Hello everyone… and happy 2024!!! We're at the start of the new year, I thought it would be a great idea to talk about our view of 2024. This Director's Take will be one part of a series where we frame up the year according to a set of values we're using to develop the game. These values translate into goals and specific additions and changes to the game. There's a lot of different things coming up this year that I want to share, so think of this as the first in a series of topics to cover.

One of the biggest values of the team is to improve Overwatch's individual and team focused gameplay to meet the needs of our core audience. When I look at the future of Overwatch, a year or two out, I don't see the exact same game that we're playing now, but with a few more heroes and maps added to it. The game should always evolve with new systems and features that serve our players. Some of these features could live just outside of a match, such as a map voting system.

Dear stalkers, last year, during Gamescom 2023, we finally had the chance to meet in person. We gathered around the campfire with you to share something valuable that we have been creating for you for all these years—a small part of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. Publicly, for the first time ever. Our one-time initiative then transformed into a journey from campfire to campfire across France, Brazil, Singapore and other countries. Thousands of players were able to play the game themselves and give us the much-needed feedback afterwards. And as true friends always do, you shared your honest thoughts about the game. Both positive and negative, and we are thankful for that. From your insights, we figured out two key points: the one to celebrate and the one to consider seriously.

The first one: the Zone remains the Zone. In its true beauty and after our likeness. The game absolutely feels and plays like S.T.A.L.K.E.R, the atmosphere, hardcore style, harsh and unwelcoming environment are ready to cook, and we can't be more grateful for these words, as they basically sum up both the key intention and the main inspiration for the project from the very beginning at the same time. The second one was: the gear in the backpack should be checked one more time to be completely sure it will not fail us in the most needed moment. On the technical side of things—the game needs more time.

Be it a big fancy car, a Brotato, a big ole boss, or a turnip (I couldn't find a way to make that one start with a "B") we've got characters for you to check out. Let's get ready to nail that pre-install button and get to the games!

Available Today
Those Who Remain (Cloud, Console, and PC)—As the lights go out, the embers of darkness are stoked in the sleepy town of Dormont. Confront uncomfortable horrors, keep your sanity in check, and survive the night in this story-driven, first-person psychological-thriller.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered launches January 19, and we here at Naughty Dog are so thrilled to offer new and returning players the definitive way to experience Ellie and Abby's story. Coupled with new behind-the-scenes features and new modes, Part II Remastered is intended to let players dive deeper into the story and gameplay than they ever have before. Ahead of launch later this week, we're excited to showcase a new features trailer that digs a little further into all the ways The Last of Us Part II Remastered enhances the original release. Check it out below.

For returning players who have been waiting to jump into the remastered version the $10 upgrade will be available as Part II Remastered launches! If you're an existing digital or physical owner of The Last of Us Part II on the PlayStation 4 console, head on over to the PlayStation Store as soon as Part II Remastered is available to purchase the upgrade. If you own The Last of Us Part II via a disc, you must insert disc copies into your PS5 via a disc drive to download and play the digital version of The Last of Us Part II Remastered. You'll be able to import existing saves from the original PS4 game and pick up from where you left off. Existing Trophy progress will also migrate to The Last of Us Part II Remastered.

Beelzebub and company are rolling out onto PlayStation 5 & 4, Xbox Series X|S and PC on April 26! In this action-RPG players will be able to explore a vast map with a wide array of vehicles in a world developed by the creator of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama. Become the main character, Beelzebub, and lead your company of heroic misfits on an extraordinary adventure in search of the Legendary Spring hidden in the desert. Between bandits, fierce wildlife, and the Royal Army, reaching the spring won't be easy! The latest trailer shows new story elements and exciting vehicular gameplay. Watch the release date trailer below along with PS Blog exclusive info on the newest revealed vehicles in SAND LAND!

Hovercar
As its namesake would imply, the Hovercar is a medium sized vehicle with the ability to hover, allowing it to easily traverse over wetlands and rough terrain. It can also use its boost to float to a greater height to elevate over ledges and cross gaps. When you find an area which seems to be difficult to drive through, like a quicksand biome, try the Hovercar to get out of a tough situation.

Forza Motorsport Update 4 introduces the prestigious Daytona International Speedway—a truly iconic racetrack renowned for its marvels in engineering. Meanwhile, a new Italian Challengers Featured Tour invites you to build four staples of Italy's automotive heritage! Let's dive into the details. Update 4 will be available to download on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PCs and Steam beginning on Tuesday, January 16. New events across the Career, Featured Multiplayer and Rivals will start on Thursday, January 18.

