PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale ($59.99)

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is a free-for-all brawler showcasing the best and brightest of PlayStation’s characters and worlds! From Kratos to Sly Cooper, Sweet Tooth to Parappa the Rapper, Sony characters from all over the gaming spectrum are brought together in a fighting adventure that’s both easy to play, and hard to master. Take the battle online for competitive multiplayer action, or go head to head with a group of friends on the couch and prove who’s really the best!
ESRB: T – Teen // File Size: 7.2 GB

Disney’s Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two ($59.99)

Unleash the power of the brush in an all new co-op adventure. Join Mickey and Oswald in an epic battle to save the magical world of Wasteland and change it forever. Interact with your favorite characters like never before in the most heroic adventure yet.
ESRB: E – Everyone // File Size: 6.3 GB

Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse ($59.99)

Back to the Multiverse! Join the Griffin family and friends in an all-new story based on the popular ‘Road to the Multiverse’ episode. Save Quahog from utter annihilation playing as Stewie and Brian as they team up in an original Multiverse-spanning adventure to stop the evil Bertram from destroying everything. Battle through demented worlds that only the shows writers could create.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size:4.7 GB

Tom Clancy’s EndWar ($19.99)

It’s 2020. World War III erupts when scarcity of natural resources brings international tensions to a breaking point. The United States, Europe, and Russia fight to the finish in a chillingly realistic near-future war. Only one faction can emerge victorious. Whose side will you take?
ESRB: T – Teen // File Size:8.3 GB

F1 Race Stars ($39.99)

Get ready to experience FORMULA ONE like never before with F1 RACE STARS! Officially licensed to feature the full cast of FORMULA ONE stars and packing extensive game modes, including Championships, 4-player split-screen racing and online multiplayer, F1 Race Stars takes FORMULA ONE over the top!
ESRB: E – Everyone // File Size: 1.1 GB

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning ($59.99)

Immerse yourself in an all-new massive universe from the minds of bestselling author R.A. Salvatore, world-renowned artist Todd McFarlane, and legendary game designer Ken Rolston. Choose your path and battle through a sprawling master-crafted world featuring some of the most intense, responsive, and customizable RPG combat ever.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size:13.4 GB

DOOM Classic Collection ($14.99)

DOOM Classic Complete includes the seminal shooters that laid the ground work for the entire first-person shooter genre: DOOM (with the additional episode ‘Thy Flesh Consumed’), DOOM II (including the additional episodes ‘No Rest for the Living’ and ‘The Master Levels’) and Final DOOM.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size:102.3 MB

Clan of Champions ($29.99 $39.99)

Players will begin in a city where they can view their character, adjust various statistics, and choose a mission to play online or offline. Combination skills may be executed in battle depending on how the attack buttons are pressed. Weapons and armor that the enemies drop can be picked up and used by the player. Once victorious, players will get money and may purchase various items.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 830.6 MB

Sine Mora ($9.99)

SINE MORA is a horizontal shoot’em up that provides a unique take on challenge, where time is the ultimate factor. Mixing shmup sensibilities with contemporary presentation, SINE MORA offers a Story Mode with an over-the-top tale and an Arcade Mode with deep and varied gameplay. Buy the full version that features a PlayStation exclusive character from Under Defeat and the super hard Challenge Mode.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 902.5 MB

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale ($39.99 $35.99)

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is a free-for-all brawler showcasing the best and brightest of PlayStation’s characters and worlds! From Kratos to Sly Cooper, Sweet Tooth to Parappa the Rapper, Sony characters from all over the gaming spectrum are brought together in a fighting adventure that’s both easy to play, and hard to master. Take the battle online for competitive multiplayer action, or go head to head with a group of friends on the couch and prove who’s really the best!
ESRB: T – Teen // File Size: 1.3GB

Persona 4: Golden ($39.99)

In a quiet town in rural Japan, a normal teenager begins a year-long stay with the unsettling news that there’s been a murder…and soon after, another. Who is bringing such devastation to this peaceful community? Are they connected to rumors of the mysterious Midnight Channel broadcast?
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 3.1 GB

