Share of the Week: Changing Seasons

Sony has revealed the new PS5 April Update, the first major update for the new generation of PlayStation, going live tomorrow. Here is what you can expect from the PS5 April update, including improvements that PlayStation 4 players can enjoy. PS5 April Update Details With game file sizes continuing to get bigger and bigger, storage expansion is key. The new update will increase the storage for PS5 players, making the system compatible with external USB drives, making it easy to transfer PS5 games to an extended storage option. Switching back from external to internal storage is also easy, promises Sony, making reinstallation a breeze.  There is one caveat to that, however. Sony explains, "Because PS5 games are designed to take advantage of the console’s ultra-high-speed SSD, PS5 titles can’t be played from USB extended storage," reads the official PlayStation Blog. "PS5 titles also cannot be directly downloaded to USB extended storage. However, games that you transfer or copy back to internal storage will automatically update when applicable. Also, you can select which game modes you want to install (such as campaign or multiplayer) for select titles that support the option." New social features are also on the way for PS5 and PS4 users, including Cross-Generation Share Play. With the new update, players will be able to Share Play together while chatting together in a party for both generations of PlayStation. PS5 users can share their screens with PS4 players, PS4 users can try out PS5 games through Share Play, and vice versa.  Request to Join Game Session is also being added with the new update, allowing for a selection of friends to join in on game sessions for both PS5 and PS4 consoles. The "Request to Jin" option will also act as a shortcut for sending game invites to friends, making it even easier to jump into a new adventure together.  The new update will also allow for more customization options for PS5 users, including the Improved Game Base. The Game Base menu has seen a few tweaks to make it easier to access the content that players want to access the most. Switching between Parties and Friends is faster than ever before, and players can even set notification standards while in a party chat.  Other social improvements added include:  Disable Game Chat or Adjust Players’ Volume. You can now quickly disable in-game chat, which turns off your mic audio and other players' voice audio. Additionally, you can easily adjust the individual voice chat volume of other players in the same chat, so you don’t have to ask your friends to lower or increase their mic volume each time. Game Update Pre-download. Once developers enable it, title updates for games will pre-download to your console if the “automatic updates” setting is enabled and your console is on or in rest mode. This will let you start playing the latest version of a game immediately after the update’s release. Customize Game Library. With the ability to search your library or hide games from view, it’s now easier to find content and personalize your view of your game library. Screen Zoom. You can now adjust the magnification of the screen to suit your preference from the Settings menu. New Trophy Settings and Stats Screen. The level of trophies that results in automatic capture of a screenshot or video clip can now be customized — so you can now choose to only capture and save images/videos of moments when you earn higher-grade trophies, like Gold or Platinum. We’re also introducing a new player Trophy Stats screen, where you can check out the summary of your trophy level and status at a glance. The PlayStation App is also seeing a few adjustments, including new features for users to enjoy. "In the coming weeks," Sony is going to add the ability to join a multiplayer session on PlayStation 5 from the app itself, allow ways for users to manage storage, and compare trophies with friends. The PlayStation Store is also getting a few improvements through the app, making it a little easier to navigate the storefront.  Sony promises that this is just "scratching the surface" of what's to come for PS5 users. What other features would you like to see next? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

