles a bit differently. When on a bike, there is a pedal metre in place that provides a small speed boost. On skis and snowboards, you can change your stance. While in the wingsuit, propulsion systems are in place to help boost or slow you down while in the air. Throughout my time with Riders Republic, I grew quite partial to the snow and biking tracks. Hitting a ramp just right and combining a set of tricks for a large score can be very satisfying. Air spots left me wanting a bit more. Out of the three, the gameplay in the sky felt less dynamic than the others.
“Racing with others can be as chaotic and fun as you’d expect with one major drawback: the game’s inconsistent collision detection.”
The map of Riders Republic is filled with other players, all completing their own careers and showing off Photo Mode creations. Whether you’re in a race or simply exploring, you’ll see other players riding around. It’s a large social hub that incentivizes shared experiences. All events can be completed with friends. Every half hour, a Mass Race will spawn on the map. Players have a limited time to reach the destination, which spawns them in a three-run race against roughly 60 other players.
Racing with others can be as chaotic and fun as you’d expect with one major drawback: the game’s inconsistent collision detection. I found that there was no rhyme or reason to when I’d get shoved into a rock or launched off the track. I could be steadily in the top five and suddenly be thrown off a hill and end up back in the 40th spot in seconds. There were proven times when I could ride straight through another player with no resistance. Unfortunately, collision isn’t reliable enough to be used competitively.
Playing on Xbox Series X, Riders Republic has impressively fast loading times. The map has a ton of fast travel locations that are automatically unlocked as soon as new tracks are earned. Fast travelling takes only a second or two and you can take a snowmobile to your destination. Restarting a race takes a bit more time but there’s not too much delay before you’re right back into the action. That said, I have had the game crash on me multiple times. I even had the game lock up on the tail end of a Mass Race, which is more of a time commitment than the standard events.
Overall, Riders Republic has broken the 15-year-old hiatus I had with extreme sports games. Ubisoft Annecy took what was successful with Steep, added modern open-world conventions and made a compelling sports game. The game’s biggest success is not taking itself too seriously. With a whopping three tracks from The Offspring, you can tell Riders Republic knows the vibe it’s aiming for. While the dialogue flounders, having player agency and preferences at the forefront more than makes up for it. It’s a laidback game that incentivizes social presence.
Riders Republic is now available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Google Stadia. Physical copies of the game are available at Best Buy, Amazon and more.
Image credit: Ubisoft
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PlayStation Now is available on PS4, PS5 and PC at a cost of $12.99 CAD/month, $34.99/three months or $79.99/12 months.
Find out what came to PS Now last month here. Meanwhile, the full list of games coming in November to PlayStation’s other service, PS Plus, can be found here.
Sony has sold 13.4 million units of its PlayStation 5 console, the company revealed in its latest earnings report.
3.3 million units were sold during this quarter, compared to the 2.2 million in the previous. While the PS5 is one of many devices that is suffering from supply constraints due to the global chip shortage, that quarter-to-quarter growth at least shows some improvement.
Game sales saw an even larger increase; Sony reported 76.4 million units sold in this quarter, compared to 63.6 million in the previous quarter. The company noted this was driven in large part due to third-party titles.
However, sales of first-party titles dropped from 10.5 million to 7.6 million last quarter. This led to operating income coming in at 82.7 billion yen (about $900 million CAD), a drop from last quarter of 3.4 billion yen (about $37 million CAD).
It’s worth noting that Sony said in August that it secured enough components to sell 22.6 million units by March 2022. This means that the company would need to sell 9.2 million consoles between now and March. While the demand is certainly there for that, it remains to be seen whether PlayStation will be able to manufacture enough systems to hit that goal.
Sony has sold 13.4 million units of its PlayStation 5 console, the company revealed in its latest earnings report.
3.3 million units were sold during this quarter, compared to the 2.2 million in the previous. While the PS5 is one of many devices that is suffering from supply constraints due to the global chip shortage, that quarter-to-quarter growth at least shows some improvement.
Game sales saw an even larger increase; Sony reported 76.4 million units sold in this quarter, compared to 63.6 million in the previous quarter. The company noted this was driven in large part due to third-party titles.
However, sales of first-party titles dropped from 10.5 million to 7.6 million last quarter. This led to operating income coming in at 82.7 billion yen (about $900 million CAD), a drop from last quarter of 3.4 billion yen (about $37 million CAD).
It’s worth noting that Sony said in August that it secured enough components to sell 22.6 million units by March 2022. This means that the company would need to sell 9.2 million consoles between now and March. While the demand is certainly there for that, it remains to be seen whether PlayStation will be able to manufacture enough systems to hit that goal.
Sony is celebrating Halloween early with a special themed sale on the PlayStation Store.
The Halloween sale offers over 570 titles, season passes and DLCs, including Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Borderlands 3, Resident Evil Village and more up to 75 percent off until November 4th, 2:59am ET.
