One of the most useful features of the PlayStation 4 is the ability to download updates in the background while in rest mode.

Have you ever tried to turn your console on and update your games while every other PlayStation 4 owner is doing the same thing?

Yeah, the network grinds to a halt, and it’s not particularly speedy, to begin with.

The only trouble with having games update while you’re asleep is that you don’t always see the notification that tells you it finished updating.

Thankfully, the PlayStation 4 makes it easy to see what was downloaded on your console with its PS4 download menu.

This helps you know if your games, themes, or even the console itself have updated overnight.

So, where is my downloads list on my PlayStation 4?

Short answer: You can find it from your Notifications

It’s pretty easy to find your download list on your PS4. With only a few taps, you’ll know what your console downloaded overnight.

Here’s how to check your downloads on a PS4

1. Go to Notifications from the home screen on your PS4. The easiest way to do this is to hold the PS button on your controller to open the Quick Menu
2. Press the Options button on your controller
3. Scroll to Downloads on the menu that pops up

Now you’ll be able to see your entire PS4 download history, from games to themes to updates and more, including what date they were downloaded.

How to see your downloads on the PS4 app

To see downloads on the PS4 app, follow these steps:

1. Open the PS4 app on your mobile device.
2. Sign in to your PSN account.
3. Tap the “More” tab in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
4. Tap the “Downloads” option.
5. You will see a list of your current and past downloads.
6. To view more detailed information about a download, tap on it.
7. To pause, resume, or cancel a download, tap on it and select the desired option from the menu that appears.

You can also clear the list, so it is easier to read in the future. But overall, that’s how to view downloads on PS4.

What do you think? Plan on using this feature to see what you’ve downloaded recently on your PlayStation 4? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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If you’ve just finished playing a great game, it’s only natural to want to tell your friends about it.

If you bought the physical version, sending them their own copies is easy: just give ’em the disc, right?

But what if you bought the digital version of a game? Sure, you could Game Share, but maybe you’re uneasy about your account being signed in on a console that isn’t yours.

Thankfully, gaming platforms like Xbox and Steam allow you to gift games digitally.

But what if you want to gift someone a PlayStation 4 game? Sending it through the mail is too expensive, so there has to be another option.

So, can you gift PS4 games through the PlayStation Store?

Short answer: No, but there’s a workaround

In 2019, Sony stopped letting retailers sell digital download codes. That meant you had to buy digital copies directly from the PlayStation Store, which doesn’t let you buy codes to gift games on the PS4.

Purchases in the PlayStation Store are immediately attached to your account. But you can still buy DLC, virtual currency, add-ons, and season pass’ from retailers in digital form, so gifting those is easy.

How to gift games on the PS4

you can purchase a digital game as a gift and send the game code to your friend, who can then redeem the code on their own PlayStation account and download the game.

Alternatively, you can purchase a PlayStation Store gift card and give it to your friend, who can then use it to buy the game themselves.

Can you gift physical PS4 games?

Yes, you can gift physical copies through the PlayStation Store without issue. It’s like buying anything else. Here’s how to do it:

Login to your account, search for the game you want to gift, and select it. Then click on the “Buy as gift” option and enter your friend’s email address and any additional information.

Once the purchase is complete, a game code will be sent to your friend’s email address. Your friend can then redeem the code on their PlayStation account and download the game.

Wrapping up: Can you gift digital PlayStation games through the PlayStation 4? Not technically, but a couple of workarounds let you do it.

What do you think? Surprised that Sony doesn’t allow you to gift PS4 games? Let us know over on Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Can the PlayStation 4 play games from earlier consoles?
• Are there any crossplay games that both PC and PlayStation 4 players can play?
• How to change your PSN name on PlayStation 4
• How to connect PS4 or Xbox controllers to the iPhone

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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The PlayStation 4 is obviously a great way to play some awesome games, but what else can the console do?

What if you want to use your console for other media discs? Will the PS4 play DVDs?

Of course, DVDs are pretty outdated in terms of media technology these days. But many of us still have big DVD collections that we like to watch.

While many of us spend more time streaming shows and movies than watching things from a disc, it does beg the question:

Can the PlayStation 4 play DVDs?

Short answer: Yes, but you’ll need to do one thing the first time you play a DVD.

Fortunately, you can use your PlayStation 4 to play DVDs.

Although most of us stream our TV shows and movies more often than physical discs, it’s nice to know that you can still use your PS4 to play your old DVD collection.

