Sony executive deputy president and CFO Hiroki Totoki made a number of declarations at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference that took place on March 6, 2023. Totoki-san outlined corporate strategies for the Japanese technology and entertainment giant. During a discussion about Sony Group Corporation's investment budgets, he stated that 700 billion Yen has been allocated to spend strategically across several company divisions in 2023, this converts to just over 5 billion US dollars. This represents the remainder of a 2 trillion Yen budget that was announced back in 2021, as a three year long strategic investment plan.

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced today the global launch of its next generation virtual reality headset, PlayStation VR2. Featuring high fidelity visuals, new sensory features and enhanced tracking, PlayStation VR2 takes virtual reality gaming to a whole new level, enabling players to feel a heightened range of sensations unlike any other. The PlayStation VR2 headset and included PlayStation VR2 Sense controller is available at the recommended retail price of $549.99 / €599.99 / £529.99 / ¥74,980

"Providing extraordinary experiences to gamers is what we strive for at PlayStation, and today we are thrilled to start this new chapter in virtual reality gaming with PlayStation VR2," said Jim Ryan, President and CEO, Sony Interactive Entertainment. "PlayStation VR2's innovative technology has helped unlock the creativity of the industry's finest developers, who have designed outstanding games that deliver a greater sense of presence for players. I can't wait for fans around the world to experience PlayStation VR2 for themselves."

This week's big AAA game is yet another console port—a PS5 port in this case—that should hopefully have impressive graphics on the PC as well. However, there's a second big release this week that'll be available on all major platforms. We also have some other interesting releases to look forward to and as it's week seven, we decided to throw in seven games in the list this time.

Returnal / This week's AAA title / Wednesday 15 February
Break the cycle as this award-winning third-person shooter brings bullet hell action to PC. Selene's roguelike odyssey arrives with a suite of arresting graphical and performance-based enhancements to ensure an unforgettable journey. This includes the full Returnal experience, complete with Suspend Cycle, Photo and Co-op Modes, as well as the Tower of Sisyphus included from day one.

2K and Marvel Entertainment announced that Marvel's Midnight Suns is now available worldwide on Windows PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series X|S. The PlayStation 4 (PS4), Xbox One and Nintendo Switch versions of the game will be available at a later date. Created by Firaxis Games, the legendary studio behind the critically-acclaimed, world-renowned XCOM and Civilization franchises, Marvel's Midnight Suns combines the rich story, character relationships, customization, and progression of an RPG with the tactical strategy and combat mechanics of a revolutionary new card-based tactics game.

Marvel's Midnight Suns launched to critical acclaim, with VGC awarding it at 5 out of 5, calling it a "modern strategy classic;" PC Gamer said it was "completely brilliant" and scored it an 88 out of 100, and Rock Paper Shotgun called it "one of the best super hero games full stop." "The Firaxis team has created a remarkable game in Marvel's Midnight Suns," said Jay Ong, Executive Vice President at Marvel Games. "Marvel authenticity and love for our characters permeates every battle, decision, and interaction. It's a dream come true for any Marvel fan who ever fantasized of being able to not just fight alongside legendary Marvel heroes, but to live among them as well."

OddBallers, the new multiplayer party game, releases on January 26 for Switch, Xbox One, PS4, and PC, as well as Xbox Series X|S and PS5 via backwards compatibility. A new type of dodgeball game, players in Oddballers can throw anything and everything at their opponents to win - the more absurd, the better. With many different arenas, a variety of mini-games, and perilous environments that include electric fences, explosive gas tanks, and tennis ball launchers, OddBallers provides a fresh experience with every match.

Up to six players can compete locally on the Switch, and up to four players on other platforms. For long-distance competitions, dodgeballers can also play OddBallers online, taking on opponents around the world. Each match also comes with customizable accessibility features, allowing players to adjust match length and difficulty. Players can also customize their avatar, celebratory dance moves, and choose which mini-game to play thanks to OddBaller's custom mode. You can pre-order OddBallers today, and be sure to challenge your friends and family to some goofy dodgeball when the game releases on January 26, and stay tuned to Ubisoft News for more updates.

astragon Entertainment, in collaboration with developer studio Aesir Interactive, releases Police Simulator: Patrol Officers both digitally and at retail for PC and consoles today. Players start their career with the Brighton Police Department to enforce law and order in the streets of the fictive US coastal city of Brighton and get an insight into everyday police work. At the same time as the release, the Urban Terrain Vehicle DLC is also available at a price of 2.99 Euro/2.49 GBP/2.99 USD, which includes a fancy patrol car. Players who have already purchased Police Simulator: Patrol Officers in Early Access or pre-ordered the game will receive the DLC for free.