Get ready for race weekend with Daytona, new Spotlight cars and the Italian Challengers Tour
On Tuesday we'll share details about the fixes contained in Update 4. This version is focused on new content and events, and contains only minor fixes for car and track content compared to our previous updates. Work on game fixes to address top community issues is ongoing—look out for additional improvements in Update 5 and beyond.

Electronic Arts in Canada is actively recruiting for a VFX Director position at its Ripple Effect studio—the job listing implies that the ideal candidate will be set to work on the next mainline Battlefield title. EA has implemented a cross-studio development system, where multiple teams have helped to build AAA games, including their controversial plus troubled Battlefield 2042 entry—the popular online shooter series has been steered primarily by DICE in Stockholm, Sweden. Several satellite outfits assisted in producing BF 2042, including Ripple Effect (an "evolution" of DICE LA), but the multiplayer gaming community was disappointed to discover that EA's massive deployment of resources did not result in comprehensive environmental destruction within 2042's gargantuan maps.

Insider Gaming has been keeping tabs on recruitment drives at EA's miscellaneous "Battlefield 6" studios, in order to extract clues about the game's origins and progress. We know very little about the status of BF6, beyond Vince Zampella's declarations from Autumn 2023. His Los Angeles studio appears to be leading the charge; industry insiders believe that DICE Stockholm has been demoted in EA's studio hierarchy. The latest Ripple effect job advert provides a promising insight for Battlefield fans who enjoyed the "Levolution" aspect of Battlefield 4's changing environs: "We are looking for a Senior 3D Artist like you to help us create the most realistic and exciting destruction effects in the industry. You will report to our Art Line Manager, based in our studio in Los Angeles, CA. We are looking for candidates located in Vancouver with remote options." Zampella and Co. are likely having to up the ante, following the launch of "The Finals"—an Unreal 5 engine-powered shooter developed by former DICE veterans. Embark Studios have implemented some impressive destruction effects—serving as a key component of the game's mechanics.

From Programancer, the developer of Prison City and Dumpy & Bumpy, comes a brand new title: The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest! You're supposed to be the hero, but your spotlight was taken away! Rival Stan Helsing defeated Dracula first, now Simon Quest must embark on a journey of retribution to raise the Count from the dead piece-by-piece, slay him, and obtain the glory he deserves! Go on a perilous journey through the world of Transylvania.

Explore dark mansions, discover minigames, and collect different parts of Dracula to raise him from the dead…then kill him! The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest (TASQ) is a parody/homage platformer set in a dark 8-bit world. Reclaim your glory by resurrecting Dracula piece by piece and slaying the dark count yourself! Coming to Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Epic in 2025. Stay tuned for more platform announcements. Retroware is excited to announce this new project in development with Programancer! AND, if you're itching to get your hands on playing a preview of The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest (TASQ), YOU CAN at MAGFest 2024 at the National Harbor from January 18 to 21!

The scorching sun of SAND LAND is shining on the beginning of this year. The videogame based on Akira Toriyama's original work will release for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and PC on April 26th, 2024. Joining Beelzebub, the Fiend Prince, his chaperone Thief and Sheriff Rao, prepare to explore the vast desert and take on the Royal Army in various customizable vehicles. This unlikely team uniting humans and demons sets out on an adventure in search for the Legendary Spring capable of ending the terrible drought that has taken over the world. Together, they will travel beyond Sand Land to uncharted territories.

In this action-RPG, players will find a nostalgic and heartwarming world imagined by the creator of Dragon Ball, where you will become the main character Beelzebub. Learn how to control his powers and lead your company of heroic misfits exploring the legendary world of SAND LAND. Beware of the many dangers that populate it: between bandits, fierce wildlife, and the Royal Army, reaching the spring won't be easy! Use your tact and imagination to develop tanks and other vehicles that will help you navigate this vast land, using a wide array of part combinations. Pre-order SAND LAND now.

Titan Forge Games and Hi-Rez Studios have made the biggest announcement in SMITE history—SMITE 2! Become a god and wage war in SMITE 2, the Unreal Engine 5-powered sequel to the legendary third-person action MOBA. If you love rewarding teamwork, challenging competition, intense action, ability-driven third-person combat, or godly mythology, you'll see why 40+ million players love SMITE.