Sine Mora ($9.99)

SINE MORA is a horizontal shoot’em up that provides a unique take on challenge, where time is the ultimate factor. Mixing shmup sensibilities with contemporary presentation, SINE MORA offers a Story Mode with an over-the-top tale and an Arcade Mode with deep and varied gameplay. Buy the full version that features a PlayStation exclusive character from Under Defeat and the super hard Challenge Mode.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 666.2 MB

Jet Set Radio ($9.99)

Tag, grind, and trick to the beat in SEGA’s hit game Jet Set Radio! Fight for control of Tokyo-to, mark your turf with graffiti, tag walls, billboards, and even rival gang members! Perform tricks and flips on magnetically driven in-line skates, but watch out for the local police force!
ESRB: T – Teen // File Size: 1.1 GB

Elminage Original ($14.99)

Embark on a grand adventure in the lands of Halodra Ille! You must join the search among other adventurers of Halodra Illa and find the five rings and restore balance to the world!
ESRB: E10+ – Everyone 10+ // File Size: 320.1 MB

Break Quest Bundle ($4.49)

Get BreakQuest and BreakQuest: Extra Evolution in a single bundle! This includes over two hundred action-packed levels with interactive physics and 2 unique soundtracks. The energizing gameplay, superior physics concepts and the advanced collision system creates never-seen-before game experience for the genre. Breaking bricks has never been so fun!
ESRB: E – Everyone // File Size: 120.8 MB

Jetpack Joyride ($3.99)

From the creators of the worldwide phenomenon Fruit Ninja comes the action-packed Jetpack Joyride. Suit up with a selection of the coolest jetpacks ever made and take to the skies as Barry Steakfries, the lovable hero on a one-way trip to adventure.
ESRB: E10+ – Everyone 10+ // File Size: 20.6 MB

Elminage Original ($14.99)

Embark on a grand adventure in the lands of Halodra Ille! You must join the search among other adventurers of Halodra Illa and find the five rings and restore balance to the world!
ESRB: E10+ – Everyone 10+ // File Size: 320.1 MB

Alice: Madness Returns Ultimate Edition ($19.99)

This bundle includes the Alice: Madness Returns digital game and the Weapons of Madness and Dresses Pack.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 4.5 GB

Assassin’s Creed Revelations Ultimate Edition ($49.99)

In Assassin’s Creed Revelations Ultimate Edition, master assassin Ezio Auditore walks in the footsteps of the legendary mentor Altair, on a journey of discovery and revelation. In addition to Ezio’s award-winning story, a refined and expanded online multiplayer experience returns with more modes, more maps and more characters.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 9.2 GB

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Ultimate Edition ($34.99)

Download the Deus Ex: Human Revolution Ultimate Bundle today! Includes the Explosive Mission, Tactical Enhancement, and The Missing Link DLC packs.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 11 GB

Mass Effect 2 Ultimate Edition ($34.99)

They don’t expect you to survive. Entire human colonies on many worlds are vanishing. As Commander Shepard, you must assemble the galaxy’s deadliest team to save mankind against impossible odds. They call it a suicide mission, prove them wrong. The Mass Effect 2 Ultimate Edition includes Mass Effect 2 PLUS all the downloadable content packs for one great price.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 13.3 GB

Red Faction: Armageddon Ultimate Edition ($24.99)

A long-dormant evil emerges from the caves of Mars, unleashing Armageddon on the planet’s colonists. With this force stopping at nothing to cleanse the planet of life, mankind finds itself poised on the brink of extinction. Red Faction: Armageddon expands on the critically acclaimed, best-selling franchise with new, groundbreaking challenges. You are humanity’s last hope for survival.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 6.2 GB

Saints Row 2 Ultimate Edition ($24.99)

