After a slow start, PC gamers seem to have found their groove with PlayStation games. And with Sony reaffirming its intention to port catalog titles to PC, the floodgates are poised to open.
Guerrilla’s genre-bending Death Stranding arrived on PC in 2020, and zombie horde simulator Days Gone followed in 2021.
Returnal
After releasing titles like Resogun and Nex Machina, developer Housemarque was ready to take its first foray into AAA development. With the backing of Sony, Returnal was created to showcase the studio’s talent for melding visually stunning production and razor sharp gameplay. Now, PC players will finally get the chance to play the roguelike shooter and experience the game in its “definitive version.”
The studio’s announcement was made at the Game Awards 2022 and detailed a full set of features for the PC version. These include upscaling through DLSS, NIS, and AMD FSR to allow lower-end systems to enjoy the experience at a higher resolution and level of detail. Support for Ultrawide (21:9) and Super Ultrawide (3200×2160) monitors is also included, as well as ray-traced shadows and reflections. Additionally, Dolby Atmos and two 3D audio solutions are supported.
The PC version will launch on February 15 and can be pre-ordered via Steam or the Epic Games Store. It follows a year that saw many PlayStation Studios games make their way to PC, including God of War and Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection. Players can expect a haunting alien 3D bullet hell adventure when it arrives on PC. For more information, check out the game’s official PC system requirements and trailer. You can also learn more about the story behind Returnal and its secret and final endings, which left many confused.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn is an action role-playing game developed by Guerrilla Games, creator of PlayStation’s Killzone franchise. It takes place in the 31st century, in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by colossal machines. Humanity has regressed to tribal societies and survives in massive forests, imposing mountain ranges, atmospheric ruins, and the remains of ancient technology. The player controls Aloy, a hunter who uses her speed and cunning to outwit the machines.
The game received positive reviews from critics for its open world, visual design, combat, characterization, and voice acting. It was also praised for its pacing and adherence to a realistic post-apocalyptic setting. It was a commercial success, selling over 20 million copies as of February 2022. It was followed by an expansion, The Frozen Wilds, and a sequel, Horizon Forbidden West.
Guerrilla Games has released a trailer for the PC version of Horizon Zero Dawn, which is due to arrive on August 7. The Complete Edition will include the base game and the DLC The Frozen Wilds and will offer a range of features designed to appeal to PC gamers. These include support for ultra-wide displays, an unlocked framerate, dynamic foliage that can scale to suit a wide range of hardware, improved reflections, and more. There is even a benchmark tool built into the game to help players optimize their settings.
God of War
The God of War series has been a staple of the PlayStation platform since 2005, with five main games and several spinoffs. The 2018 reboot of the iconic action-adventure franchise was a major success and piqued the interest of many fans eager to see what happens next in Kratos’ Norse era.
With the release date of God of War Ragnarok fast approaching, questions about a PC port have been swirling. While the game’s director Cory Barlog has been coy on the subject, there are a few signs that a PC version is likely.
This week a Sony Santa Monica Studio developer who works in the community and social team by the name of “Blue Owlz: Medic” posted on Twitter that the hotly anticipated sequel is still set to arrive this year. This reassurance counteracted rumors that God of War Ragnarok could be delayed into 2023.
In the latest installment in the popular series, players will join Kratos and his son Atreus as they explore the Nine Realms of Norse mythology. Across stunning mythological landscapes, the father and son team will take on a host of fearsome enemies and wild beasts, as they search for answers to the prophesied end of the world. The game is set to launch on November 9, 2022, for PlayStation 4 and PS5. Those looking to get their fix of Leviathan Axe swinging earlier can play the remastered God of War II from 2018.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Sony’s been doing a lot of PC ports lately, and this 2023 release is another good example. Sackboy, the little PlayStation icon who never grows up, returns in this spin-off that takes him and his chums on an epic journey stuffed with platforming challenges.
The dastardly Vex has kidnapped Sackboy’s chums and is forcing them to build his Topsy Turver device, so it’s up to our woolly wonderkid and his friends to save the day. That means an epic race against time stuffed with danger and peril. Can Sackboy and gang beat the odds and become legend?
Developed by Sumo Digital, this isn’t the LittleBigPlanet of old. It’s a spin-off that drops the creation elements of the previous games, but it still has plenty to offer players. There are loads of power-ups to collect, side-scrolling action and meaningful challenge.
This version of Sackboy: A Big Adventure also features a ton of options for customization, including a whole new set of costumes that can be mixed and matched. There’s also fast loading between levels and support for 21:9 ultra-widescreen play.
The Standard Edition costs $60, while the Deluxe Edition adds a comic that gives some backstory on Scarlet. You’ll also get a digital soundtrack, additional costumes – like Connor from Detroit: Become Human, Jin from Ghost of Tsushima and Deacon from Days Gone – and emotes.