You don’t need any extra app on the PlayStation 4 to play DVDs as you do on the Xbox One.

However, there is one relatively simple requirement that you’ll have to meet to watch DVDs on your PlayStation 4.

How to watch DVDs on PlayStation 4

Setting up your PlayStation 4 consoles to watch DVDs is relatively easy, as long as you have access to the internet.

Before you can watch a DVD on your PS4, you have to enable the capabilities with a day 1 patch from the internet.

Typically, the patch will auto-install the first time you connect your console to the internet.

In rare cases, however, it might install the first time you try to watch a DVD.

Either way, try to be connected to the internet the first time you insert a DVD to ensure that the patch downloads automatically.

READ MORE: Can the PlayStation 4 play Blu-ray movies?

If you don’t know whether or not you have the DVD playback patch, you can always try a DVD out on your console.

It certainly won’t hurt anything, and the only thing that could happen is your console telling you it doesn’t support the disc. And if the DVD is playable, you know you’re good to go.

Possible reasons PS4 won’t play DVDs

A majority of the DVDs that you’ll find should work with no problem. However, there are a couple of reasons why a particular DVD won’t work.

If you’re having problems getting a DVD to play on your PlayStation 4, check to see if any of the problems below apply:

• Never been online – As we mentioned above, you need a day 1 patch to be able to play DVDs on your PS4. If your console has never been online, that could explain why your DVDs won’t play.
• Burned DVDs – On a support page on PlayStation’s website, the company confirmed that burned or copied DVDs won’t work on the PS4.
• Region-locked DVDs – Depending on where you bought your PS4, it will be locked to a certain region. If you buy DVDs from a different region, they likely won’t work on your PS4.
• Cracked or scratched discs – If your DVD is scratched or damaged, it likely won’t work on your PS4. And depending on how bad the damage is, it could even harm your PS4’s disc drive.
• Poorly produced DVDs – Some are poorly produced, and the PS4 disc drive simply won’t read them. You’ll rarely find this problem, but it’s certainly possible.

If you’ve checked for all these issues and still can’t play your DVDs, the disc drive on your PS4 might be damaged.

And that begs the question: Does playing DVDs on PS4 damage it?

Does playing DVDs on PS4 damage it?

Fortunately, this is not something you should have to worry about. If you’re not trying to play damaged DVDs, they won’t harm your PS4.

There are a few disc types that Sony warns against using because they will damage your PS4.

Don’t try to play 8 cm discs, discs that are different shapes, like squares, stars, or hearts, or discs with paper labels on them.

Those discs could potentially damage your PS4, making it so you won’t be able to play regular DVDs anymore.

Hold on to that DVD collection

With streaming services like Netflix and Hulu taking up so much real estate in the entertainment market, it’s easy to forget that DVDs and Blu-ray movies are viable options for consuming media.

Especially in areas where stable internet is hard, or impossible, to come by.

Fortunately, you can use your PlayStation 4 to play those DVDs, as long as you can access the internet at least once.

And after that first-time access, you’ll never have to be online again.

So don’t throw away that DVD collection quite yet. Turn your PS4 into your full media device for gaming and movies all in one box.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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See, Microsoft quit reporting its exact sales numbers for Xbox One consoles back in 2016. Instead, the company tends to report on Xbox Live membership numbers.

But a recent document submitted to the Brazilian national competition regulator and discovered by Game Luster has shed some light on Microsoft’s Xbox One sales numbers over the year.

“Sony has surpassed Microsoft in terms of console sales and installed base, having sold more than twice as many Xbox in the last generation,” reads a translated excerpt from the document.

Sony itself stopped reporting on sales numbers for its PS4 console’s lifetime. Its final report showed around 117 million PS4s sold in the console’s lifetime.

Microsoft says PS4 sales more than doubled the total Xbox One console sales. So even though we haven’t heard any official sales numbers, this means the Xbox One sold less than 59 million consoles.

More than 50 million console sales are still pretty impressive for Microsoft. It just doesn’t look that great when compared to the outrageous sales performance of the PS4.

And Xbox has been heavily shifting its focus to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service and cloud gaming. Still, the underwhelming Xbox One sales numbers are certainly disappointing.

Microsoft still doesn’t share hardware sales numbers, so it’s hard to say how well the Xbox Series X|S is selling.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Xbox Series X|S compares against the PS5 in a few years, once supply chains and demand for the new consoles levels out.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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The post Microsoft finally admits the PS4 drastically outsold the Xbox One appeared first on KnowTechie.