From the ingenious minds that brought you all those Saints Row games comes the ultimate Saints Row 2 compilation. THQ and Volition, Inc. proudly present Saints Row 2 – The Ultimate Edition. The premiere edition of Saints Row 2, The Ultimate Edition includes Saints Row 2 and both downloadable mission packs.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 7.3 GB

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Ultimate Edition ($29.99)

The Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Ultimate Edition includes the full game and all DLC content: custom armors for five different Space Marine Chapters and Chaos Space Marine legions usable in multiplayer, additional weapons for multiplayer, the CHAOS UNLEASHED co-op mode, and the DREADNOUGHT multiplayer mode. For the Emperor!
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 5.9 GB

Classic Sonic Bundle ($4.99)

Classic Sonic Bundle includes two full games: Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic The Hedgehog 2. Happy Holidays from Sonic! Download the Classic Sonic bundle featuring Sonic The Hedgehog and Sonic The Hedgehog 2. Gobble up the savings this holiday.
ESRB: E10+ – Everyone 10+ // File Size: 67.1 MB

Darksiders II Bundle ($49.99)

Awakened by the End of Days, Death, the most feared of the legendary Four Horsemen embarks on a quest to redeem his brother’s name. Become the terrifying force which everything fears but nothing can escape. The Crucible Pass & official soundtrack are included with this purchase.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size:5.8 GB

Hell Yeah! Bundle ($14.99)

Hell Yeah Bundle gives you access to the full version of Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit, plus two DLC packs. All at a discounted bundle price. Hell Yeah! is an insane action-adventure platformer. Pimp My Rabbit Pack & The Virtual Rabbit Mission Pack are included.
ESRB: T – Teen // File Size: 2.7 GB

Hitman Absolution Special Edition ($59.99)

Buy the full digital version of HITMAN ABSOLUTION and receive bonus content. Digital version bonus content: – Deus Ex Disguise DLC for use in Contracts Mode. – Deux Ex ‘Zenith’ Handgun DLC for use in Contracts Mode. – Discount on the digital version of Sleeping Dogs.
ESRB: M – Mature // File Size: 16.1 GB

There’s plenty to play over Thanksgiving break with this Store update’s new releases – PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is out on both PS3 and PS Vita, while Disney’s Epic Mickey 2, a special edition of Hitman Absolution and Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse are on PS3. Joining them are previously released titles including Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Tom Clancy’s EndWar, F1 Race Stars and the DOOM Classic Collection.

If you’re a PlayStation Plus member you can now download a ton of content for your PS Vita. With the membership spanning both PS3 and PS Vita now, you can look forward to 18 free games a month — not to mention the other Plus benefits.

Besides all the Plus freebies, PS Vita owners can nab Persona 4: Golden, Sine Mora (also available on PSN), Jet Set Radio (though if you’re a Plus member, it’s free!) and Elminage Original (also for PSP).

There’s also some add-on content out today you might be interested in. Been enjoying Telltale’s The Walking Dead Episodes? Then you’ll be happy to hear that the final chapter, No Time Left, is out today. Also, Borderlands 2 fans can download Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage.

As always, please leave your thoughts in the comments below. You can also chat about this update in the PlayStation Community Forums.

