Where Winds Meet: Secrets of the Imperial Palace Unfold May 28 with PS5 Pro enhancements https://ift.tt/drvWwzY
Today, I am thrilled to share a closer look at Where Winds Meet’s upcoming second major expansion, Imperial Palace, arriving on May 28, and detail how we have tailored this massive update specifically for PlayStation 5 Pro.
When we set out to build this new chapter, we wanted to create an authentic, breathing Eastern royal court that you could truly lose yourself in. To achieve this, we have focused heavily on optimization, ensuring that the heavy historical atmosphere and lightning-fast Wuxia combat feel seamless and immersive on your console.
A living Eastern Court of secrets and fun
The expansion unlocks the Kaifeng Imperial Palace – a sprawling forbidden city spanning over one million square meters. From grand ceremonial halls to hidden corners shrouded in secrecy, more than 3,000 dynamic NPCs create a living, ever-changing palace ecosystem. Entering under the pretense of an investigation, you will unexpectedly join the Office of Martial and Virtue – the court’s elite intelligence agency. As an undercover agent, you will gradually untangling the hidden truths buried beneath the center of power.
But the palace isn’t just about rigid espionage; it is full of vibrant everyday culture. You can engage in Cricket Fighting, seasonal Ice Frolicking, jail breaking from the Imperial Prison, sneaking a taste of the royal meal, or stumble upon hidden martial arts masters. Lethal dangers also await in the shadows: you will confront the dynasty’s dark history in the heavily guarded Sealed Treasury, face brutal illusions in the underground Confinement Tower, and battle eerie World Bosses like the Silken Wrath and the Royal Kitten.
Enhancing immersion with PS5 Pro and upgraded PSSR
We have specially optimized the most demanding in-game scenarios for PlayStation 5. Whether wandering through bustling imperial streets teeming with NPCs, triggering magnificent grand court events, or engaging in epic boss battles with stunning visual effects, PlayStation 5 handles all gameplay scenarios with effortless ease.
For players venturing into the Jianghu world on PS5 Pro, we have unlocked new hardware capabilities. The PS5 Pro edition comes with ray-traced reflections, which deliver stunning visual effects particularly on water surfaces inside palaces. During exploration, moats and courtyard ponds dynamically mirror the gentle glow of lanterns, drifting clouds and your character’s movements. In vast palace environments, PS5 Pro maintains stable performance at approximately 60fps for a smooth exploration journey.
Powered by the upgraded PSSR super-resolution upgrade, the overall visual clarity of the imperial palace has seen substantial improvements. Fine details including sleek roof ridge curves, ceiling paintings and intricate lantern textures appear sharper and more defined than ever before. Most notably, PSSR enhances dynamic stability, greatly minimizing ghosting and flickering effects when dashing across rooftops or swiftly panning the camera to search for clues.
The massive gates of Kaifeng are parting, and the empire’s deepest secrets hang in the balance. Draw your blade, steel your resolve, and plunge into the majestic, perilous shadows of the Imperial Palace on May 28.
(For Southeast Asia) Singapore’s Sands Theatre to host first Gran Turismo World Series event in Southeast Asia on Saturday, 3 October https://ift.tt/azIlQ60
25 May 2026 – Round 3 of the 2026 Gran Turismo World Series will be held at Singapore’s Sands Theatre, located in the iconic Marina Bay Sands complex, on Saturday, 3 October, 2026. Tickets are now on sale for the event that will be held in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board and form one of the events of Grand Prix™ Season Singapore (2 to 11 October 2026) as the city builds up to its annual Formula 1 race, that takes place from 9 to 11 October 2026.
A Singapore Regional Time Trial Challenge held in-game on Gran Turismo 7 in August, with participants from Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia eligible to take part (Terms and Conditions will be posted on Gran-Turismo.com in due course). The Time Trial will result in competitors from Singapore being joined by the fastest racer from each of the other participating territories, invited to attend the Gran Turismo World Series and compete on stage in a special support race – the Singapore Regional Gran Turismo Cup.
The Singapore event will be the first time for the Gran Turismo World Series to visit Southeast Asia. Singapore has a strong automotive, motor sport and gaming culture and so an enthusiastic crowd is expected at the Sands Theatre during Grand Prix Season Singapore.
