While accessibility is an important topic year-round, May is always special as Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) recognises the strides made by the accessibility community and the games industry to make gaming more inclusive. The entire SIE team is committed to furthering that mission, and overnight has shared new details and images of the Access controller for the PS5 console.

New details and product images

First revealed at CES this year as “Project Leonardo,” the Access controller for PS5 is an all-new, highly-customisable accessibility controller kit designed to help many players with disabilities play games more easily, more comfortably, and for longer periods.

Developed in collaboration with accessibility experts, the Access controller will include a wide array of swappable button and stick caps so players can freely create different layouts that work for their unique strength, range of motion, and physical needs. Each Access controller will include:

• Analog stick caps (standard, dome and ball stick cap)
• Button caps in different shapes and sizes, including:
  • Pillow button caps
  • Flat button caps
  • Wide flat button cap (which covers two button sockets)
  • Overhang button caps (which benefit players with smaller hands as they are positioned closer to the centre)
  • Curve button caps (which can be pushed if placed along the top or pulled if placed along the bottom of the controller)
• Swappable button cap tags for players to easily mark which inputs they map to each button

In addition, players can use the Access controller on flat surfaces, orient it 360 degrees, or easily secure the controller to an AMPS mount* or tripod. They can also adjust the distance of the analogue stick from the controller.

First look at the Access controller UI

Beyond the wide range of hardware customisation options, the Access controller features a myriad of ways for players to create personalised UI settings and configurations that unlock new ways to play.

Button mapping & control profiles. On the PS5 console, players can select their preferred orientation for the Access controller, map different inputs to the various buttons, toggle buttons on or off, or even map two different inputs onto the same button. They can also create and store their favourite control profiles for different games or genres (such as “combat” or “driving”).

Controller pairing and analogue stick adjustments. Up to two Access controllers and one DualSense (or DualSense Edge) wireless controller can be used together as a single virtual controller, allowing players to mix and match devices, or play collaboratively with others. Similar to the DualSense Edge wireless controller, players can also fine-tune the starting position and sensitivity of input. The ability to adjust dead zones (the distance your analogue stick moves before it’s recognised in a game) and stick sensitivity is particularly helpful for players to improve their fine motor control during gameplay.

Toggle mode. The Access controller also features a toggle mode, which allows players to adjust the behaviour of any button to work like a caps lock key on a keyboard. For example, if you enable toggle mode for the acceleration input in a racing game, the Access controller will accelerate the car without you needing to hold the button down.

Players can enable toggle mode for any programmable input. As an example, if a game only allows you to sprint by holding down “L3” (the left analogue stick), which can be physically challenging, you can change that input to behave like “click L3 to toggle sprint” by enabling toggle mode for the button you’ve assigned to L3.

Read more about the Access controller’s hardware features in the original blog post here, and visit this new web page here, where you can sign up for email updates and be informed when preorders launch, so you can secure your controller at the earliest opportunity.

To see the full list of features, and a video highlighting ongoing efforts across product development and PlayStation Studios teams to make gaming accessible for more players on PS5 head to PlayStation.com.

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Snag Souped-Up Los Santos Tuners and Auto Shop Bonuses This Week – Triple Rewards on Auto Shop Client Jobs and Robbery Contracts, Plus New Community Series Jobs, and More

Citizens far and wide can hear the hum of engines inside the LS Car Meet, Los Santos’ hub for all things automotive. Inside this graffitied warehouse is a world of good vibes, stylish vehicular customization, and unrestrained horsepower.

Woven into the underground tuner scene is an entrepreneurial spirit that’s on full display this week, with a host of Auto Shop Bonuses, limited-time event liveries, Double Car Meet Reputation Points, and much more.

3X GTA$ and RP on Robbery Contracts and Auto Shop Client Jobs

Running an Auto Shop (30% off this week) gives you access to your very own mod bay, complete with owner’s rates and the opportunity to do tuning work for others in Auto Shop Client Jobs. Successful deliveries will result in triple the usual GTA$ and RP this week.

As for the Auto Shop’s more unlawful activities, completing Robbery Contracts will net you Triple Rewards, while sourcing coveted vehicles in Exotic Exports will pay out 2X GTA$ and RP this week.