May’s list of free games kicks off with a fan favorite sports title alongside a couple of RPG action titles. This month’s games seem like some real hits.

PlayStation continues to surprise with the quality of games that it gives away with its PlayStation Plus subscription, and May’s games follow the same tactic. You won’t want to miss out this month.

Here are the free games that PlayStation Plus subscribers can redeem during the month of May.

Free PlayStation Plus games for May

Kicking things off this month (pun definitely intended), we have the latest iteration of the fan-favorite soccer franchise. FIFA 22 features the same gameplay that soccer fans around the world have come to know and love.

READ MORE: Free PlayStation Plus games for April 2022

With game modes like Ultimate Team and Career Mode, FIFA 22 features gameplay that every soccer fan can enjoy, whether on or offline. Both the PS5 and PS4 versions of the game can be claimed for free this month.

Next up, we have an ARPG survival game based on Norse mythology. Tribes of Midgard see the player take on a solo journey or join friends in a conquest to defeat evils and stop the onset of Ragnarök. Again, you can claim both the PS4 and PS5 versions of this game this month.

READ MORE: Here are your free Prime Gaming games for May 2022

And finally, there’s Curse of the Dead Gods. Curse of the Dead Gods is an isometric dungeon crawler. This single-player experience will have you explore a dangerous world as you build a fighter and uncover weapons to take down even the most challenging enemies.

This game is only available as a PS4 title, but you can still claim and play it on your PS5 with backward compatibility.

And that covers the free PlayStation Plus games for the month of May. As always, PlayStation continues to deliver solid titles for free for its PlayStation Plus subscribers.

These games will become available on May 3 and you’ll have until June 6 to redeem them for free. Just make sure you have an active PlayStation Plus subscription so you don’t miss out on these games.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Sony’s new PlayStation Plus service gets an official release date
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• Netflix plans to offer up to 50 games by the end of the year
• Here are your free PlayStation Plus games for June 2022

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Here are your free PlayStation Plus games for May 2022 appeared first on KnowTechie.

From a medieval action title to a wacky platformer from one of the most legendary cartoons of all time, April’s free games contain a lot of variety.

As always, PlayStation is delivering some sold titles that you’ll definitely want to try out for free. Just remember, you have to have an active PlayStation Plus membership in order to claim these games.

So, let’s take a look at what PlayStation Plus has to offer for the month of April.

Free PlayStation Plus games for April

Starting things off for this batch of free games, we have Hood: Outlaws & Legends.

This medieval multiplayer title sees two teams face off in an attempt at the perfect heist. Using stealth or brute force, players move their way through guarded castles and courtyards stealing as much gold as possible.

READ MORE: How much does the new PlayStation Plus subscription cost?

Next up on the list is SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated. This remake of the classic platformer lets the player control SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy as they fight against an army of wacky robots.

And the final entry in PlayStation Plus’s free games in April is Slay the Spire. Slay the Spire is a fantasy, card-based dungeon crawler. Players have to build a deck from cards that they find.

Cards will attack, buff your character, and even debuff your enemies. It’s up to you to build the ultimate combination and fight your way to the top of the Spire.

READ MORE: Here are your free PlayStation Plus games for May 2022

So, that does it for April’s free games with PlayStation Plus. All of the games on this list will be redeemable on either the PS4 or PS5 through backward compatibility.

Additionally, they will be available to download starting on April 5, so make sure your PlayStation Plus is active to redeem these free games.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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We first learned about PlayStation’s upcoming subscription service in December. The service, codenamed Spartacus, will combine Sony’s existing subscriptions into one three-tiered subscription. Now, it looks like the company will reveal its new service very soon.

Thanks to a new report from Bloomberg late last week, we got a few new details about Sony’s upcoming announcement. Most notably, it looks like the service will soon be revealed by Sony, maybe even as early as this week.

The new Spartacus service is said to compete with Xbox’s Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate offerings. Microsoft has struck gold with Xbox Game Pass and it has developed into a massive service with around 25 million subscribers currently.

Sony’s Spartacus will combine the PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now services that are currently offered on PlayStation. PlayStation Plus gives gamers free games every month and access to online play.

PlayStation Now lets gamers stream a massive library of PS2, PS3, and PS4 games on their PS4 or PS5 consoles.