PS Vita Instant Game Collection	Uncharted: Golden Abyss Gravity Rush Jet Set Radio Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack WipEout 2048 Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
PS3 Instant Game Collection	Dungeon Defenders
PS3 Timed Trial	Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning F1 Race Stars Tom Clancy’s EndWar
PS3 Free Game	Sonic Bundle: Sonic 1 & Sonic 2
Special Discount	Music Unlimited Premium 1 Year Subscription (80% off) – PS Plus Price: $12.00
PS3 Discounts	Alice Madness Returns Ultimate Edition (20%) – PS Plus Price: $15.99 Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Ultimate Edition (20%) – PS Plus Price: $22.39 Assassin’s Creed: Revelations Ultimate Edition (20%) – PS Plus Price: $39.99 Deus Ex: Human Revolution Ultimate Edition (20%) – PS Plus Price: $27.99 Homefront Ultimate Edition (20%) – PS Plus Price: $15.99 Mass Effect 2 Ultimate Edition (20%) – PS Plus Price: $27.99 Red Faction: Armageddon Ultimate Edition (20%) – PS Plus Price: $19.99 Saints Row 2 Ultimate Edition (20%) – PS Plus Price: $19.99 Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Ultimate Edition (20%) – PS Plus Price: $23.99 Sorcery (20%) – PS Plus Price: $15.99 Virtua Fighter 5 Final ShowdownComplete Edition (25%) – PS Plus Price: $14.99 Hell Yeah! Bundle (30%) – PS Plus Price: $10.49 Nights Into Dreams (30%) – PS Plus Price: $4.89 Jet Set Radio (30%) – PS Plus Price: $4.89 Sonic Adventure 2 (30%) – PS Plus Price: $4.89 Sonic Adventure 1 & DLC Bundle (20%) – PS Plus Price: $3.99 SEGA Rally Arcade (40%) – PS Plus Price: $2.99 Space Channel 5: Part 2 (25%) – PS Plus Price: $2.99
Last Chance (Leaving on 11/27)	Discount – Machinarium Discount – Alice Madness Returns Ultimate Edition Discount – Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood Ultimate Edition Discount – Assassin’s Creed: Revelations Ultimate Edition Discount – Deus Ex: Human Revolution Ultimate Edition Discount – Homefront Ultimate Edition Discount – Mass Effect 2 Ultimate Edition Discount – Red Faction: Armageddon Ultimate Edition Discount – Saints Row 2 Ultimate Edition Discount – Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Ultimate Edition

Sine Mora

SINE MORA is a horizontal shoot’em up that provides a unique take on challenge, where time is the ultimate factor. Mixing shmup sensibilities with contemporary presentation, SINE MORA offers a Story Mode with an over-the-top tale and an Arcade Mode with deep and varied gameplay. Buy the full version that features a PlayStation exclusive character from Under Defeat and the super hard Challenge Mode.
ESRB: M – Mature

DmC Devil May Cry

Download the DmC Devil May Cry demo now! Play through 2 levels of the game where not only demons, but also the city of Limbo itself, will try to stop you. Then face the mighty Succubus in an epic boss fight. And if you have what it takes, unlock another difficulty level for even more challenges.
ESRB: M – Mature

Sine Mora

SINE MORA is a horizontal shoot’em up that provides a unique take on challenge, where time is the ultimate factor. Mixing shmup sensibilities with contemporary presentation, SINE MORA offers a Story Mode with an over-the-top tale and an Arcade Mode with deep and varied gameplay. Buy the full version that features a PlayStation exclusive character from Under Defeat and the super hard Challenge Mode.
ESRB: M – Mature

• Darksiders II Soundtrack — $9.99

• ATV Pure Digital – PS3 Game (now: $14.99 original price: $19.99)
• Bolt – PS3 Game (now: $14.99 original price: $19.99)
• Cars 2: The Videogame – PS3 Game (now: $19.99 original price: $29.99)
• inFamous 2 – PS3 Game (now: $19.99 original price: $39.99)
• Phineas and Ferb: Across the Second Dimension – PS3 Game (now: $19.99 original price: $29.99)
• Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One – PS3 Game (now: $19.99 original price: $59.99)
• Sorcery – PS3 Game (now: $19.99 original price: $39.99)
• Uncharted Greatest Hits Dual Pack Bundle – PS3 Bundle (now: $29.99 original price: $39.99)

• Interpol: The Trial of Dr. Chaos – PS3 Game (now: $2.49 original price: $4.99)
• Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 – PS3 Game (now: $4.99 original price: $9.99)
• Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 – Magic 2013 Expansion – PS3 Add-On (now: $2.49 original price: $4.99)
• Test Drive Ferrari Racing Legends – PS3 Game (now: $19.99 original price: $49.99)
• The Testament of Sherlock Holmes – PS3 Game (now: $19.99 original price: $39.99)
• Trine 2 – PS3 Game (now: $7.49 original price $14.99)