Before they start their first shift, players can choose between eight different characters to start their police career with. A variety of challenging tasks await them, with the difficulty and complexity increasing as the police officers climb the career ladder. Initially, they distribute parking tickets on foot, but soon the players receive their first patrol car, are allowed to catch speeders, solve accidents and track down suspects. Particularly experienced officers can eventually even solve robberies and arrest drug dealers. As you play, new interactions, vehicles and precincts are continuously unlocked, making no shift feel like the previous one. In addition, a game mechanic has been implemented that tracks and rates the player's behavior, where bad behavior can quickly lead to dismissal. In addition, Police Simulator: Patrol Officers offers players the possibility to go on patrol in pairs in the online co-op mode and thus keep law and order in Brighton.

Mythical landscapes and fearsome Norse gods and monsters lay in wait as Kratos and Atreus explore the Nine Realms in the highly anticipated God of War Ragnarök, coming this November. The follow up to PlayStation's critically acclaimed God of War title is certain to capture the imagination and excitement of gamers, and it has inspired Seagate to offer a new special edition external hard disk drive (HDD) Game Drive featuring one-of-a-kind artwork inspired by the game.

Adding to Seagate's expanding line of PlayStation storage for gamers, the new officially licensed Seagate special edition God of War Ragnarök Game Drive for PlayStation 5 (PS5) and PlayStation 4 (PS4) consoles features a stunning design based on the title and customizable LED RGB light. The external 2 TB HDD expands storage capacity letting players spend less time managing console storage and more time gaming.

Publisher Meridiem Games is thrilled to announce the signing of the hand-drawn, enigmatic, point & click adventure The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo from solo developer Nacho Rodriguez coming to PC and consoles in 2023.

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo transports players to a surreal and amazing world, beautifully created in hand-drawn 2D animation, combining hilarious puzzles with point & click adventure gameplay. With over 20 years of experience as a 2D animator, solo developer Nacho Rodiguez is creating a gameplay experience unlike anything players have experienced before. Players must guide the protagonist Mr. Coo, who is trapped in a surreal nonsensical world where quirky characters and crazy situations are hidden around every corner. Fans who would like to experience some of the innovative gameplay The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo will offer when it's released can download an early PC demo from Steam here as well as add the game to their wishlist for PC and on PlayStation at the PlayStation Store.

SOEDESCO launches first-person horror mystery game Charon's Staircase on Steam, Epic Games Store, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. In order to announce the news, SOEDESCO and Indigo Studios released an exciting launch trailer, available in multiple languages.

Uncover the dark secrets that lie beneath Oack Grove
In Charon's Staircase, you set out to bury the horrible past of an institution called "The Ministry" by retrieving and destroying classified documents. Venture through nightmarish landscapes, solve puzzles, decipher codes, and avoid dangers to unravel the macabre events that took place years ago in the experimental facility of Oack Grove. Charon's Staircase is a story filled with mystery while telling a dark and dramatic narrative through its ominous environments, chilling details and fully-voiced narration. Will you discover the terrifying truth and find your way out?

Warner Bros. Games and DC today announced that Gotham Knights, the new open-world, third-person action RPG (role-playing game), is now available for PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S and PC and is playable either solo or as a two-player online cooperative (co-op) experience.

Developed by Warner Bros. Games Montréal, Gotham Knights features Batman Family characters - Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin - a new guard of highly trained DC Super Heroes who must rise up as the protectors of an increasingly vulnerable Gotham City in the wake of Batman's death. Introducing an original story set in DC's Batman Universe, players must solve mysteries that connect the darkest chapters in the city's history, while engaging in epic confrontations and encounters with notorious DC Super-Villains, such as the cold-blooded Mr. Freeze, mastermind criminal influencer Harley Quinn, shape-shifting colossus Clayface and the mysterious Court of Owls, a secret society made up of Gotham City's wealthiest families.

Today, 2K announced PGA TOUR 2K23, the latest entry in the golf simulation video game franchise from HB Studios, is now available worldwide on PlayStation 5 (PS5), PlayStation 4 (PS4), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC via Steam. Featuring PGA TOUR icon and all-time sports great Tiger Woods as cover athlete, PGA TOUR 2K23 celebrates Woods' legacy by introducing him as both a playable in-game pro and an Executive Director advising the game's development team.