PlayStation’s Spartacus will have a three-tiered subscription model

Spartacus combines the two with a three-tiered subscription model. The first tier will give the same benefits as PlayStation Plus.

The second tier gives those benefits plus access to download and play hundreds of older PlayStation games.

The third and final tier gives all of those benefits plus the game streaming capabilities of PlayStation Now and a new benefit that will let users download and try some new games before they buy them.

A recent report from VentureBeat shows the potential price structure for PlayStation’s Spartacus. The report claims that the three tiers will cost $10, $13, and $16 respectively. For comparison, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $14.99 per month.

Spartacus and Xbox Game Pass are relatively similar and will no doubt draw many comparisons over the next few years.

In fact, one feature that Game Pass offers that Spartacus reportedly doesn’t is potentially one of its best features. Game Pass subscribers can play some Xbox games, like Halo Infinite and the upcoming Bethesda title, Starfield, for free as soon as they come out.

Bloomberg’s report mentioned above said that this is a feature that won’t be present for PlayStation’s first-party games, like the God of War or Spiderman series. However, maybe the game demos included in the premium Spartacus tier will help to make up for that.

Over the last couple of years, Xbox has shown that subscription services offering tons of games are incredibly popular among gamers.

And it looks like PlayStation is finally going all-in with Spartacus. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we hear an official reveal from Sony about its new service.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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Announced in a blog post on the PlayStation website earlier today, the recent system software update is rolling out to users globally now. It includes a few UI improvements that have been in a beta testing period for a while now.

First, the update added the ability to create or join Open and Closed Parties on both PS5 and PS4. There are also UI enhancements on the PS5 for the Game Base and Trophy card features on the console.

READ MORE: The PS5 and Nintendo Switch will still be hard to come by in 2022

You can also check out the new “Pro Tips” card (shown below) in the Control Center for a refresher on PS5 features.

And users in the United States and in the United Kingdom will be able to test out a new Voice Command feature preview on their PS5. Gamers can use this feature to find various games, apps, and settings using their voice.

READ MORE: TCL says new Xbox Series X and PS5 Pro consoles are on the way

This system software update also includes some improvements to the various PlayStation mobile apps. The new Open and Closed Parties feature is also rolling out to the PS App, alongside more improvements to the app’s UI.

And the PS Remote Play app, which lets you stream PlayStation games to various devices, also got a UI update. The app now has a dark mode that mimics your device settings.

The Remote Play app update also includes several new Screen Reader languages including, Portuguese, Finnish, Swedish, Turkish, Greek, Thai, and Chinese.

READ MORE: Sony is adding 1440p gaming support on the PS5

PlayStation also shared an update on Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) coming to the PS5. VRR syncs up the refresh rate of your PlayStation console and your display to minimize graphical or visual errors. Sony says it plans to launch VRR on the PS5 in the coming months.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post New PS4 and PS5 update rolling out now – here’s what’s new appeared first on KnowTechie.

Now, the company has said that it will continue to produce the PS4 console throughout 2022 to help offset the lack of PlayStation 5 supply.

According to a recent report from Bloomberg, Sony had to change its production plans because of the global chip shortage that continues to plague tons of tech products.

READ MORE: Sony raises PS5 prices in most markets over inflation fears

Unnamed sources told the publication that Sony had originally planned to halt production of the PS4 at the end of 2021.

They said that the company had planned to add about a million PS4 units this year, but that number would be adjusted to fit demand throughout the year.

A Sony spokesperson confirmed that the company would continue to make PS4s throughout this year. However, they said that there was never a plan to stop producing the older console.

I find that kind of hard to believe. While the PS4 has been an incredibly popular console for Sony, the PS5 is a major upgrade in terms of performance and capabilities. Combining that with the company’s focus on backward compatibility leads to me thinking that Sony was hoping for a quick transition from the PS4 to the PS5.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out that way. The PS5, like many other electronics, has been crippled in terms of production, leading the supply lines for the console to be eaten up with bot scalpers and overpriced resellers. And it doesn’t look like that’s going to get much better anytime soon.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post Sony can’t make enough PlayStation 5s so it’s making more PS4s instead appeared first on KnowTechie.

Originally released in 1996, Quake is one of the pioneers of competitive FPS. It served as a follow-up to id Software’s first major success, Doom. Quake took the fast-paced mechanics from Doom and further developed them into an FPS landmark.

The original trilogy was a huge success, but the series has been virtually missing since the lackluster Quake 4 release. There was Quake Champions, which was released in 2017, but the hype surrounding it died down fairly quickly.