SMITE, EVOLVED
More than 40 million players have enjoyed SMITE. Now the next generation of action MOBA begins, with immersive next-gen visuals powered by UE5, more impactful combat, and new creative gameplay options to shape the game in your own way.

Our next Developer Update Livestream begins on January 18 at 9 a.m. PST and will unearth details about the next season's gameplay features, Season Journey, and quality-of-life updates. Plus, we'll also share information about the new competitive leaderboard system—The Gauntlet. Join associate director of community Adam Fletcher, game design manager Daniel Tanguay, quest designer Madeleine James, and lead class designer Adam Jackson, as they delve into the danger awaiting you in Diablo IV's third season.

We'll also hold a Q&A segment at the end of the stream for players to field their questions directly to the team. Visit our official Diablo Twitch and YouTube channels to watch live! Following the Developer Update Livestream's conclusion, we'll post another article with a video of the livestream so you can still catch up on the details if you miss them.

CD Projekt Red released the final chunks of post-launch content for their blockbuster action role-player last autumn—Cyberpunk 2077 was handsomely padded-out with a significant Update 2.0 as well as the well received Phantom Liberty campaign expansion. Company leadership confirmed in October that CDPR development departments would be focusing on a full-blown sequel, rather than produce further DLC add-ons for the first entry in the series. Igor Sarzyńsk, the sequel's narrative director, announced earlier this week that he had arrived at CD Projekt Red's recently established office in Boston, Massachusetts. This new outfit appears to be separate from CD Projekt's other East Coast studio: The Molasses Flood.

Sarzyńsk's tweet establishes that CDPR's new-ish North American team is working on Cyberpunk 2077 Part Deux: "First day in the Boston office! So good to meet old friends and officially kickstart our Orion journey. I couldn't be more excited for this project and I'm sure we can make it something special. 2077 was just a warm-up 🔥." Gaming news outlets have focused a lot of attention on Sarzyńsk's (slightly premature) implication that the CP2077 sequel is going to be greater in scope. The original game had a troubled development cycle, so it will be interesting to see how a combination of studio veterans and new staff get a handle on the successor—especially with a switch over to Epic's Unreal Engine 5. Cyberpunk 2077 was the final game to utilize the company's proprietary REDengine.

As we're getting closer to Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden's release on February 13, we—Focus Entertainment and DON'T NOD—are thrilled to share with you the touching new trailer for our game in which Antea and Red reveal the depth of their relationship. Delve into an intimate tale of love, death, and sacrifice that binds two lovers together. Navigate the challenges of being haunted ghost hunters and make tough decisions with profound consequences for the living, the dead, and your departed lover.

Life to the living, death to the dead
New Eden, 1695: Antea and Red are lovers and Banishers, trained spirit-hunters, protecting people from lingering specters. But when tragedy strikes and Antea herself becomes a ghost, you face a choice. Will you honor your Banisher oath or sacrifice the living in a desperate bid to bring your beloved back? Be prepared to face a tragic twist of fate when Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden releases on February 13th, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Pre-orders are open on all platforms.

The Crew Motorfest Season 2 kicked off on December 6, marking the start of the game's partnership with Hoonigan, a brand focused on building custom cars capable of performing difficult and precise driving - and looking cool while doing it. Hoonigan is known for their series of Gymkhana films, which feature rally driver and Hoonigan co-founder Ken Block performing incredible stunts in major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and more. They also created a YouTube series called This vs. That, which pits two customized cars against one another in a best-of-three drag race, and will frequently post new videos highlighting new and upcoming car builds. According to Hoonigan co-founder Brian Scotto, the company's mission statement (other than not to have a mission statement) is to be nimble and have fun, all in service of entertaining their audience (and themselves).

For Season 2, Hoonigan has completely taken over The Crew Motorfest, bringing a new Playlist, Gymkhaha Grid Masters, as well as curated weekly events on the Main Stage, monthly challenges, a car playground just offshore of the main island, and, of course, bespoke Hoonigan cars that can be earned by completing challenges or purchased from the in-game store. Some of the vehicles include Scotto's 1993 Porsche 911 Turbo TWB, Scotto's 1990 Audi Coupé Quattro, the 1965 Ford Hoonicorn Mustang, the 1988 Chevrolet Big Block ZZ632 Camaro, and the Audi S1 E-Tron Quattro Hoonitron 2021, among many others.