A new Polish game development studio, Covenant, is launching a dark fantasy strategy title called Gord in 2022. At the helm of the project is Covenant founder Stan Just, formerly of CD Projekt Red and 11 bit studios. Gord combines city-building, survival, questing, and a number of other elements such as tapping into procedural generation to explore its dark themes and dire fantasy. All worlds find their inspiration somewhere, and Gord’s is rooted in Slavic folklore. Gord is a single-player affair and is headed to PC. For a quick look into the darkness, check out the trailer below:As you can see, your little crew of adventurers and townsfolk are at extreme risk of being slaughtered in grisly ways, whether that’s simply being eaten by wildlife or falling prey to demons, insects, giant spiders, or worse. I guess those that get gnawed on by wolves are the lucky ones, eh? Surviving in Gord while building up your city is a key element of the game as you lead the Tribe of the Dawn to greatness or doom. Probably doom, for most of your attempts. At the heart of your adventures is the city-building or simulation component, but it’s tempered with many other mechanics and features that task you with taking on legendary monsters and setting off into the wilds on quests.  Managing your city includes elements that go beyond keeping your crew fed and physically healthy, you’ll also have to manage their sanity as things go awry. Random elements weave into this to create a varied play experience for each time you have a crack at weathering the wilderness. Things are grim, but they’re not impossible, as you are able to employ powerful magic to augment your adventures as you set off to battle. Before you play, you can customize elements of the game including environment, enemy types, resources, weather, and more. A sort of meta progression system appears to be part of the experience as well, as you collect torn pages from a mysterious lorebook. City survival games are always interesting, and I’m eager to see where this dark fantasy tale takes us as we attempt to beat back the malignant evils that surround the settlement. While we are going to have to wait a while to play, we’ll be sure to keep an eye on this one. What do you think about Gord? Let us know in the comments!

We've seen some amazing gaming legends join Fortnite Chapter 2, and the latest one continues on the streak of impressive crossovers, with Horizon Zero Dawn's Aloy joining the fight. On the heels of Tomb Raider's Lara Croft, Halo's Master Chief, and God of War's Kratos comes another hero found in the crafty hunter from the stunning open-world of Horizon Zero Dawn. As part of Fortnite's Primal Season, Aloy is the latest in the Gaming Legends lineup with her normal look joining the game. With her comes a new Fortnite Item addition, special items, a new tournament, and a brand new Limited Time Mode.  As revealed by the PlayStation Blog, Aloy joins the world of Fortnite with a few familiar items and an adorable heart emote. This Horizon Zero Dawn bundle will go live on April 15, 2021. Don't want the Bundle? PlayStation has also confirmed that each item can also be bought individually.  Is this an exclusive? No, but there is an Ice Hunter Aloy skin that will be just for PS5 players based on her Banuk Ice Hunter outfit from the first game.  For those looking for a more competitive experience, the Aloy Cup has been revealed for a chance to unlock this bundle. For this Duos tournament, players will need to get really comfy with a bow to harness their true power. The tourney is set to go live tomorrow, April 14, and the top-performing teams in each region will unlock this special item before it lands in the shop for everyone else.  There is also a new Team Up! Aloy & Lara Limited Time Mode as well. According to PlayStation, "When Fortnite’s current Season began, gaming icon Lara Croft was one of the varied veterans of the wild to join the primal fight. Starting April 16, fellow members of the Gaming Legends series Aloy and Lara are assembling for a new Limited Time Mode: Team Up! Aloy & Lara." The post continues, saying, "Players will automatically be outfitted as either Aloy or Lara in this Duos mode, with their teammate being outfitted as the other. At your disposal will only be the bow for Aloy and Dual Pistols for Lara — keep an eye out for wildlife and master your crafting skills to upgrade your weapons." This is just the latest crossover to join the fray, with even more gaming legends on the way. Thoughts on Horizon Zero Dawn's Aloy joining the world of Fortnite? Who would you like to see next? Sound off with your thoughts in the comments section below! 

When Nintendo Switch Lite first launched, it was released with three colors and a tease of more to come. Now, the Big N has revealed what's next, with the new Nintendo Switch Lite color being revealed in a calming shade of deep blue. The newest Nintendo Switch Lite console will be debuting on May 21 for $199.99. While not a package deal, Nintendo mentioned that the new system's launch would coincide with the new Miitopia game releasing on the same day.  The latest color is honestly gorgeous. I'm not so much of a blue fan, but when the Lite came out, I opted for the yellow because it seemed like the best option for me at the time. Not that it's super serious or anything, but the grey was too close to a normal console color for me to want to scoop it up and the peachy pink just wasn't my style. The blue, however, is an intense shade that reminds me of the sky, which is perfect considering I play the Switch the most when I'm on the road traveling.  "Adding Nintendo Switch Lite to the lineup gives gamers more color and price point options," said Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser when the Lite was first introduced. "Now consumers can choose the system that best suits how they like to play their favorite Nintendo Switch games." It will be interesting to see what other color options Nintendo goes with for the Lite platform. What design choices would you like to see the company go next? More pastels? Maybe a neon line? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

