PlayStation Experience conference live report
It's a wrap! Uncharted, Street Fighter and Final Fantasy 7 on PS4.
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Our live coverage of this event has finished.
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooood morning. (Hi). A bit ahead of ourselves, but we'll be covering this tonight from just before 6pm.
Hope you can join us - and enjoy whatever Saturday brings!
LESS THAN 30 MINUTES TO GO! Just prepping by turning the heating on, opening a bottle of wine (it's the weekend - it's allowed!) and settling in.
After the brilliant trolling of Nintendo fans by Wes last night I'm going to try and go one up on him as I repeatedly point out how Uncharted really isn't all that.
(srsly though, Uncharted 3 was, how do you say..... a bit 8/10?)
That's the trolling out the way. I can't wait to see what post-The Last of Us Naughty Dog is doing with Uncharted. It should be pretty special.
I imagine it's going to look the part too. Well, it would if I wasn't watching on a medium quality Twitch stream, anyway.
How has everyone's Saturday been?
NyxCloud: Bad. Chelsea lost.
I'm in such a bad mood. Screw games. Screw football. Screw everything.
Although I'd obviously love to be in Vegas to see this all unfold live, a large part of me is just grateful I can at least dim the music on this stream.
NyxCloud: Bad. Chelsea lost.
:(
NyxCloud: Bad. Chelsea lost.
Being a bit of a lacklustre Chelsea fan that's put a bit of a downer on my day. But I was at the cycling world cup and got to see the amazing Laura Trott clean up in her heats, so it's not been so bad.
Anyway, enough about Chelsea's hopes of an unbeaten season being stopped. What's everyone expecting from the event?
This music is Saturday night in Croydon town centre. Love you Sony.
Not quite sure how I feel about Street Fighter 5 just yet. The fourth one was such an exciting direction for the series - this one looks very much like SF 4.5.
Or Street Fighter 4.6999999999 or whatever iteration that game's up to right now.
It's a shame the big announcement was spoiled yesterday. And I don't think we're going to see more of Street Fighter 5 than was leaked in that video.
Oh, dance remix of Smells Like Teen Spirit. What I've always wanted.
Thank the maker! The music has stopped.
And we're already on to the intro sting. Unlike Sony to be early!
We've got the US PlayStation blog people on intro duties - including the lovely Ryan Clements who I had the pleasure of working with at IGN. Hi Ryan!
Right, it's sort of started so that's justified pouring out the first glass of wine.
I'm hoping for Knack 2 and PlayStation All-Stars 2. How about you?
dogmanstaruk: It would be nice if Sony dropped a nice demo bomb.
I actually think there's a very good chance of that - you could be playing one of the big games tonight (internet connection permitting, of course!)
Sip of wine every time a PlayStation 3 remaster is announced. Down the bottle if The Last Guardian is mentioned.
Man, it hasn't even started and I miss Jack Tretton's brand of melancholy triumph already.
IT IS HAPPENING.
Did they just call Sean Murray of Hello Games British? Ouch.
Well, when I say it I mean another stream of obnoxious music while we wait for our hosts to take the stage.
feistycheese: "They couldn't be any more British" They obviously haven't been to Preston town centre on a Saturday night.
Also Sean's not British. Whoops.
Po1ymorph: The Last Guardian...Its time.
Prepare for the ultimate disappointment!
I hope Sony's just trolled everyone and locked them in a room for an hour of this godawful noise.
Dear lord I'm beginning to sound my age. I just want to listen to Wings.
kamps09: Did i just spotted Oli Welsh in the crowd?
He told me he's out getting lashed in Forest Hill tonight!
Are we back at Tiger Tiger?
-cerberus-: Martin, just so you know, I've got some Bushmills left in case things take a turn for the worse.
Oh man, I hadn't thought to take to the whiskey just yet. Just the red for me right now - though the bourbon seems like a good idea if it carries on like this for much longer.
Someone should just make the most of it and get out of their chair to throw some shapes like a pilled-up Russian.
That's what I'm doing here in Lewisham, anyway.
I can't believe I thought for a second that a Sony conference would start on time.
Nothing gets me more excited than a panning shot of podgy white Americans sitting down in a darkened room.
(Says a podgy white man bouncing up and down in his chair in south east London)
Otis_Inf: @Martin Robinson: that wine is kicking in fast!
