PlayTV hasn’t been updated in a while, but James Thorpe, PlayStation Network Product Manager, as given us a head-up that a major update will be coming by the end of the year. Testing of the new update has already begun but no details about what to expect were revealed except for one particular feature. Thorpe did tease that other “great enhancements to PlayTV and brand new features will also be included in the update.”
The second episode of FirstPlay is released tomorrow, and is packed full of new HD content and a free PSP Minis title. Episode 002 features a review of Super Street Fighter IV alongside previews of explosive racer Split/Second: Velocity and dog ‘em up Dead To Rights: Retribution. The PlayStation Network Highlights include a countdown of your best FIFA goals and a first look at Shinji Mikami’s new shooter Vanquish in the screenshot galleries. Check out a trailer of Episode 002 below.
The highly-anticipated, long-awaited release of Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City (including both The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony DLC packs) for PlayStation 3 is now available to download from the PlayStation Store. Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City is two complete game experiences as episodes set in Liberty City: The Lost and Damned, and The Ballad of Gay Tony.
This week’s UK PlayStation Video Store update was slightly delayed for reasons unknown. The update is finally live and is the biggest update to the video store since it was first launched. A total of 26 new movies are available to rent and 39 new movies are available to own this week. Check out the complete list of new titles below.
Enterbrain have revealed that the PS3 has now sold over 5 million units in Japan since it was first launched back in November 11th 2006. Sales up to April 11th 2010 put the exact number at 5,001,598 units in the region. Enterbrain also listed the top selling games for the PS3 and unsurprisingly, Final Fantasy XIII has sold the most copies.
We recently revealed that Episode 2 of FirstPlay will contain a free PSP Minis titles for customers. Sony has now officially announced what that PSP Minis title will be: Gameshastra’s D-Cube Planet, a classy action-puzzler in which players must manipulate sliding blocks in order to recover an alien spaceship. The title will be compatible on both the PSP and PS3.
Although an official release date for Gran Turismo 5 has yet to be revealed, we know that the game will be arriving sometime in Autumn 2010. It seems that a number of retailers are showing the release date as September 24th 2010, including Play.com, CDWOW, and Zavvi.co.uk. It wouldn’t be the first time a retailer has revealed an official release date before an official announcement.
According to the ESRB website, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) has a total of 15 new PSP titles in the works. Most (if not all) of the games appear to be downloadable efforts, considering the simplistic quality of their descriptions; however, these games are unlikely to be part of PlayStation Minis, as they are rated exclusively for PSP (Minis are playable on the PSP and PS3).
Research firm The Diffusion Group said that in the U.S., the PlayStation 3 has the highest percentage of broadband connected consoles when compared to Xbox 360 and Wii. In fact, 78% of PS3 users have their console connected to the Internet, compared to 73% of Xbox 360 owners and only 54% of Wii owners, according to Diffusion Group director of research Michael Greeson.
A few weeks ago we reported that Heavy Rain surpassed the million units sold mark. Sony has now officially confirmed that the title has indeed crossed the mark in just five weeks after release. “It has been hugely gratifying to see the positive response that Heavy Rain has received from gamers” says David Cage, the Writer and Director of Heavy Rain and CEO of Quantic Dream.