2X LS Car Meet Reputation

Rise through the ranks by increasing your rep to gain access to rare items in the car meet. This week, earn Double Reputation Points by participating in Street or Pursuit Races, driving on the Test Track, and other Los Santos Tuners activities.

Only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S

Premium Test Ride: Pfister Astron Custom

Hao’s worked overtime on this week’s Premium Test Ride, getting it ready for the masses descending upon the LS Car Meet. Check out a souped-up version of the Pfister Astron Custom (SUV), now prepped for whatever chaos may ensue.

This Week’s HSW Time Trial

Test your ride on the ultimate racetrack — the winding Los Santos freeways — as you zoom between Ron Alternates and Elysian Island in this week’s HSW Time Trial.

Premium Deluxe Motorsport Showroom

Make Simeon Yetarian’s day and visit the Premium Deluxe Motorsport showroom to check out this week’s crop of vehicles, including the Dinka Blista Kanjo (Compact) with the limited time Street Samurai livery, Vulcar Warrener HKR (Sedan), Annis Remus (Sports), Dinka Jester RR (Sports), and the Pfister Comet S2 (Sports, 30% off).

Luxury Autos Showroom

Get a closer look at what lies behind the Luxury Autos showroom display. This week it’s the Emperor Vectre (Sports) wrapped in the limited time Xero 29 livery, and Dinka RT3000 (Sports, 30% off). From there you can check out their stats and buy them outright.

2X GTA$ and RP on Vehicle Vendetta Street

Maneuver your vehicle around enclosed areas, dodge gunfire, and pick up crucial power-ups to succeed in Vehicle Vendetta Street, recently returning to GTA Online. Test your limits in the motorized mayhem to get 2X GTA$ and RP this week.

Car Meet Prize Ride: Übermacht Cypher
Win four Street Races this week to take home the Übermacht Cypher (Sports), a hallmark of German engineering and efficiency, wrapped in the limited time Xero: Team Xero livery.The LS Car Meet keeps on giving this week, and the trio of vehicles available on the Test Track are no exception: the Karin Calico GTF (Sports), Bravado Banshee (Super) with the limited time Weekend Racer livery, and the Vapid Dominator ASP (Muscle, 30% off). Take them for a spin or indulge your competitive urges in a Time Trial or a Scramble.

On The Diamond Casino Podium: Obey Tailgater S
Visit the Lucky Wheel in the lobby of The Diamond Casino & Resort for a chance to take home the Obey Tailgater S (Sedan), the sportier cousin of the original Tailgater, that embodies a work-hard, play-hard ethos.

3X GTA$ and RP on New Community Series
The Community Series features the crème de la crème of Jobs made using GTA Online’s Creator, where technical stunt racing and chaotic melee deathmatches can coexist in perfect balance.

GTA+
GTA+ Members get a wide range of bonuses, benefits, and more through June 12, including:

• Free Vapid Slamtruck
• A free Drone Station for your Arcade
• Two free Chameleon Paints
• 3X GTA$ and RP on Freemode Events
• Discounts on Garages and more

All of this and more — including a bonus of GTA$500,000 delivered upon billing — for just $8.95 a month.  For full details, visit the GTA+ website.  

DISCOUNTS

Enjoy a slew of car discounts, and save the time and energy of outsourcing their customization by purchasing an Auto Shop Property and all Upgrades and Modifications at 30% off:

• 30% off – Auto Shop Property
• 30% off – Auto Shop Upgrades and Modifications
• 30% off – Pfister Comet S2 (Sports)
• 30% off – Dinka RT3000 (Sports)
• 30% off – Vapid Dominator ASP (Muscle)
• 30% off – Maibatsu Penumbra FF (Sports)

Gun Van Discounts

Locate the Gun Van for a rotating selection of discounted weapons (10% off) including the Unholy Hellbringer (10% off) and the Special Carbine (30% off), throwables (15% off), and armor (20% off), with even further price cuts for GTA+ Members.