Since launch, we—Mojang—have been working hard together with Blackbird Interactive to bring improvements and new features to Minecraft Legends based on your feedback. With Minecraft Legends, we took a completely new approach to gameplay, so much so that we had to make up a new genre for it (kind of): action strategy. Our community has always helped us shape our games and that's something we value greatly, especially when launching a completely new game. The latest title update brought the fearless frog, witches, clangers, air choppers and a host of enhancements to the game's mechanics, making the battles in Minecraft Legends even more intense. And, thanks to your input, we've made various tweaks to the gameplay and interface, from enhanced pathfinding to a more comprehensive Battle View UI.

A DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
Since launch, we've listened to community feedback and implemented a series of changes and tweaks to make the game better. With that complete, we're now going to take a step back from development. While we won't be releasing any new content (i.e. updates, Lost Legends, or Marketplace DLC) for Minecraft Legends, the fun doesn't stop here. We'll continue having a blast playing the game alongside our community because those rowdy piglins are showing no signs of slowing down. Plus, we're leaving you one last freebie: the Bright-Eyed Hero skin, which you can claim now on Minecraft Legends Marketplace. Illuminate your path forward and continue fighting the good fight!

You're about to get an exciting look at some of the incredible games ahead with Xbox, as we present a new edition of Developer_Direct. On Thursday, January 18 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm UK, fans will get an inside look at a selection of highly anticipated games coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass. Shortly after, ZeniMax Online Studios will host The Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal at 1pm PT / 4pm ET / 9pm UK to preview 2024's biggest update.

Presented by the game creators themselves, Developer_Direct offers an in-depth look at upcoming titles, how they're being created, and who's creating them. We'll visit MachineGames in Sweden to check in on their Indiana Jones game, swing by Obsidian's Irvine offices to see more from Avowed, head to Oxide Games' Maryland home to learn about Ara: History Untold, and take a trip to Cambridge, England to see Senua's Saga: Hellblade II from Ninja Theory. Please note that while this show won't have updates on games from Activision Blizzard, you can look forward to news from those teams later this year.

We know it's been a long wait but it's finally time to reveal more about the PC release of Helldivers 2. We know what's on your mind, first and foremost: Is it crossplay? And we're pleased to announce that Helldivers 2 supports crossplay! That means your teammates on PC can play with you on PS5 and vice versa. Community and teamwork are the most important pillars of Helldivers 2, and so it is essential to ensure players can work together regardless of the system they choose to use. Together we can celebrate victories, mourn losses, and liberate the galaxy without platform boundaries.

As part of this announcement, we're also finally able to provide you with the minimum, recommended, performance, and ultra system specifications for PC players to ensure that no matter what kind of equipment your squad uses to play - PS5 or PC with a broad range of supported PC hardware - you'll be able to spread Managed Democracy together.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown launches on January 18 (or on January 15 for Ubisoft+ subscribers and owners of the Digital Deluxe Edition), whether you're playing on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Amazon Luna. The game offers up challenging combat and platforming, but the development team at Ubisoft Montpellier want to ensure that as many people as possible are able to play.

About Prince of Persia The Lost Crown:
Dash into a stylish and thrilling action-adventure platformer set in a mythological Persian world where the boundaries of time and space are yours to manipulate.
Play as Sargon and evolve from sword-wielding prodigy to extraordinary legend as you master acrobatic combat and unlock new Time Powers and unique super abilities.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a fast-paced action-adventure that challenges players with a wide variety of lethal monsters and traps, most of which take speed and precision to conquer—which means that smooth, responsive performance is especially important. To that end, Sargon's adventure through Mount Qaf will target at least 60 frames per second on all platforms when it launches on January 18 (or on January 15 for Ubisoft+ subscribers and owners of the Digital Deluxe Edition), whether you're playing on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Amazon Luna. First, let's take a look at the PC specs below.

The Story of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Sargon, trained as a weapon to serve Persia, is on a mission to save its heir to the throne, Prince Ghassan. This perilous journey is sending him to Mount Qaf, where time no longer flows swift and sure in one direction. Sargon along with the other Immortals head to Mount Qaf to save the Prince, but it doesn't take long before he finds himself splitting paths, with some of the Immortals on a conflicting trajectory. Maybe that's because time seems to be mysteriously intertwined here and sometimes the past can happen after the present. No matter the cost, Sargon continues to strive when all odds are against him, gaining strength along the way.