This newly remastered version of the original game is now available for just $10 on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam, Game Pass, and the Microsoft Store. Quake now features 4K resolution, better lighting, and various other graphical improvements.

The studio behind the remake, Nightdive Studios, also added a couple of new features. Switch users will be able to use gyro controls to aim, which could be really cool to see. All versions of the game also have support for fan-created content through mods, which make the game much more appealing for a longer time.

With the addition of mod support, this Quake remake seems pretty solid, and fans of the original should have plenty of reason to hop back in and try it out. I’ve actually never played the original Quake but it looks like I’m going to have to give this remake a try.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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The post Legendary FPS Quake comes out of nowhere with a complete remaster on all platforms appeared first on KnowTechie.

You can grab a copy for $30 right now, which is a small amount of cash for how much game you’ll get.

Take on the mantle of Jin Sakai, a samurai during the Mongol invasion of Japan, and resist the new, dishonorable invaders. Teach yourself “ghost” skills to use the enemy’s dishonorable tricks against them, and recruit members to your cause of resistance. Oh, and Ghost of Tsushima has a grappling hook in it, in case you needed any more convincing. Click the button below for more info.

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Fulfill your samurai dreams with Ghost of Tsushima for just $30 appeared first on KnowTechie.

This month’s free games include a relatively recent installment from the insanely popular Call of Duty franchise, as well as a couple of exciting other titles.

As a friendly reminder, you will be required to have an active PlayStation Plus membership to redeem these free games. Additionally, only two of these new titles will be available on the PS4, while the third will be exclusive to PS5 users.

All of this month’s new games will be available starting on July 6, and you’ll have to claim them before August 2. Check out this month’s free PlayStation Plus games below:

Free PlayStation Plus games for July 2021

Sony is starting users off with a massive hit with this month’s free PlayStation Plus games. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will be available for free this month for both PS4 and PS5 users. This popular title is Call of Duty’s first dive into the popular battle royale scene. Additionally, there’s plenty of Call of Duty: Zombies content to explore in Black Ops 4.

Next up on July’s free PlayStation Plus games is WWE 2K Battleground. This game delivers wacky, arcade wrestling combat between WWE icons, like Roman Reigns and John Cena. With both local and online multiplayer, you can choose a fighter to take down your opponents in style in WWE 2K Battleground.

The last new game introduced for this month’s free games is the PS5 upgraded version of A Plague Tale: Innocence. This game follows the story of two children as they navigate a 14th-century inquisition amidst a deadly rat plague. Again, this game is exclusive to PS5 users with this month’s PlayStation Plus free games.

Also continuing its streak as a free title with PlayStation Plus is Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown. This remake of the game was released on day one on PlayStation Plus, and Sony is giving users an extra month to get their hands on this one.

So those are this month’s free PlayStation Plus games. Remember, you have to have an active PlayStation Plus membership to redeem these free games.

With the exception of Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown, which is already available, all of these games will be available for free starting on July 6. You have until August 2 to redeem all of these titles, so be sure to get your hands on these free games while you can!

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Here are your free Xbox Games with Gold for July 2021
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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Here are your free PlayStation Plus games for July 2021 appeared first on KnowTechie.

The team in charge of Cyberpunk 2077 at CD Projekt Red has been working hard since the game’s abysmal launch to fix the plethora of existing issues. Those fixes have seemingly paid off, with the return of the game to the PlayStation Store. However, this time around, both Sony and CD Projekt Red are covering their bases of transparency with consumers.

Sony has labeled the PlayStation Store listing for Cyberpunk 2077 with a warning to would-be buyers. The warning reads, “Users continue to experience performance issues with this game. Purchase for use on PS4 systems is not recommended. For the best Cyberpunk experience on PlayStation, play on PS4 Pro and PS5 systems.”

Likewise, CD Projekt Red have come out with their own warning about the current state of the game:

Despite the fact that there are clearly still many issues with the game’s performance, it is a great sign to see that it has made its way back to the PlayStation store.

While it is probably best to still experience Cyberpunk 2077 on the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, it is a big relief to see that the company is still working hard to make the game playable for users on all platforms.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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Now, in May 2021, like a fart in church, Biomutant has silently released and it seems to have made a big stink.

Even after playing it three years ago, I still found myself wondering just what Biomutant was. It’s easy to describe after playing, but I’m still not sure the game completely understands the concept.