Unholy Hellbringer (35% off for GTA+ Members) | Special Carbine (30% off) | Heavy Revolver | Minigun | Grenade Launcher | Sniper Rifle | Molotovs (15% off) | Proximity Mines (15% off) | Grenades (15% off) | Armor (20% off)

MILESTONE AND DORNA REVEAL THE NEW DESIGN OF THE CAREER MODE

Sydney, Australia, May 19, 2023 – Milestone and Dorna Sports S.L. reveal the updated design of the MotoGP™23 career mode, which has always been one of the most important features of the MotoGP™ videogame franchise. This year, it comes with a renewed and even more realistic, dynamic and social formula. A feature that everyone will be able to fully enjoy, thanks to the new neural aids, a system where realism and approachability meets in perfect balance.

There are many aspects to cover, so let’s go in order.

Watch the latest trailer here

THE NEURAL AID SYSTEM

The much-anticipated MotoGP™23 feature, the Neural Aid System, will help beginners to learn the ins and outs of riding thanks to an advanced AI support system, based on neural network technology. This innovative feature will assist riders with braking, acceleration and handling, for a seamless and more immersive riding experience. The system is carefully calibrated to ensure enjoyment for all, while the players who want to master the game will find in the MotoGP™ Academy the best tools to improve their riding style and performance.

Detailed descriptions will guide the players along the track, teaching them how to ride each section faster and more effectively.

AN APPROACHABLE CAREER

In MotoGP™23, the Career mode starts at the end of a Moto3™ championship. Easier to master compared to the bikes of the MotoGP™, these bikes will allow players to get familiar with the mechanics of this new edition. Depending on the results, players will be able to stay for another season in the same category or move up to Moto2™, or even forge ahead to race directly in MotoGP™. This will satisfy both who wants to experience all the different physics of the bikes and compete against the riders in all three categories, and the players who might prefer to skip directly to the higher class. Before every season players will be able to choose if they want to race a short 10-round calendar or the official one, which includes all the 21* rounds of the world championship.

TURNING POINTS           
MotoGP™23 introduces Turning Points, which are key decision-making moments in the game that will affect players’ career. During each season, players will encounter a variety of scenarios, each with different objective to achieve. Depending on the results obtained on track, each career path will take a different turn; for instance, from the initial tests to the Summer Break, based on their performance, players will be able to decide whether to renew with the same team, stay in their class, or move up. Objectives will not only consist of winning races but will also influence motorcycle development, allowing players to enjoy the game’s nuances. This new career design will thus offer long-term challenges that can only be experienced by playing multiple seasons and exploring all the game’s content.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK, RESPONSIBLY

MotoGP™23 has an innovative career mode that shifts the focus from team manager to rider. The career mode adapts to the players’ performance and features a fictional social network that emphasises their digital personality of their alter ego. The narrative of the game includes comments from opposing riders that are linked to career objectives. The players’ social behaviour will influence the response of the artificial intelligence during the race.

For example, if players are too aggressive on the track, opponents may ask them to behave more appropriately. Players have now the option to comply or to respond aggressively, with the risk to create heated rivalries. This will result in different levels of competitiveness, which will affect the gameplay. In the long term, having a negative relationship with other riders will make it difficult to form alliances. In the end, the game focuses on the consequences of social interactions in the racing world.

TEAM DYNAMICS           

In MotoGP™23, having a good reputation is crucial as it affects, not only the way other riders react, but also the objectives assigned to the players by their team. And beware: failing to achieve them might get you fired at the end of the season! Additionally, the game now offers a more realistic approach when joining a team, with only two spots available, so players will have to compete with the official riders and prove their value. For instance, to join the Ducati team, players must first demonstrate their ability with satellite teams like Team Gresini MotoGP, Pramac Racing, or VR46 Racing.

Another example of the new, emerging dynamics is the inclusion of newly entered teams such as GasGas Factory Racing, whose overall goal will be to finish in the Top 15 at the end of the championship. In case players perform even better and manage to be in the Top 10 before the summer break, a crossroad arises and they will have the opportunity to earn the same bike development upgrades as the KTM official team.

INTELLIGENT DEVELOPMENT

In MotoGP™23, the first rider of each team is responsible for the motorcycle’s development. To make their voices heard, players will have to demonstrate that the role of second rider is just not enough for them. The Turning Points will allow players to climb the ladder and direct the team’s technical development during tests. This applies also to AI-managed teams, whose motorcycles start with basic parameters and progress as technical development advances, which could result in unpredictable consequences for each season’s rankings.