DC Universe Online Sale

• Various Content (Items include: Clothing, Teleporters, Replay Badges, Cash Escrow, Dice, Bots, Name Change Device, Exobyte Data, Boosters, Respec Tokens, Etc.) – PS3 Game (now from: $0.24-$4.99 originally from: $0.99-$9.99)

Disgaea 4 Add-On Sale

• Adell – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Ash – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Battleship Gargantua – PS3 Add-On (now: $0.99 original price: $1.99)
• Bottle Ship – PS3 Add-On (now: $0.99 original price: $1.99)
• Celestial Host – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Command Attack – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.99 original price: $3.99)
• Death Saber – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Fish Strong! – PS3 Add-On (now: $0.99 original price: $1.99)
• Getter Mao – PS3 Add-On (now: $0.99 original price: $1.99)
• Gig – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Kingdom Tank – PS3 Add-On (now: $0.99 original price: $1.99)
• Kunoichi – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Laharl Kaiser V – PS3 Add-On (now: $0.99 original price: $1.99)
• Mao – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Marona – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Medic – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Necromancer – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Nisa – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Overlord Priere – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Pirohiko Ichimonji – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Pram – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Pirate Survival Duel – PS3 Add-On (now: $2.99 original price $5.99)
• Prism Ranger – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Rozalin – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.49 original price: $2.99)
• Soul Nomad – PS3 Add-On (now: $0.99 original price: $1.99)
• Survival Mode – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.99 original price: $3.99)
• The Flashback Episode – PS3 Add-On (now: $1.99 original price: $3.99)
• The Fuka & Desco Show – PS3 Add-On (now: $7.99 original price: $12.99)
• Valvoga – PS3 Add-On (now: $0.99 original price: $1.99)

Rockstar Sale

• GTA Chinatown Wars – PSP Game (now: $9.99 original price: $19.99)
• GTA Liberty City Stories – PSP Game (now: $9.99 original price: $19.99)
• GTA Vice City Stories – PSP Game (now: $9.99 original price: $19.99)
• Manhunt 2 – PS3 Game (now: $7.50 original price: $19.99)
• Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition – PSP Game (now: $9.99 original price: $19.99)
• Midnight Club: LA Remix – PSP Game (now: $9.99 original price: $19.99)
• The Warriors – PSP Game (now: $7.50 original price: $19.99)

SEGA Sale

• Jet Set Radio – PS3 Game (now: $6.99 original price: $9.99)
• Nights Into Dreams – PS3 Game (now: $6.99 original price: $9.99)
• SEGA Rally Online Arcade – PS3 Game (now: $4.99 original price: $9.99)
• Sonic Adventure 2 – PS3 Game (now: $6.99 original price: $9.99)
• Space Channel 5 Part 2 – PS3 Game (now: $3.99 original price: $9.99)
• Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Complete Edition – PS3 Game (now: $19.99 original price: $14.99)

LittleBigPlanet PS Vita

• Kat Costume ($1.99) – Download the Gravity Rush Kat Costume today! Note: To download this costume, you must already own, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita or LittleBigPlanet Karting. Cross-Good compatible content: Kat Costume – LBP2, LBP PS Vita, LBP Karting
• Raven Costume ($1.99) – Download the Gravity Rush Raven Costume today! Note: To download this costume, you must already own, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita or LittleBigPlanet Karting. Cross-Good compatible content: Raven Costume – LBP2, LBP PS Vita, LBP Karting
• Alias Costume ($1.99) – Download the Gravity Rush Alias Costume today! Note: To download this costume, you must already own, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita or LittleBigPlanet Karting. Cross-Good compatible content: Alias Costume – LBP2, LBP PS Vita, LBP Karting
• Yunica Costume ($1.99) – Download the Gravity Yunica Costume today! Note: To download this costume, you must already own, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita or LittleBigPlanet Karting. Cross-Good compatible content: Yunica Costume – LBP2, LBP PS Vita, LBP Karting
• Gravity Rush Costume Pack ($5.99) – Download this Gravity Rush Costume Pack Today! Pack includes: Kat Costume Raven Costume Yunica Costume Alias Costume Note: To download this costume, you must already own, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita or LittleBigPlanet Karting. Cross-Good compatible content: Gravity Rush Costume Pack – LBP2, LBP PS Vita, LBP Karting