“As an elite sim racing tournament, the highly regarded Gran Turismo World Series reinforces Singapore’s position as a premier destination for world-class sporting and entertainment events. We look forward to the energy and excitement that Round 3 will bring to our city as the penultimate round, adding further vibrancy to this year’s Grand Prix™ Season Singapore,” said Lilian Chee, Director, Sports, Singapore Tourism Board.”
“Singapore is a great place to visit and so we hope that fans of Gran Turismo from across the region will be able to come and watch our top racers in action,” commented Gran Turismo Series Producer Kazunori Yamauchi. “The regional Time Trial is an opportunity for us to discover talented drivers from the region and give them a chance to race on stage in front of a live audience and maybe that experience will give them the confidence to make it into the Gran Turismo World Series in future.”
As well as the Singapore Regional Gran Turismo Cup, fans will have a chance to witness some of the fastest SIM racers in the world in the Manufacturers Cup and Nations Cup with a single ticket covering all three events on the afternoon and evening of Saturday, 3 October. The event is the last points-scoring opportunity before the Gran Turismo World Series moves to Tokyo for the World Finals in early December, and so the competition will be fierce.
Hey, everybody! Tim, Kristen, and I are back this week to discuss late-game Saros (no spoilers), adventuring in LEGO Gotham City, and the sci-fi thrills of Directive 8020. Teammate Jim Eldin also joins for a special interview with Saros Composer Sam Slater.
Stuff We Talked About
Next week’s release highlights:
Yerba Buena | PS5
007 First Light | PS5
Wandering Sword | PS5
Mina the Hollower | PS5
007 First Light PS5 Pro features — Before Bond breaks out on his reimagined origin story, learn how PS5 Pro features enable a smoother cinematic gaming experience.
Open World games of PlayStation Plus — Looking for a new wide-open space to explore? Check out 13 must-play games that feature sprawling worlds you can get lost in with the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, including new addition Star Wars Outlaws.
Gran Turismo Worlds Series Milan — The first round of the Gran Turismo World Series takes place this Saturday, May 23, in Milan. Learn where to watch and how to unlock the exclusive Stealth Model race cars.
State of Play — Tune in Tuesday, June 2 for over 60 minutes of updates, announcements, and reveals from top studios around the world.
The Cast
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Kristen Zitani – Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE
Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.
[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]
13 must-play open-world games available with PlayStation Plus Game Catalog https://ift.tt/HMRg1tp
Becoming an agent of chaos or just enjoying the freedom of an entirely different space is all part of the open-world appeal, and the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog* is bursting with options. But we’re here to help. Check out 13 must-play open-world to get you started on your journey, including Star Wars Outlaws available starting today.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 2020 | Game Catalog
Who wouldn’t want to carve their own Viking legend? Transporting the Assassin’s Creed series into the late 800s AD was a sharp move by Ubisoft, offering a compelling tale where your highly customizable protagonist Eivor engages in thrilling raids, detailed settlement expansion, and dual wielding combat.
It’s a smart evolution that maintains the importance of stealth while mixing things up with novel elements, such as faking death to evade enemies or using a raven to not just scout but also distract enemies. You can even engage in a bit of flyting – that’s Viking rap battles, in modern parlance.
Cyberpunk 2077 | 2020 / 2022 | Game Catalog
When we refer to the term “cyberpunk” there are only a handful of examples in media which are as far reaching as Mike Pondsmith’s tabletop role-playing game – the starting point for CD Projekt Red’s slick dystopian title.
True to its roots, Cyberpunk 2077 features the ability to tweak attributes such as Cool and Technical Ability to reflect your character’s build, letting you focus on hacking, assassination aptitude, and proficiency in specific weapon types. And while you’re roaming the futuristic and richly populated Night City streets, there’s plenty of colourful cybernetic characters to engage with, including everybody’s favourite digital rocker terrorist Johnny Silverhand, played by Keanu Reeves.
Death Stranding Director’s Cut | 2019 / 2021 | Game Catalog
When it comes to open-world adventures featuring famous faces, few games do it better than Kojima Productions’ unforgettable Death Stranding. Featuring performances from the likes of Mads Mikkelsen and Lea Seydoux, taking Norman Reedus’ Sam Bridges across a devastated United States to deliver cargo and reconnect society is a refreshingly unique experience.