Once in the first rider role, players must analyse not only their own performance but also their most competitive rivals’ and understand how to lead the technical development. Reading the MotoGP™23’s Social Network and the comments of the other riders, players must understand who to keep an eye on. Opponents will change their performances every time, based on the vehicle they are racing on and how they ended the previous season. This will affect the hierarchies within their teams, resulting in each season being different from the previous one.

*Career mode includes Kazakhstan Grand Prix and Indian Grand Prix.

About Milestone

Founded in Milan in 1996, Milestone S.r.l. is one of the leading and longest-established racing game developers in the world. The 200+ people team is responsible for hit series like MotoGP™, MXGP, and Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame, the acclaimed Hot Wheels™ Unleashed, as well as own IPs RIDE and Gravel. For more information please visit  www.milestone.it

Developer more8bit will bring their enthralling lofi battler Bleak Sword DX to Nintendo Switch and PC (including Steam Deck!) on June 8, publisher Devolver Digital has proclaimed.

Bleak Sword DX is a dark fantasy action game challenging warriors to fight their way through compact, cursed diorama battlefields in a series of thrilling encounters with wonderfully cruel creatures.

Newly updated for PC & Switch, Bleak Sword DX expands on the critically acclaimed Apple Arcade version with elegant controls, three new game modes, and multiple gameplay and graphical improvements.

Through twelve tense and deeply atmospheric chapters, heroes must lift the curse of the legendary Bleak Sword by striking down all manner of horrifying creatures across an oppressive world wielding fierce weaponry and powerful magic.

This striking experience is scored by award-winning composer Jim Guthrie, with sound provided by famed designer Joonas Turner.

Enter the shadows at bleaksword.com

Global Accessibility Awareness Day is an exciting moment for Xbox to celebrate the 427 million players with disabilities across the globe and highlight recent accessibility work at Xbox. And with 66% percent of gamers sharing they face some kind of barrier when it comes to gaming, Xbox knows all too well the importance of making games accessible and fun for everyone.  

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), Xbox is proud to announce via Xbox Wire: 

• New accessibility updates, including:
  • Expanded accessibility support pages that allows players to learn about more than 150+ accessibility features, settings, and controls available across PC and console. 
  • New accessibility settings on the Xbox App on PC, including the ability to disable background images and disable animations.These settings are designed to help players reduce visual components that could cause disruption, confusion, or irritation.  
  • A new update on the Microsoft Store on Xbox.com that allows users to filter and search games based on their accessibility needs and preferences, as well as search for games based on their Supported Language, with over 17 supported languages. The improved Xbox.com experience allows users to apply different filters, including 20 accessibility filters like difficulty settings and subtitles, to find their next great game across Console, PC, and Cloud. 
• Global partnerships:
  • From May to September, Xbox will partner with Korea’s National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) for an art exhibition titled “Game Society,” showcasing contemporary visual art works embodying games’ imagination and realism. One exhibition will highlight game accessibility and will include the installation of the Xbox Adaptive Controller for visitors to use.   
  • Xbox Netherlands is partnering with Paul Van Der Made, a player with a disability, and the HiPerks Foundation to release a new video series showcasing the positive impact the Xbox Adaptive Controller continues to have for players with disabilities. View it via XboxNL’s TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. 
  • As part of their continued partnership, Xbox and Special Olympics will team up at the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023. In June, Xbox and Humanelektronik will be inviting athletes and Unified partners to the athlete’s lounge in Berlin where they can try out different accessibility features and connect with other participants from around the world through the universal language of play. 
• Progress made on existing accessibility offerings at Xbox, including:
  • 1 million missions completed in the Xbox Accessibility Ambassador Explorer Path, a gamified way that allows Xbox Ambassadors to learn more about accessibility in gaming as well as try out new gaming accessibility features. 
  • New guidance added to the Microsoft Game Accessibility Testing Service (MGATS) centered around helping developers learn how to add Game Accessibility Feature Tags to their games. The MGATS program was launched in 2021 to help publishers and developers validate the accessibility of their games and receive feedback from players with disabilities. For GAAD, Xbox revealed that players with disabilities have logged over 13,000 hours of testing across the MGATS program, all in an effort to make games more fun and accessible for everyone.  