"As we launch this next evolution of the franchise, there's been no better partner to work with for PGA TOUR 2K23 than our legendary cover athlete Tiger Woods," said Alfie Brody, Vice President of Global Marketing Strategy at 2K. "Throughout his career, Tiger has changed the culture of golf in terms of representation, fashion, prestige and attitude. Those are all qualities espoused by PGA TOUR 2K23, and the franchise as a whole."

Leading gaming accessories maker Turtle Beach Corporation (NASDAQ: HEAR) today announced the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX for PlayStation is now available at participating retailers worldwide. For PlayStation fans gaming on PS5 and PS4, Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX expands compatibility to include Nintendo Switch, Windows PCs and Mac, while Bluetooth connectivity makes the 700 MAX great for mobile gaming. Long-lasting 40+ hour battery life adds to the already robust and impressive suite of sound and comfort-driven features that have made Turtle Beach's Stealth 700 series best-selling premium wireless headsets for years. Turtle Beach's Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX, the preeminent premium wireless gaming headset for PlayStation, comes in a stunning Cobalt Blue with Copper trim or Black with Silver trim for $199.99/£179.99/€199.99 MSRP.

Earlier this year Turtle Beach launched the Xbox version of the Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX and it immediately picked up where its predecessors had left off. IGN called the new MAX model, "Amazing" and gave it a 9/10 review score plus the publication's Editors' Choice designation, naming it the "Best Wireless Xbox Headset" in their Best Gaming Headsets 2022 list, as well as a "Best High-End Gaming Headset." Additionally, CG Mag gave the Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX for Xbox a 9.5/10 review score plus their Editor's Choice designation as well, saying, "The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX headset is the contender to beat for best headset 2022."

Skullcandy, the #1 selling brand in Stereo Headphones and True Wireless Earbuds under $100, announced today its re-entry to the gaming category with a trio of value-packed headsets for all skill levels. Offering compatibility across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and mobile, the all-new SLYR, SLYR Pro and PLYR Multi-Platform Gaming Headsets were purpose built for gamers, delivering rich, detailed sound, crystal-clear communications and all-day comfort. The collection is rolling out now at Skullcandy.com, starting at $59.99 MSRP for SLYR and ranging to $129.99 MSRP for PLYR.

"Everyone knows Skullcandy offers a premium sound experience and getting back into gaming is something our fans have been requesting for years-We're stoked to release our new multi-platform gaming collection into the wild," said Jason Luthman, Director of Global Product Management, Skullcandy. "As gamers will attest, exceptional audio, seamless communication and comfort are absolutely crucial. From illuminating unique nuances with personalized audio profiles, to executing crystal-clear player-to-player comms, we packed PLYR, SLYR Pro and SLYR with the must-have technologies gamers demand for fully immersive play."

An upcoming hardware revision of the Sony PlayStation 5 (PS5) that's slated for 2024, reportedly unifies the two current models that the console comes in—one with a Blu-ray drive, and one without. The PS5 currently comes in a model with an optical drive that's popular in markets with slow Internet connections, and targets those who prefer physical copies of their games; while another model completely lacks an optical drive, and is available in markets with fast Internet access, and for those who keep digital libraries of the games they bought.

The 2024 revision would unify the two designs, and feature a modular form-factor, where the optical drive can be optionally purchased (or is part of bundles). This drive slots into the console's body, and connects to it via a 5 Gbps USB-C connection. This way, Sony saves on costs from having to do separate production runs for the two models, and earn some revenue on the ODD. The current digital-only PS5 model comes with a firmware-level restriction that prevents you from plugging in aftermarket USB Blu-ray drives, or even connecting one to its mainboard's SATA interface.

BenQ, one of the world's leading brands in DLP projectors, introduces the TH690ST 4LED gaming projector with short-throw technology. The new addition to BenQ's gaming projector series is great for all types of entertainment, whether for console gaming or watching movies and series or for broadcasting live sporting events. Via the 2 HDMI (2.0b) interfaces, the TH690ST can be used with all popular gaming consoles, such as the Sony PS5/PS4, Nintendo Switch or Xbox series and is the perfect partner for fast-paced virtual sports, response-critical FPS and time-sensitive battles. With its 1080P HDR picture quality, low input lag of just 8.33 ms at 120 Hz and brightness of 2300 ANSI lumen, the TH690ST is now available in stores at a suggested retail price of €1,199 including VAT.