Dear lord, I've only had a sip. I better calm down.
Oh, what's this? We're actually up and running.
It's a soppy montage about the wonder of games. Screw that - I want to see Nathan Drake shoot some mens.
-cerberus-: Alright, let's go. The Last Guardian. Fingers crossed. Coming to PS5 in 2025.
I will drink the entire bottle of bourbon if that happens.
zzkj: This stream quality is shocking. Typical Twitch, the TGA yesterday was crystal clear on Youtube.
Yeah, the resolution's so bad they may as well be showing Xbox One games or something lolololol.
Obviously this is a room full of fans - but it always gets my back up when corporate success is met with such rabid screams.
But anyway - well done on shifting so many units Sony!
Straight in with the goods. Here's Uncharted 4.
Nathan Drake, looking a little grizzly, on a moody crop of rocks. It looks good!
marlinrowley: Unimpressed.. framerate is low too
Looks like 30 fps and running at 240p from where I am. I'm selling my PS4 tomorrow.
I do believe Uncharted 4 will be 60fps. Which is why it's slightly baffling it's being shown for the first time as we all watch on a slightly janky stream.
Tomb Raider had better wet rocks 7/10.
Oh man he nearly fell down - it looked like he was going to fall down but he didn't!
This looks very much like Uncharted - with a climbing axe that breaks up the platforming slightly. It's still very prescribed, though.
We're done with the platforming now - let's see how the combat's changed.
Carpetfluff: Okay, but the new climbing is just like TR's axe climbing. The walls even look the same.
It is, indeed, very, very similar.
After the dynamism of Uncharted 2's set-pieces I was hoping for something a little more spectacular. This is quite a dry debut for such a key game, I reckon.
Still, nice bushes.
Haha. Well, that buggy death just then is certainly all the evidence we need that this is really a live demo.
Unless falling through floors really is a new feature in Uncharted 4?
Now I've put my misery hat away, this is a very open level - and Naughty Dog's given Drake the tools to make the most of it.
There are Assassin's Creed-style takedowns, little flashes of stealth and lots of improvisation.
Still a 7/10 though.
From a pic Shu Yoshida just posted, it's Bruce Straley of Naughty Dog at the controls.
After the heavily scripted Uncharted 3, it's ace to see them making more space for the player this time out.
Alright, I'll admit it. I'm excited.
And now the San Diego studio. Is this another surprise?
Oh, it's baseball. Time to take a comfort break, if you need it.
Did they co-ordinate those checked shirts beforehand? Was there a work outing to H&M or something?
I've heard from a fair few people that MLB's supposed to be really good. But that's from people who like baseball so I usually don't bother listening.
The variety of checked shirts from this San Diego studio really is something.
Well, this checked hero is announcing a new game at least. It's a free-to-play one - we know you love those! - called Kill Strain.
Really stands out, that name.
What was it called again?
They show more imagination in their choice of checked shirts than they do in their character design and game titling, it seems.
Bow down before your god. From's Miyazaki in the house!
We're seeing a new feature, the chalice dungeon.
I *believe* this is the procedurally created dungeons in Bloodborne.
So basically this is Dark Souls meets Spelunky aka every other game in 2015 may as well just give up and go home.
Ror: Did Miyazaki just say Croydungeon? I did think Bloodborne might be set in Croydon.
Yeah, I think the game's just simulating a typical Saturday night out for Wes.
I'm still not 100 per cent sold on how dark it is, but this just looks better and better every time I see it.
darksoulsplayedme: Am I the only one that doesn't particularly like dark souls? I mean I get why people do like it but I'm just not excited for Bloodborne. :/ I wish I was on your guys level.
I know as many people who don't like Dark Souls as those who go nuts for it.
Cartho: What have I missed? Baseball and some Bloodborne? I can deal with that
And a little something called Uncharted 4 (it looked like Uncharted 1, 2
They're some chunky checks Adam Boyes is rocking. He got the memo, though.
I miss the days when paisley shirts were a thing. They'll conquer the world again, I'm sure.
Destiny? Never heard of it. Someone should write about it on the site some time.
kirinnokoshin: Another Destiny article
Ha! This whole live feed is another stealth Destiny article.
We're just getting a recap of the exclusive content that's coming as part of Tuesday's DLC release, The Dark Below.
A four-barrelled shotgun, basically, and an exclusive Strike.