You can find a complete rundown of Xbox’s GAAD news and celebration and how Xbox is continuing to innovate and make the gaming industry more accessible here. 

Xbox’s latest GAAD efforts are part of Microsoft’s wider commitment to empowering people with disabilities through advancing accessible technology, partnering with the disability community. To learn more about how Microsoft is celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day – beyond Xbox – please click here.  

The nightmare continues with new Speedrun Mode, new weapons and added accessories

TOKYO – May 18, 2023 – NeverAwake, the twin-stick shoot’em up set in the world of a young girl’s horrifying dreams from developer Neotro Inc and publisher Phoenixx, haunts Xbox Series X|S on Thursday, June 29th, 2023.

After earning several awards includingan entry to the Famitsu Golden Hall of Fame in January 2023, the Tokyo Game Show 2022 First Selection designation, best game of BitSummit 2022, and a Metacritic score of 84 overall, securing a spot in the top 40 best reviewed PC games of 2022, the award-winning SHMUP continues it acclaimed journey onto all major consoles.

Guide Rem on a quest to wake up from a neverending nightmare. Wade through the subconscious thoughts of a young schoolgirl as everyday experiences turn into frightening face-offs against her fears. Fight against Rem’s biggest phobias including evil dentists, vicious vegetables, dangerous dogs and other adolescent annoyances. 

Bob and weave through bad dreams and mow down Rem’s inner demons with fast-paced twin-stick SHMUP combat. Stick and move with multiple attack patterns that lend to different movement styles, and clear waves of enemies with surreal specials like 360-degree explosions and shotgun-esque directional blasts. Purchase and upgrade items to improve passives and armor, and create the ultimate build to topple dozens of terrifying bosses. 

Unravel a touching narrative across more than 80 levels in a hand-drawn bizarre bullet hell. How fast can Rem awaken? Demonstrate dreamlike mastery in the all-new speedrun mode, and manifest five new weapons from fellow shoot-em-up favorites including “Emerald Vajra” from fantasy shooter VRITRA HEXA. Enjoy the latest that NeverAwake has to offer with the latest 1.1 content update featuring new battle accessories and the secret HIMITSU CHALLENGE after clearing world 8.

Tap into the source of Rem’s subconscious with the official NeverAwake “Nightmare World Art” digital artbook and soundtrack featuring the lo-fi lullaby “AWAKE,” by DJ, singer-songwriter, and producer YonYon, streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.

“It is very satisfying to see NeverAwake’s positive reception and that it continues to receive awards,” said Azusa Kawamura, Producer at Phoenixx. “Our dream of launching on all consoles is almost a reality, and we can’t wait for Xbox users to try out NeverAwake in a few short weeks!”

NeverAwake arrives on Xbox Series X|S on Thursday, June 29th, 2023 and is now available on PC via Steam for $19.99 and on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 for $24.99 with support for English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese language text. The emotional “Nightmare World Art” digital artbook is also for sale on Steam for $7.99, as well as the NeverAwake soundtrack also for $7.99. A bundle with the game, artbook, and soundtrack is available for a 15% discount. 

To learn more, visit the Phoenixx official website, Phoenixx Facebook page, and follow @Phoenixx_inc on Twitter.

About Neotro Inc.

Neotro Inc. is a Japanese independent game development company based in Yokohama with a particular affection for arcade games and has previously released the 2D fantasy side-scrolling shooters VRITRA Complete Edition and VRITRA HEXA for exA-Arcadia. By bringing two words “Neo” and “Retro” together, Neotro Inc. chose their name to follow the saying “OnkoShuin”（温故知新, which translates to “learning from the past” and “carrying old wisdom to create new.”)  

About Phoenixx

Established in 2019 by industry veterans, Phoenixx aims to support innovative and creative developers from Japan and around the world. Its mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one creator, one game, and one community at a time.