With an image diagonal of up to 100 inches from a distance of only 1.5 meters from the projection surface, the TH690ST 4LED short-throw projector is a cost-effective alternative to large-screen TVs. For easy and convenient projection from different positions in the room, the 2D keystone correction eliminates trapezoidal effects and optimizes image alignment. With its 4LED light source, the TH690ST offers compelling image quality with high brightness, clear contrast and balanced saturation. The lifespan of the LED light source is rated at 30,000 hours in ECO mode, which, assuming approximately 4 hours of daily use, equates to approximately 21 years of use without the need for a replacement.

-Leading gaming accessories maker Turtle Beach Corporation today announced the Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX and Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB wireless gaming headsets for PlayStation are now available at participating retailers. The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX for PlayStation adds longer battery life and expanded compatibility to the acclaimed set of features that have made Turtle Beach's Stealth 600 series headsets award-winning, best-selling products for years. The Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB for PlayStation also extends battery performance while maintaining the 600's original attractive $99 MSRP. The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX for PlayStation comes in Black, Midnight Red, and Arctic Camo for $129.99 MSRP, while the Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB for PlayStation comes in Black with Blue trim or White with Blue trim for $99.99 MSRP.

"Our Stealth 600 MAX and USB models for PlayStation give gamers on PS5 and PS4 the premium sound and comfort they desire, plus exclusive Turtle Beach audio features like Superhuman Hearing for a competitive advantage," said Juergen Stark, Chairman and CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. "The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX uses 50 mm speakers compared to 40 mm for most competitors in this price range, and now it delivers the same powerful, lag-free wireless audio for Nintendo Switch and Windows PCs. Combined with an upgraded battery life, we expect the Stealth 600 series to continue to lead the category."

Today, 2K announced that NBA 2K23, the latest iteration of the top-rated NBA video game simulation series of the past 21 years, is now available worldwide on PlayStation 5 (PS5), PlayStation 4 (PS4), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. NBA 2K23 offers an authentic and hyper-real basketball experience showcasing all-new gameplay innovations and animations, the coveted return of the Jordan Challenge mode, an immersive online community experience, and so much more.

"As a franchise, we strive to be at the forefront of basketball culture, and we're excited for players to get their hands on NBA 2K23 to see the game come to life," said Greg Thomas, President at Visual Concepts. "With the return of the Jordan Challenges, NBA 2K23 asks players to answer the call and experience some of the greatest performances in basketball history. The incredible attention to detail has led to our most realistic and authentic title yet, with fun integrations that long-time basketball fans and new players will enjoy."

Considering Sony's recently announced price hike for the PS5 (in whatever soil lies outside the U.S.), the question remained whether Microsoft would follow suit. Sony's claimed reasons for the price hike, stemming from rising inflation and increased production costs, are certainly general and actual enough that they could be true for any business. Yet it seems that Microsoft is either not operating in the same global landscape as Sony - or perhaps the company is merely more willing to shoulder the additional costs so as not to increase pricing.

Speaking with Windows Central, Microsoft clarified that "We are constantly evaluating our business to offer our fans great gaming options. Our Xbox Series S suggested retail price remains at $299 (£250, €300) the Xbox Series X is $499 (£450, €500)." Which is actually a great thing, especially considering that gamers around the world are still underserved in the amount of available PS5 and Xbox consoles that have been made available to buy. The Xbox stock situation has improved faster than that of the PS5, but there are still millions of gamers who haven't been able to get their hands on one or the other - and those still waiting for a PS5 console for no fault of their own are now dealing with increased pricing on an almost 2-year-old console.

Today, we are thrilled to unveil the DualSense Edge wireless controller for PlayStation 5, the first-ever high-performance, ultra-customizable controller developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Designed to give you an edge in gameplay by allowing you to create custom controls, the DualSense Edge wireless controller invites you to craft your own unique gaming experience tailored to your playstyle.

You can make the DualSense Edge wireless controller uniquely yours by remapping or deactivating specific button inputs and fine-tuning your aim by adjusting stick sensitivity and dead zones (the distance your analog stick moves before it's recognized in a game). In addition, each trigger is adjustable with options to tailor travel distance and dead zones to your preference. For example, you can manually reduce travel distance of the triggers for faster inputs in competitive FPS games or reduce the dead zone for precise throttle control in racing games.

Give yourself the freedom to position your hands as you desire with this darn cute spacesaver. The Shrimp can enable some proper ergonomics. No more twisting your keyboard, hands and shoulders into awkward angles to find a feasible gaming position. The Shrimp can serve you both at home and on travels. At home it will wait patiently for when you hop into gaming.