Biomutant is an open-world hack-and-slash RPG with a lot of customization and crafting options. On paper, it’s not hard to see why Biomutant garnered significant hype within the last few months. Open-world RPGs are the flavor of the month and one with this level of customization and a unique world concept could stand above them all.

Biomutant tries. It really attempts to do a lot, and either the small studio broke off more than they could chew, or in the four years since the game was announced, it went through numerous creative visions. I lean towards the latter.

You see, Biomutant is surprisingly pretty for a last-gen game. It also offers a surprisingly high amount of character customization and design for a small studio endeavor. There’s even a lot of combat flexibility with skills in both psi powers and mutant abilities that can be flexed into the weapons you use.

Speaking of weapon combos, the game’s “Wung-Fu” system is pretty standard for a hack-and-slash game, but different weapon types really jazz it up.

Sounds fantastic, right?

Biomutant is a jack of trades, master of none

I’ve put about 12 hours into Biomutant and admittedly have only really just grasped where the story is heading. The game’s first story beats have you dealing with uniting the tribes and standing against the giant World-Eaters. Unfortunately, I’ve just about completely lost all desire to continue this adventure. I wouldn’t call the game anti-fun but it doesn’t do anything exceptionally well.

That character customization from earlier? From my experiences, most of it doesn’t matter because dual wielding can’t match the damage output of heavier weapons. Guns allow you to put down a lot of damage with a lot less risk and those special attacks aren’t something you can lean on. Target tracking in combat can be frustrating at times, with many attacks not going where they are needed or enemies getting pulled into attacks that shouldn’t be. The game forces you to be a little more flexible at times, but overall, it’s very messy.

The story offers some options to change the path, but the light and dark system come out to “be a jerk” or “don’t be a jerk”. Early in the game, I was presented with a choice to join an alliance. I’m told to meet with a group that believes might is right or the other, that thinks that working together is the only way to survive.

I immediately beeline to team friendship and form an alliance. As I leave, I’m chastised by several villagers that were upset I considered team Conan the Barbarian. Except, I didn’t. The game, by default, believes I went to both places, kinda silly in my opinion.

However, if we are talking about the story, it also important to note this game is heavy on it. It’s not a great one, of course, but there is a lot of it. It’s supposed to be an emotional ride about running from your destiny and finding who it is you really are by cutting your own path.

Your parents die early in a flashback and it’s hilarious. Your mom (or Mooma) is a great protector of the village and founder of Wung-Fu. She dies so quickly, I thought it was a joke. Your dad (or Popsi) gets yeeted off the side of a cliff. I feel like this story was rewritten a lot.

The last major story gripe is that the entire thing is told by a narrator. He voices almost everything but your light side and dark side. Only, the game is voice acted as well. Each character you encounter that you speak with talks in gibberish, like in Banjo and Kazooie.

The game finds it relevant to let the speaker talk, and then the narrator tells you what’s up. It is a long process and with fairly weak writing and it doesn’t pay off at all. It’s also silly to hear the narrator say things in combat like “killed that one” or “slash!”

It’s not the worst game and there is fun to be had

I don’t want to sound like a wet blanket here. Biomutant isn’t the worst game I’ve played this year. Hell, it isn’t the worst game I’ve played in May. It’s not even an objectively bad game. It’s a good game with what seems to be development issues or a lack of polish. Movement is a weightless and icky feeling, but it is pretty to look at. I thought it was neat when I went running and my character ran on all fours and but its ears back. Biomutant is filled with things like that.

Many times, when I was playing Biomutant, I found myself in awe of the landscapes and the world. You go from murky undergrounds to lush woodlands and vibrant swamps. There is a lot to look at and if I were to judge the game on its own, it would actually outperform next-gen games like Immortals Fenyx Rising. The soundtrack isn’t bad either, pulling from eastern influences, but not feeling out of place.

There will be people out there that really enjoy Biomutant. I’m not far enough in to really score it fairly. I’ll just warn you that there was some sizeable hype for this game but it’s a middle-of-the-road product at very best. I’ll probably end up seeing the game to completion but I am going to spend more time with games that make me happy, over being frustrated and bored.

Biomutant is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• I’ve never really played Mass Effect, does the Legendary Edition hold up to current standards?
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• Rockstar continues to shove GTA V down our throats, will release on PS5 and Series X in November
• First Impressions: Outriders – a beautiful and deep sci-fi looter-shooter

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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Mass Effect is a giant space adventure full of decisions and consequences that shape the story to come. Throughout the story, you follow Commander Shepard during a galactic war against the dangerous Reapers. Decisions you make along the way will determine how your story plays out.