Hello, PlayStation fans. No stranger to thriving in the wild, Aloy — as you know well from Horizon Zero Dawn and the upcoming Horizon Forbidden West — is soon joining the fray of Fortnite’s Primal Season. As Aloy arrives as the latest member of the Gaming Legends series, we’re making the occasion extra special with a new tournament and Limited Time Mode. Read on for the Aloy items that will be entering the Fortnite Item Shop, as well as info about the Aloy Cup and the Limited Time Mode “Team Up! Aloy & Lara.” Introducing the Horizon Zero Dawn Bundle Outcaster, seeker, and champion, Aloy enters the fray alongside familiar mementos of her Horizon Zero Dawn adventure. In addition to the Aloy Outfit, all these items will be available for purchase in the Item Shop starting April 15, 2021. Though Blaze may not be a crafting resource on the Island, you can still use it for show via the Blaze Canister Back Bling. Also, glide into battle with the Glinthawk Glider and strike objects with the Aloy’s Spear Pickaxe. Using the Heart-rizon Emote, express yourself with the Focus effect, and inspired by the Shield-Weaver armor, adorn your weapons and vehicles with the Shield-Weaver Wrap. All items in the Horizon Zero Dawn Bundle will be available individually, but the Bundle includes the Aloy the Skywatcher Loading Screen as an added bonus. Additionally, anyone who owns the Aloy Outfit and plays Fortnite on their PlayStation 5 will unlock the Ice Hunter Aloy Style, based on the Banuk Ice Hunter outfit from Horizon Zero Dawn. Compete in the Aloy Cup for a chance to unlock the Horizon Zero Dawn Bundle early Fitting for the Primal Season, bows are more prominent than ever on the Island. One of Aloy’s main weapons in Horizon, demonstrate your bow precision in the upcoming Aloy Cup, available only on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. This Duos tournament happens April 14, and the top performing teams in each region will unlock the Horizon Zero Dawn Bundle before it enters the Item Shop. In the Aloy Cup, you and your Duos partner will compete to be the last team standing, but the twist is that you’ll get bonus points for eliminations with a bow. Players are able to compete in 10 matches in their region’s three-hour time window, and the specific timing for each region can be found in the Compete tab in-game. Full rules are available at the Fortnite website. Two gaming legends join forces in the “Team Up! Aloy & Lara” limited time mode When Fortnite’s current Season began, gaming icon Lara Croft was one of the varied veterans of the wild to join the primal fight. Starting April 16, fellow members of the Gaming Legends series Aloy and Lara are assembling for a new Limited Time Mode: Team Up! Aloy & Lara. Players will automatically be outfitted as either Aloy or Lara in this Duos mode, with their teammate being outfitted as the other. At your disposal will only be the bow for Aloy and Dual Pistols for Lara — keep an eye out for wildlife and master your crafting skills to upgrade your weapons. Team Up! Aloy & Lara will run from 6AM PT / 9 AM ET on April 16 to 6AM PT / 9 AM ET on April 18. Good times on the horizon In both this Season and future ones, we look forward to seeing your adventures on the Island with Aloy. As with Kratos, we’re delighted to have such an esteemed gaming icon join the Fortnite roster. From Angie Smets, Studio Director & Executive Producer at Guerrilla: “We’re thrilled that Epic has invited Aloy to play! As a fast, agile hunter and a proven competitor, we know she’ll make an amazing addition to the Fortnite universe. Moreover, Epic has done an exceptional job with Aloy’s kit, including her outfit and spear, staying true to her likeness in Horizon Zero Dawn. Even better, they’ve included fun and authentic extras like her Glinthawk glider, Blaze Canister backbling, and Shield Weaver wrap. There’s even a special emote which Horizon fans are sure to love. Special thanks to all the devs at Epic for making this exciting collaboration happen. We can’t wait to see Aloy glide into battle.” Set your focus on Island victory like never before.