New Little King’s Story

• Princess Swimsuit 1 ($2.99) – Download the ‘Princess Swimsuit Set 1′ and unlock princess beachware that adds support skills! Dress up royal princesses such as princess Apricot, Sakura, Amabile, and Verde!
• Princess Swimsuit 2 ($2.99) – Download the ‘Princess Swimsuit Set 2′ and unlock princess beachware that adds support skills! Dress up royal princesses such as princess Shizuka, Kokomo, Iris, and Corina!
• Summer Set ($1.99) – Download the ‘Summer Set’ and receive beach items that will give you more Life! This includes a Swimming Cap, Swimshorts, Swimsuits, Summer Dress, Aloha Shirt, Fan, Flowery Yukata, and Goldfish Yukata!

Street Fighter X Tekken

• Shared Assist Gem Pack 6 ($0.99) – This Gem is great for intermediate and advanced players. This Assist Gem can be used by all characters. Extend the active time of the Cross Assault! Note: If you would like to see the effects of the Gems individually before purchase, please use the Store from the game’s Main Menu. The effects of the Gems may be subject to change.

Zen Pinball 2

• Civil War ($2.99) – Choose between Iron Man, who leads the Superhuman Registration Act’s supporters, and Captain America, who sees it as a threat to personal liberties, as you assemble your team and experience one of the most dramatic conflicts in the Marvel Universe. Purchasing this also entitles you to the PS3 version.

Borderlands 2

• Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage ($9.99, Free with Season Pass) – Enter “Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage” and see if you have what it takes to become champion of this brand new storyline in Borderlands 2. Fight for the Big Loot against some of the baddest baddies in Pandora. Plus, take special quests from Tiny Tina, Moxxi and others for extra rewards. And don’t forget to bring your friends — those higher levels get pretty tough.

The Walking Dead

• Episode 5: No Time Left ($4.99, Free with Season Pass) – The final episode of a five-part game series set in Robert Kirkman’s award-winning zombie apocalypse. With time running out and the odds stacked against you, Clementine’s fate is in your hands. The culmination of your choices leads to the stunning conclusion of this first season of The Walking Dead. Purchase of this DLC requires The Walking Dead – Episode 1: A New Day.

Birds of Steel

• Map Pack 3: Sicily, Berlin and Ardennes ($14.99) – This DLC adds several famous air battles – Invasion of Sicily, Berlin Assault and the Battle of Bulge. It adds 3 Mission Editor layers, 4 full Dynamic Campaigns, 10 single missions and 4 Versus maps.