Few games have you managing inventory encumberment as intensely as this does, with each potentially fragile item you choose to carry across the challenging environments affects Sam’s speed and balance. Sure, you can also fight otherworldly creatures and bandits, but Death Stranding’s commitment to a strong social message and unpredictable gameplay elements has earned it many a deserved thumbs up.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut | 2020 / 2021 | Game Catalog
There aren’t too many open worlds set in feudal Japan, but Sucker Punch’s samurai epic stakes its claim with satisfying sword combat that cuts through an involving story of revenge and honor. Stealth and deception can be just as powerful a weapon as a blade, in what many have deemed the closest thing we’ve had to an interactive samurai movie.
Fallout 4 | 2015 / 2024 | Game Catalog
A sci-fi classic which has likely influenced a few of the games in this list, Fallout 4’s reputation has remained rock solid since its original PS4 debut. The power of cause and effect is prominent in Bethesda’s post-apocalyptic wasteland, as your actions can alter your character’s biology, local settlements, and even entire factions. But don’t worry, you can get a companion to help out with tasks and combat. Just as long as you keep them happy.
Far Cry 6 | 2021 | Game Catalog
The revolution really was televised in Ubisoft’s freedom fighting first-person shooter. As Dani Rojas, you use weapons ranging from conventional guns to quirkier means of destruction via the inventive Resolver weapons, including a deadly CD launcher. Supremo backpacks offer additional abilities and buffs, and vehicles from hovercrafts and tanks to even a wingsuit can be deployed. Oh, and watch out for the wildlife. Seriously.
Grand Theft Auto V | 2014 / 2022 | Game Catalog
Rockstar Games’ unforgettable open-world adventure still stands as one of the genre’s defining experiences. In Grand Theft Auto V, a young street hustler, a retired bank robber, and a terrifying psychopath find themselves entangled with some of the most frightening and deranged elements of the criminal underworld, the U.S. government, and the entertainment industry, they must pull off a series of dangerous heists to survive in a ruthless city in which they can trust nobody, least of all each other.
Hogwarts Legacy | 2023 | Game Catalog
If you’ve ever wanted to create magical mayhem in the Wizarding World, then look no further. Set long before the events of the Harry Potter books, Avalanche and Warner Bros. throw you into the perils of magic school, full of dark wizards, mythical creatures, and buried secrets. It’s one of the few open world adventures where you can learn spells, brew potions, and grow plants which can be used for crafting, or attacking enemies.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered | 2017 / 2024 | Game Catalog
Guerrilla’s first steps into an open world resulted in an instant classic, thanks to strong writing, powerful performances, and the novel concept of robotic dinosaurs. Horizon Zero Dawn’s exploration of a decidedly different dystopia where nature has reclaimed the Earth, crafts a game where its versatile protagonist Aloy is able to sneak, scale, swing, and snipe her way through a dangerous and mysterious world. You won’t be just relying on natural resources, either – high-tech gadgets and machine hacking are all essential to your progress, too.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth | 2024 | Game Catalog
Turn-based role-playing game styled battles and larger-than-life conflicts are big parts of this instalment of the fan favorite Like a Dragon and Yakuza series, but don’t get it twisted – Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has a sense of humor that keeps its story fresh, seeping into the many side experiences to distract you from its exploration and adventuring. Darts, karaoke, food delivery missions, and even arcade games like Virtua Fighter are all yours to enjoy on your travels through Yokohama and Honolulu City.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 | 2023 | Game Catalog
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 raises the stakes for Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they face a new symbiote threat led by a monstrous Venom. Swing across an expanded Marvel’s New York with faster traversal and new Web Wings, switching between both Spider-Men as their stories unfold. In combat, Peter’s symbiote powers and Miles’ bio-electric abilities take center stage against a lineup of iconic villains, including Kraven the Hunter and the Lizard.
Red Dead Redemption 2 | 2018 | Game Catalog
Set in America, 1899, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde Gang are outlaws on the run. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. Red Dead Redemption 2 possesses a level of detail very few games can rival, making it one of the densest and widely realized open worlds available.
Star Wars Outlaws | 2024 | Game Catalog
The galaxy far, far away lends itself perfectly to an open-world adventure, and Ubisoft’s space western captures the look, feel and sheer sense of style that we love Star Wars for. Cantinas full of scum and villainy, space combat, speeders, alien gangs, sarcastic droids, and more are all part of the quest to escape a brutal crime syndicate.
This is just a small selection of open world games available with PlayStation Plus, with so many more out there beyond this list. What other recommendations do you want to add? Sound off below and let us know.
*PlayStation Plus Game Catalog is available with Extra and Premium/Deluxe memberships. Lineups may differ by region. Please check the PlayStation Store.
