TGO Daily | Wednesday September 15, 2021 | Major PS5 Update
TGO Daily | September 15, 2021
✏️ From the Author
You may have noticed a few issues with the titling of yesterday’s newsletter. My bad! Clearly I need an editor 😅
In my continued effort to expand my hobbies beyond just gaming, I’ve recently been heavy into reading books. My latest foray is into The Stormlight Archive, which is Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy series. I read the first title earlier this year, and am now jumping into Words of Radiance.
I have yet to find the right words to describe my feelings reading these books. The closest I’ve gotten is this: there is a famous quote in the last episode of The Office, where Andy says “I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them.” Well, reading this series feels like I’m in the good old days. Is that weird?
Anyway. Video games, that’s what this newsletter is about! Let’s take a peek.
— Adrian
📰In The News
PlayStation 5 Software Update
Today, the PlayStation 5 will be getting a big software update, as announced via their blog post.
The biggest change is that they are finally unlocking the internal storage expansion slot, allowing players to plug in an M.2 SSD. While games could previously be stored on an external hard drive, the console couldn’t run PS5 games from it directly. It’s important to note that there are minimum requirements for expansion which can be found here. This is a great change, considering how big games are getting these days!
The other big feature is the expansion of 3D Audio for built-in TV speakers, which was previously only available by wearing headphones. Once enabling the feature, you’ll have to measure your room’s acoustics to get it right.
Sony is also making a number of other minor improvements, including:
Control Center customization — the ability to rearrange or hide various UI elements
PlayStation Now resolution selector — the ability to choose between 1080p and 720p.
Auto capture of “personal best” moments — completing challenges or setting high scores will automatically capture a replay of the moment
Trophy Tracker — the ability to track up to 5 trophies per game in the control center
PS4 / PS5 titles being listed separately
Dying Light 2 Delayed Again
For the third time, Dying Light 2 has been delayed — this time to February 4, 2022.
According to game developers Techland, “The game is complete and we are currently playtesting it. It is by far the biggest and the most ambitious project we’ve ever done.” Press and content creators will get access to the game next month, however.
Techland will definitely be trying to avoid a situation like what happened to Cyberpunk 2077, and they evidently felt that two extra months of polish would be worth the effort. They even smartly pointed out that reviewers will be getting access to both console and PC versions of the game (a common criticism of the Cyberpunk launch).
I encourage you to be cautious of this release. Reports of development have not been particularly pleasant, and it’s always better to keep your eye on reviews and player reception before committing so much money.
Also, it’s worth noting that February 2022 for gaming is now stacked. It includes the next major Destiny expansion, King of Fighters XV, Horizon Forbidden West, Saints Row reboot, and Sifu.
The Game Pass Train Rolls On
Microsoft have announced 13 titles that will be heading to the Xbox Game Pass subscription service, to almost all of their platforms. They are largely indie games, but there are a few standouts:
Subnautica: Below Zero (September 23) — The first Subnautica is one of the best survival games ever made. Below Zero is its sequel, set in a frozen alien planet. You owe it to yourself to try at least one of those games.
Aragami 2 (September 17) — Also a sequel, Aragami is a stealth action game that puts you in the shoes of an assassin that can teleport between shadows. This is a day one release.
SkateBird (September 16) — The trailers for this game became an internet sensation, and the title tells you exactly what it is. A bird on a skateboard. Do you need more? This is a day one release.
Sable (September 23) — This is a 3D open world adventure without combat or set storyline, with an emphasis on puzzle solving and exploration. One of its big selling points is that the soundtrack is by Japanese Breakfast.
For the full list, see the image above or check out this Polygon article.
👋 Say Hello!
That’s a wrap on today’s news! If you’re enjoying the newsletter, give the signup link to a friend!
This newsletter is a companion/alternative to a mini-podcast produced by Adrian (a ridiculously amazing human). You can find the podcast on:
- Amazon Alexa devices
- Multiple podcast hosts (that is also the archive of all episodes).
- Google Home - try, “Hey Google, play ‘The Gaming Observer’”!
You can reach Brandon (that’s me!) by simply replying to this email, joining the below Discord, or on my Twitter!
Want to interact with an amazing group of people who love gaming? Join us on the Discord community! It’s truly an awesome place.