Meh, looks like Halo but more boring.
Street Fighter 4 is coming to PS4.
As a precursor to Street Fighter 5, obviously.
I kind of want to know about stick support, though. This doesn't seem like the right platform to go into these kind of details, mind.
Street Fighter 4 is coming this spring, with all the updates and all the costume DLC. And a nice little nod to the SF5 leak there. I think they'll still end on it as they likely already had planned to.
Next announcement! Killing Floor 2 is coming to console first on PS4. Fill 'yer boots.
Cartho: If you've not played it, Killing Floor is badass
I've heard it's very, very good. Now seems like a good time to finally check it out!
Darkest Dungeon is another games making its console debut on PS4.
Aaaaand another new game coming to console first on PS4 - this time The Forest.
This is a genuine surprise - a new Vita game. Geometry Wars 3 is making its way to Sony's handheld.
Persona 5 news - and it's coming out day and date with Japan. Nice one!
And another Vita game! Bastion, this time, on the handheld as well as the PS4.
Announcements are coming thick and fast now. Like this one - Orcs Must Die Unchained!
It's coming to PS4. It's another one of those console debuts!
An EA announcement is being primed. It can't be EA Access, right?
Has Peter Moore tattooed his buttocks with the PS logo to celebrate the 20th anniversary?
I almost can't watch.
Head to the PS Store to pick up NFS: Most Wanted on Vita, Mirror's Edge on PS3 and Garden Warfare for free - that's on the US store, anyway, for a limited time.
He didn't get his arse out, sadly.
Here's another quickfire round of announcements, anyway. Dungeon Defenders 2, Skytorn, Severed and Shovel Knight.
Shovel Knight really is a delight - play it if you haven't already!
pomi: they are not free on EU store...
He said midnight PST - so it may still happen! We'll try to find out what we can.
Gaz Deaves from Rocksteady is up on stage to show off Arkham Knight. Hi Gaz!
Carpetfluff: Pretty sure he said noon Martin. So, an hour from now.
Ah, you're right. Still, we'll ask EA what the deal is!
snafu65: @ Martin. Gaz Greaves is up, full stop!
I don't think he's ever coming down, either.
So, there's exclusive Scarecrow DLC coming to PS4. But I think we knew that already.
Just as we knew that Arkham Knight looks very much like a Rocksteady Batman game (and that's a good thing, of course).
So here's the Street Fighter 5 announcement.
Would love to see more of the game in action than we saw on Friday - though this is still the same trailer.
Please be dressed as Chun-li, Yoshi!
Ah, he's not in drag. Still, hi Yoshi! He's the campest, loveliest man in the biz.
kafiota: Is Ono drunk?
Drunk on the love of Street Fighter!
So it's confirmed - Street Fighter 5 is exclusive to PS4 and PC.
Another console debut!
Cross-platform play between the two - that's pretty cool.
And there's no Tomb Raider trickery, it would seem - they're saying PS4 is the only console Street Fighter 5 will appear on.
There'll be a live demo next week - on the 13th.
And here's the gameplay. I'm hyped.
Dynamic stages seem to be a thing. Beyond that it's hard to see what's significantly new.
Gloriously untucked, this guy.
Yakuza 5 is coming to PS3, at long last.
Coming out summer 2015, while Yakuza 4 and Dead Souls are available for download today.
How about Yakuza 0, Sega?
So, when you say you're announcing new Vita games.... I'm not sure PS1 Classics count.
Anyway, Suikoden 1 and 2 are on their way. As is Towerfall.
Octodad and Timeforce are coming too, the latter featuring Shu Yoshida himself, it would seem.
Having Timeforce - the indiest of indies - on the indiest of platforms kind of makes sense.
Final port announcement - Resi Revelations 2 is coming to Vita.
Fair play to Sony for giving the Vita a dedicated part of this show. It's not going to save the handheld, but if you've got one already then.... WAIT WHAT, GANG BEASTS?
Toaster05: I'd buy a Vita for TxK alone.
Seriously, do it - absolutely stellar game.
Tim Schafer - have I spelt that right? - is up on stage now. A release date for Grim Fandango would be ace!
Top bantz between these two right here. Now it's done, we're being told that Broken Age is coming to PS.
January 22nd release for Grim Fandango Remastered.
And they're doing another remaster - Day of the Tentacle Special Edition.
They're not done yet - this has been an impressive line-up.