The Shrimp is amazing for travelling. When normally travelling with a gaming laptop, you most likely carry a gaming mouse with you. You would probably not carry your keyboard along as it's way too big. You probably also don't much enjoy using the keyboard on your laptop. Tiny keys without proper feedback, hand positioned almost touching the laptop screen, yikes! The Shrimp is definitely something that would fit your backpack.

Jade Ember Studios is proud to announce Reliquary, a story-driven action-adventure game in which you explore the preserved ruins of a vanished empire as you fight your way through a land teeming with monsters, magic, and lost technology.

Reliquary is an original 3D, action-adventure title with an emphasis on character-driven story and ability-driven exploration and progression, taking influence from titles like Metroid Prime, Hyper Light Drifter, and Tomb Raider (2013), planned for release in the coming December-February window for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC, with additional PS5 and Xbox Series versions planned for 2023.

Indie publisher Digerati is delighted to announce it's teaming up with developer Charge Games to bring clone sacrificing puzzle-platformer, Overloop, to PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Overloop will launch first on PC, arriving 26th August on Steam, Epic, GOG, Humble, and other storefronts. The console versions will follow in Q4 2022 (exact release date TBC). Created by Charge Games - a development duo of George Kobyakov (programmer, game design, artist) and Charles Bardin (narrative design, sound design) - Overloop is a light-hearted adventure set in a dark future where big brain scientists create a cloning gun - the Quantum Matter Replication Device - and their profit-hungry paymasters sell it to the masses, with disastrous consequences.

"We are a small team, but we are huge game fanatics. We're especially crazy about fun gameplay, atmosphere, and humor. And story. And music," explains Kobyakov. "Our goal was to successfully combine all these elements into a game, and we think we've achieved that with Overloop. It's the game we've always wanted to create and we can't wait to share it with the world!"

During this year's Flash Memory Summit, Phison, a company known for SSD controllers and now flash drives, demonstrated a system running AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors based on Zen 4 architecture. What is interesting about the shown specification is that the system was running an engineering sample of an upcoming Zen 4-based CPU with the latest storage technologies at impressive speeds. Using a Phison PS5026-E26 SSD controller, also called E26, the PCIe 5.0 SSD is powered by Micron's latest 232-layer TLC NAND flash. This new NAND technology will also bring greater densities to the market by promising higher endurance, higher read/write speeds, and better efficiency.

With AMD's upcoming AM5 platform, support for PCIe 5.0 SSDs is a welcome addition. And we today have some preliminary tests that show just how fast these SSDs can run. In CrystalDiskMark 8.0.4, it achieved over 10 GB/s in both read and write. We know that the E26 controller is capable of 12 GB/s speeds, so more fine-tuning is needed. Being an early sample, we expect final specifications to be better. The system is powered by an engineering sample of a six-core, twelve-threaded Zen 4 CPU running at unknown clocks, codenamed 100-000000593-20_Y. We can expect to see more of this technology once AMD's AM5 platform lands and Phison-powered SSDs hit the shelves in September.

Western Digital Corp. and Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC ("SIE") teamed up to deliver the industry's first official PlayStation -licensed M.2 SSD for PlayStation 5 (PS5) to gamers across the globe. The WD_BLACK SN850 NVMe SSD for PS5 Consoles enables players to expand the high-speed storage capacity of their PS5 console and gives them peace of mind knowing that their new and favorite titles are stored on a drive that's been battletested to take on the most intensive PS5 gameplay.

Optimized for the newest-generation console, Western Digital validated drive performance through multiple scenarios to ensure the drive has been fully tested for the PS5. This process included hundreds of hours spent rigorously testing some of the most graphic-rich titles across various genres to ensure that with games stored on the drive, gameplay is fast, smooth and visually immersive.

NACON, a major player in the design and distribution of video games and gaming accessories, today announced the launch of the RIG PRO Series Gaming Headsets in its European markets. The PRO Series comprises of nine headsets from the popular 300 PRO, 500 PRO, and 800 PRO ranges and will be available from this autumn 2022.

"It's great to be able to launch the next generation of PRO headsets in Europe, that offers gamers many options to suit their play style," said NACON Global Business Director for RIG, Gregory Morquin. "We also wanted to deliver a significant upgrade to the popular 800 Series of wireless headsets by adding a unique charge dock with a removeable USB wireless adaptor. The entire PRO series gives players audio performance to help them play better at an incredible price."