The remaster focused the most heavily on the original Mass Effect from 2007. The focus was to bring the original title more up to date in terms of mechanics. Things like loading times and vehicle mechanics were desperately in need of an overhaul, and BioWare was certainly aware of this. Fans of the series should now notice that combat and overall gameplay in the original game now more closely matches the second and third games.

The overhaul also includes some much needed changes in the character customization area. The Legendary Edition now gives users the option to play as female Shepard throughout the entire series. It also contains a plethora of extra customization options focused on non-white characters.

The Mass Effect trilogy is iconic and belongs near the top of the list of great RPGs of the past. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition gives gamers the chance to revisit this great story with updated graphics and mechanics that make better use of today’s hardware.

If you haven’t experienced this trilogy yet, I would highly recommend giving these games a try. Especially considering that BioWare is currently working on the next installment in the franchise.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition rolls all three games into one for $59.99 and is now available on Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Google wants you to know it still cares about Stadia and that 100 new games are coming in 2021
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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Mass Effect: Legendary Edition brings all three games together with updated gameplay and 4K appeared first on KnowTechie.

This month includes a major AAA title, as well as a couple of fan favorites. All of the games are playable on the PS5 through backwards compatibility, but there is one game on the list that will be free exclusively on the PS5.

Just as a reminder, you will need an active PlayStation Plus subscription in order to redeem these particular free games during the month of May.

Here is the full list of games that will be available for free with a PlayStation Plus membership starting on May 4.

Free PlayStation Plus games for May 2021

As you can see, there are some pretty exciting titles becoming available for PlayStation Plus members. The first title we see is Battlefield V, the latest first-person shooter title from Dice. Battlefield V is a World War II shooter with popular, massive game modes like the 64 person Conquest mode, and Firestorm, the Battlefield version of a battle royale. This is a major win for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

Also included in this month’s free games is the popular desert island survival game, Stranded Deep. This game gives users a chance to actually see what would happen if they got stranded on an island. You’ll have to build shelter and find food and water, all while figuring out how to ultimately escape your impending doom.

The last title available as part of PlayStation Plus this month will be exclusive to the PS5. Wreckfest is a popular multiplayer racing game with an emphasis on wreckage. In this absolute madhouse of a racing game, you’ll have to use your car as a weapon to defend, and sometimes attack, your competition on the way to victory. Though there is a PS4 version of the game available, the free promotion only applies to the PS5 version.

These are the free games that are available with PlayStation Plus for the month of May. All of these games will available starting May 3 and you’ll have until May 31 to pick them up for free.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Here are your free Xbox Games with Gold for May 2021
• Sony has sold almost 8 million PS5 consoles so far
• PlayStation users can now download Horizon Zero Dawn for free on PS4 and PS5
• Microsoft will finally let you play free-to-play games online without Xbox Live Gold

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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This month’s list includes a couple of fan-favorite zombie titles, as well as a completely new release for PS5 users. As a reminder, an active PlayStation Plus subscription is required to access the free monthly games. It should also be noted that PS4 titles can be played with backwards compatibility on the PS5.

Here are the games that you can access for free, starting on April 6.

Free PlayStation Plus games for April 2021

There are some really great titles available as April’s free PlayStation Plus games. Play as the bounty hunter Deacon St. John in Days Gone, an apocalyptic open-world RPG. Customize weapons and skills to aid you in surviving the dangerous wasteland, filled with terrible zombies and humans alike. Days Gone will be available on PS4 and PS5 via backwards compatibility.

Zombie Army 4: Dead War is a first-person shooter from the makers of Sniper Elite 4 with a slightly different twist. In this game, you battle against undead Hitler and his horde of zombie Nazis in an attempt to save the world from certain destruction. Zombie Army 4: Dead War is also available on both PS4 and PS5

Oddworld: Soulstorm is a new release that will be available only to PS5 users for free as part of the PlayStation Plus subscription. In this game, you continue the story of Abe, the lovable alien from the 1997 original game Oddworld: Abes Oddysee for the original PlayStation. In this game, you’ll have to solve puzzles and fight bad guys in order to save your people from imprisonment. Oddworld: Soulstorm is available on both PS4 and PS5, but is only free on PS5 as part of the PlayStation Plus subscription.