Shannon Studstill, the studio head, is rocking the Kratos t-shirt too.
What could it mean?
(Maybe not God of War, it seems - we're seeing games from four external studios)
First up! Fat Princess Adventure.
Oh.
My.
Lord.
Takahashi!
Screw The Last Guardian - this is the good stuff!
This is the chap behind Katamari Damacy and Noby Noby Boy, btw.
And he's basically the boss.
This is the first game from his new studio Funomena.
It's called.... Wattam?
Well, it looks like a Takahashi game, and that's good enough (oh, and it's not their first game - I'm an idiot - it's their third).
Giant Sparrow - them wot did Unfinished Swan - are up next.
What remains of Edith Finch be the name, and it's an artful, enigmatic game, it would seem. Hard to get much of a handle on it from that trailer - but it's ace to see Santa Monica continuing to support new, exciting games.
Talking of new, exciting games! Oh, wait. It's The Order.
pomi: Is Santa Monica these days just organizer/helper for external studios and their projects? I do hope they are making some games of their own for PS4.
They act as an incubator for other studios - and they're still doing their own thing, I believe.
The gunplay looks like an improvement over what we've seen before. Everything else, though...
Anyway, that's The Order - now it's on to the PS4's Tearaway.
Fine beards on show, and MM have evolved beyond the checked shirt. They're now in the realm of stripes.
TheVoice: Spaff is not a real name.
(his real name's James)
Carpetfluff: When I was at school, spaff was not something you would want to be called.
Haha, indeed.
This is, as you'd expect from Media Molecule, all rather fluffy and charming.
I got to play it earlier this week - it makes some novel use of the DS4 and seems different enough to the Vita original to make it worth a replay.
wellzy4eva: What announcements is everyone awaiting for now?
Shenmue 3, Half-Life 3 and The Last Guardian, mainly. Five minutes is enough to fit them all in.
lacerz: How long is this thing? Almost 2 hours in and some amazing announcements...
Two hours, I reckon - and it started ten minutes late, so we've got a little while.
If you ever wondered what would happen when David Cage crashes up against Hollywood horror, Until Dawn has you covered.
As a few of you have pointed out, that is indeed a well-starched towel.
This could well be the curtain closer.
Shinji Hashimoto from Square steps up. He's teeing up Final Fantasy 7.
Yeah. So, it's the original game.
On PlayStation 4. That's some epic trolling from Square there.
Ha, a slightly stunned, annoyed silence there from the crowd.
Did they expect people to be that excited for a port of a PC game that's readily available elsewhere?
That's quite a limp climax to what's otherwise been a really strong showing.
There's more though! We've got two announcements incoming.
Jumping Flash port next?
This is cute, anyway - 20 years of PlayStation history told through LittleBigPlanet 3.
Final bets on the last two announcements please!
Crash and God of War, perhaps?
Ah, of course - No Man's Sky makes its presence felt.
There's a new reveal inbound - one that's going to try and illustrate the scale of the universe.
It's being shown realtime on PS4.
Well, this continues to look absolutely astounding.
A handful of planets are explored, and we're getting a super-fast pan out from that to see the universe in as close to its entirety as we're ever likely to get.
The LOD transitions, I think, are totally understandable byproducts of the scale. Stop whining!
Oh god. The final game announcement is coming from David Jaffe.
He swears and everything. Great schtick. His game's called Drawn to Death - somewhat fittingly, it's a game drawn from a teenager's notebook.
Looks like Anarchy Reigns mixed with Mad World's art-style. Like that, but not as good.
It's pre-alpha, and they'll be taking feedback over the weekend.
That was somehow more disappointing than the announcement of a PS4 port of the PC port of Final Fantasy 7.
Still, think back to before the dismal climax and there was some awesome stuff in there - Uncharted 4 looks like it's made some interesting changes, Takahashi is doing something new on PS4 and No Man's Sky continues to be absolutely staggering.
Plus! Yakuza 5 finally comes west, and, well.... Street Fighter 5.
Resurrected-X460: @martin Robinson http://cdn.iwastesomuchtime.com/11192014002911.jpg I have nothing more to say
Haha, that's awesome!
Well, I'm going to carry on with my Saturday night - my heart filled with a mix of indifference and hope, as it ever is. Have a nice one!
The big takeaway, though, is that Square Enix are a mob of trolls.