LONDON, (May 18th, 2023) – HEXWORKS, a CI Games studio, invites players to embark on an epic journey across a vast and treacherous world when the highly anticipated, dark-fantasy action-RPG, Lords of the Fallen, releases worldwide on Friday 13th October, 2023. Spiritual successor to the original 2014 title, the upcoming game acts as a full reboot for the franchise, and is available to pre-order as of today on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

The eagerly-awaited launch date was announced by way of an all-new four minute trailer, finally presenting fans with an extended look at its gruesome gameplay, built in Unreal Engine 5. Featuring fast, challenging combat and colossal boss battles, players will travel across the parallel worlds of the living and the dead in their quest to overthrow Adyr, the demon God. 

With the new trailer featuring music by the lords of heavy metal, Iron Maiden, viewers can expect a whole host of new reasons to ‘Fear of the Dark’, from three-headed dragons to lava-spewing fire giants. As for those unperturbed by such horrors, pre-orders are live from today with the game available in three editions – Standard, Deluxe and Collector’s, the latter featuring an impressive 10’’ statue of the Dark Crusader.

Saul Gascon, HEXWORKS’ Executive Producer said: “We are thrilled to announce the release date for Lords of the Fallen, a game our talented team has been lovingly crafting for the last few years. To celebrate, we are sharing a deeper look at the horrors of Mournstead, an immersive, dark fantasy world that will challenge even the bravest players, with its unique two-realm mechanic. We can’t wait for players to raise their Umbral Lamps this October, and discover the many secrets that lurk behind the darkness.”

Standard Edition includes:

• Lords of the Fallen game

Deluxe Edition (physical and digital) includes:

• Lords of the Fallen game
• Dark Crusader Starting Class – brandish the Dark Crusaders’ iconic ensemble, including Isaac’s devastating Longsword, throwing knives, full armour set, and amulet*
• 100 Page Digital Artbook – featuring exclusive illustrations of beautifully horrific artwork spanning the world of Lords of the Fallen
• Digital Soundtrack – lose yourself to the haunting harmonies of Mournstead with the full OST, composed by the celebrated Cris Velasco and Knut Avenstroup Haugen
• 3D Model Viewer – view every in-game character model in high-resolution detail

Collector’s Edition (physical only) includes:

• Lords of the Fallen game
• 10’’ Dark Crusader Figurine – admire this renowned warrior in all his glory with this finely detailed 10-inch figurine
• Metal Display Case – display your Dark Crusader figurine in this striking metal display case, complete with LED mood lighting and remote control
• Collector’s SteelBook – featuring an exclusive design
• Dark Crusader Starting Class – brandish the Dark Crusaders’ iconic ensemble, including Isaac’s devastating Longsword, throwing knives, full armour set, and amulet*
• 100 Page Physical Artbook – featuring exclusive illustrations of beautifully horrific artwork spanning the world of Lords of the Fallen
• Digital Soundtrack – lose yourself to the haunting harmonies of Mournstead with the full OST, composed by the celebrated Cris Velasco and Knut Avenstroup Haugen
• 3D Model Viewer – view every in-game character model in high-resolution detail
• Double Sided Poster & Art Cards

Pre-orders for all editions include the following:

• Exclusive Bronze, Silver and Gold Armour tincts
• 3x XP items
• 5x HP items
• 5x MP items

*Immediate access granted to items that otherwise can be found late game in all versions of title.

Prepare to unleash the darkness on Friday 13th October, when Lords of the Fallen launches on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

For more information, visit: https://www.cigames.com/en/

About CI Games
CI Games is an independent, global Video Games Developer and Publisher, with studios in Warsaw, Barcelona, Bucharest, UK, and the US. Founded in 2002, CI Games have created globally recognised titles for over twenty years; the Sniper Ghost Warrior franchise has sold over 14 million copies worldwide, while the original Lords of the Fallen (2014) has surpassed the 10 million player mark. In 2018, United Label was founded, focusing on smaller but equally ambitious titles, including Röki, Eldest Souls, and Tails of Iron. HEXWORKS, a new studio specialising in action-RPGs and made up of industry veterans, was formed in early 2020, and is currently developing Lords of the Fallen, the company’s most ambitious title to date.