These are the PlayStation Plus free games for the month of April. All of these titles will be available for free download starting April 6 and ending May 3.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Here are your free Xbox Games with Gold for April 2021
• The PlayStation Store is finally closing for PS3, PSP, and PS Vita this summer
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• Niantic’s new mobile game demo shows the power of 5G paired with augmented reality

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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The latest sale from PlayStation will offer up to 75% savings on various prequel and sequel titles on the PS4. The sale began earlier this week and is set to last until March 24th. That means users will have two weeks to scoop up some of the most popular franchise titles that PlayStation has to offer at a pretty substantial discount.

Surely this is just the beginning of a season full of sales across multiple platforms, but this is a great way to start. PlayStation has discounted some of the best games that have come out in recent years, and the list almost certainly includes something for fans of any game genre.

What games are included in this PlayStation Store sale?

As I mentioned above, this list of games that are going on sale is incredible. Fans of all kinds of games will find something on this list that they like. This sale offers great discounts on games from the popular FPS series Borderlands as well as a few titles from Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series.

Other discounts include Star Wars: Battlefront II (60% off), Injustice 2 (75% off), Life is Strange 2 Complete Season (60% off), and more.

This is just a minor glimpse at what is being offered by PlayStation in the “Sequels and Prequels” sale. The entire sale list can be found here. Remember, the sale only lasts until March 24th, so get your hands on some of these classic titles at a great price while you can.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Sony’s new patent means your next PlayStation controller might be a…banana?
• All of the games shown off during PlayStation’s State of Play livestream
• Xbox Game Pass will soon have 20 Bethesda games available on the service
• Microsoft is finally giving up on Xbox TV and will stop offering live television listings

The post Save up to 75% on PlayStation games during the ‘Sequels and Prequels’ sale appeared first on KnowTechie.

Starting today, PlayStation owners can redeem a free digital copy of the game until March 31st at 8 PM PT / 11 PM PT, without requiring a PlayStation Plus subscription.

Ratchet & Clank is a third-person platformer shooter where you play as the cat-like mechanic Ratchet. Accompanying you is Clank, a small in stature sentient robot. You will journey through the sci-fi world, defeating various evils with all kinds of exciting and ridiculous weapons and gadgets.

So why is Sony giving this game away for free? Well, we can thank the company’s Play At Home initiative. The initiative started in April of last year to help encourage gamers to stay at home during the pandemic. Last year’s Play At Home initiative saw users get Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey for free on the Playstation Store. 

Have any thoughts on this? Do you plan on downloading it? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Twisted Metal is being turned into a TV series – WTF is Sony thinking?
• PlayStation 5 users will be able to expand storage space this summer, according to Sony
• Sony expects that PlayStation 5 demand will slow down to reasonable levels soon
• Sony is giving PS4 and PS5 gamers Ratchet & Clank for free

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Ratchet and Clank is now free for all PS4 and PS5 users appeared first on KnowTechie.

This month there are some extremely solid titles to snag, but just remember you’ll need a PlayStation Plus membership. On top of that, if you want to continue to enjoy these games in the future, you’ll need an active membership.

Anyways, enough of that, let’s get to the games!

Free PlayStation Plus games for March 2021

This month is a real doozy, with plenty of quality games to download and enjoy. Obviously, the star of the show this month is Final Fantasy VII Remake. Experience the smash-hit RPG with new graphics, a new story, a revamped combat system, and more. Gamers can download this on both PlayStation 4 and PS5.

Also included this month is the third-person survival action shooter, Remnant: From the Ashes, available for both PS4 and PS5. It features dynamically-generated worlds and allows you to play with friends.

If you have been able to snag a PlayStation 5, then you can download Maquette for free this month. This is a puzzle game that has some unique twists, so if you like having to work those brain puzzles, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Finally, for those with a PSVR headset, you can get Farpoint for free. Sony says you’ll need to “master an arsenal of weapons to keep yourself alive on a hostile alien world in this free-roaming, first-person PS VR shooter.”

All of these games will be available for PlayStation Plus members on March 2, and can be downloaded until April 5, 2021.

Have any thoughts on this? Plan on downloading any of these PlayStation Plus titles? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Twisted Metal is being turned into a TV series – WTF is Sony thinking?
• PlayStation 5 users will be able to expand storage space this summer, according to Sony
• Sony expects that PlayStation 5 demand will slow down to reasonable levels soon
• The next iPhone update will support the PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controller

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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