Here's a sight for sore eyes if you're Mana fan - we're excited to announce an entirely new entry in the series coming in 2024: Visions of Mana! This beautiful new game is the first mainline instalment in the Mana series in over 15 years and returns to its action-RPG roots for an expansive, vibrant adventure across a semi-open field. You can get a look at what to expect in the new trailer or read on and we'll tell you all about this exciting and vibrant new adventure!

What is Visions of Mana?
You take the role of Val - a curious and carefree young man who lives in the Fire Village of Tianeea. Once every four years, the Faerie visits regions of the world to choose alms - people who are fated to travel to the Tree of Mana, which presides over the world's vital flow of mana. Val invites his childhood friend to a festival to welcome the visitor, but as the night falls, the sky lights up with sparkling lights and the Faerie chooses her as the alm. With the blessings of his village, Val sets out on a journey to accompany his friend to the Tree of Mana as her soul guard.

Paradox Interactive and The Chinese Room have announced that the Banu Haqim are a playable clan in Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2. Focusing on stalking, assassination, and outmaneuvering enemies, the Banu Haqim specialize in combat from the shadows with unseen maneuvers and silent takedowns. Known for keeping their bloodlust in check, the Banu Haqim are fiercely devoted to upholding a moral code, dealing with threats, and handing out consequences. They lurk in the shadows, using their vampiric Disciplines to hunt and remain hidden, dealing swift and precise strikes to enforce their sense of justice.

"Making Phyre a Banu Haqim changes how players approach combat, offering a unique perspective to the game's world," said Alex Skidmore, Project Creative Director at The Chinese Room. "Players must approach encounters carefully to make the most of this clan's gifts, timing their strikes with finesse and precision to achieve their goals. These Kindred are patient and careful, making them ideal for players looking for a strategic experience."

Unlock the rich history and stories of two remarkable civilizations—The Mountain Royals is now live! The exciting next expansion is available now on Steam, and the Microsoft & Xbox Stores. There so much to delve in to with two new civilizations, three new, fully-voiced campaigns, plus the newly updated Persian civilization.

Prepare to embark on a legendary journey as we introduce the "The Mountain Royals" DLC for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. Unlock the rich history and untold stories of two remarkable civilizations, the Armenians and Georgians, and immerse yourself in three captivating new campaigns: Tamar, Thoros the Great, and Ismail. Lead the Charge! Forge Empires! Get "The Mountain Royals" DLC Now and Conquer History Anew!

Sanctuary beckons you forth, wanderer. On November 4, at 2:30 pm PDT, a glimpse into the future of Diablo IV will be revealed live to all at BlizzCon. Join associate game director Brent Gibson, production director Tiffany Wat, lead game producer Kalyeigh Calder, game director Joe Shely, and associate director of community Adam Fletcher, who will introduce content releasing during Season of Blood and beyond.

On the first day of BlizzCon, Q&A questions for the Campfire Chat will be gathered in-person from a box in the Diablo hall, along with any from social media. Then, we'll have a Q&A segment at the end of the stream where the team will answer questions collected from the community.

It's finally time to climb! Jusant, our action-adventure puzzle climbing game, is out right now on PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S (and on Xbox Game Pass), and PlayStation 5! We answered all your burning questions about Jusant in our FAQ (here). In a world devoid of water sits a tower so tall that it stretches beyond the clouds. What is this structure? What lies at the top? What happened to all the people? There's only one way to find out—climb.

The game's atmospheric original soundtrack, composed by Guillaume Ferran, is available to buy too. You can get the game together with the original soundtrack on Steam in this bundle or on its own. You can get it on your favorite digital platforms too—including Spotify and Apple Music amongst others—courtesy of Kid Katana. Find the soundtrack here.

Good evening Kindred, today we shared some very exciting news on our Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 news stream! We were joined by Sean Greaney (EVP of Darkness) and Ian Thomas (Narrative Director at TCR), who discussed some of the game's features relating to both narrative and roleplaying. In case you missed it, you can find it below. In the stream, we were introduced to the protagonist of Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2; Phyre, an Elder vampire at odds with the voice in her head, who confronts Seattle's powerful elites at war over the City's fate.

Players choose Phyre's clan and gender and begin exploring a re-imagined Seattle filled with compelling characters while maneuvering through complex relationships. Choices and conversations (even outfits!) shape how the environment and characters react to Phyre, changing how the story unfolds.