Hitman: Absolution

• Agency HX UMP Gun ($0.99) – The Agency HX UMP is a powerful high-caliber SMG. This weapon is also included in the Agency Gun Pack DLC.
• Agency Jagd P22G Gun ($0.99) – The Agency Jagd P22G is a modern top-tier pistol. This weapon is also included in the Agency Gun Pack DLC.
• Agency SPS 12 Gun ($0.99) – The Agency SPS 12 is a brutal semi-automatic shotgun. This weapon is also included in the Agency Gun Pack DLC.
• Bartoli Custom Gun ($0.99) – The Bartoli Custom Pistol is an engineered precision weapon complete with sight and silencer. This weapon is also available as part of the High Tech Pack, which is included in the Suit and Gun Collection.
• Bronson M1928 Submachine Gun ($0.99) – The Bronson M1928 is a classic submachine gun with high fire rate and deadly stopping power. This gun is also included in the Public Enemy Pack, which is included in the Suit and Gun Collection.
• Deus Ex ‘Zenith’ Handgun ($0.99) – The Zenith pistol was the handgun of choice for Adam Jensen in Deus Ex: Human Revolution and can now be used by Agent 47 in Hitman Absolution. The 10mm compact pistol can be equipped with a Stenier-Bisley silencer to make sure that Agent 47′s missions can be completed like a Silent Assassin. The Zenith handgun is also available as part of the Suit and Gun Collection.
• Deus Ex Adam Jensen Disguise ($0.99) – Dress Agent 47 in the iconic combat armor used by Adam Jensen in Deus Ex: Human Revolution and get better protection from firearms with advanced armor. This outfit is also available as part of the Suit and Gun Collection.
• High Roller Disguise ($0.99) – The High Roller suit dresses Agent 47 in a fancy tuxedo. The High Roller suit is also included in the High Roller Pack, which is also available in the Suit and Gun Collection.
• High Tech Disguise ($0.99) – The High Tech suit prepares Agent 47 for action with 50% increased armor. The High Tech suit is also available as part of the High Tech Pack, which is included in the Suit and Gun Collection.
• Krugermeier 2-2 Gun ($0.99) – The Krugermeier 2-2 pistol is an accurate, reliable stealth weapon with a built-in silencer. The Krugermeier 2-2 Gun is also available as part of the High Roller Pack, which is also included in the Suit and Gun Collection.
• Public Enemy Disguise ($0.99) – The Public Enemy Disguise allows the Original Assassin to dress in a stylish Public Enemy gangster suit. This disguise is also available as part of the Public Enemy Pack, which is also included in the Suit and Gun Collection.
• Suit and Gun Collection ($5.99) – The Suit & Gun Collection gives you all the tools you need to complete your missions in style. Get access to 4 disguises and 4 weapons and give yourself an edge. The Suit and Gun Collection includes 4 disguises: Deus Ex/Adam Jensen Suit, High Tech Suit, High Roller Suit, Public Enemy Suit and 4 weapons: Deus Ex handgun, Bartoli Custom Pistol, Bronson M1928 submachine gun and Krugermeier 2-2 Pistol.

LittleBigPlanet

• Kat Costume ($1.99) – Download the Gravity Rush Kat Costume today! Note: To download this costume, you must already own, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita or LittleBigPlanet Karting. Cross-Good compatible content: Kat Costume – LBP2, LBP PS Vita, LBP Karting
• Raven Costume ($1.99) – Download the Gravity Rush Raven Costume today! Note: To download this costume, you must already own, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita or LittleBigPlanet Karting. Cross-Good compatible content: Raven Costume – LBP2, LBP PS Vita, LBP Karting
• Alias Costume ($1.99) – Download the Gravity Rush Alias Costume today! Note: To download this costume, you must already own, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita or LittleBigPlanet Karting. Cross-Good compatible content: Alias Costume – LBP2, LBP PS Vita, LBP Karting
• Yunica Costume ($1.99) – Download the Gravity Yunica Costume today! Note: To download this costume, you must already own, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita or LittleBigPlanet Karting. Cross-Good compatible content: Yunica Costume – LBP2, LBP PS Vita, LBP Karting
• Gravity Rush Costume Pack ($5.99) – Download this Gravity Rush Costume Pack Today! Pack includes: Kat Costume Raven Costume Yunica Costume Alias Costume Note: To download this costume, you must already own, LittleBigPlanet 2, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita or LittleBigPlanet Karting. Cross-Good compatible content: Gravity Rush Costume Pack – LBP2, LBP PS Vita, LBP Karting

Mass Effect 3

• Alternate Appearance Pack ($1.99) – Customize Shepard and squadmates with Appearance Pack 1! Select new outfits for Garrus, Liara, and EDI, and suit Shepard up in Cerberus’s heavy Ajax Armor!

Mugen Souls

• Jiggly Transmission and Equipment Pack 9 (Free) – Thank you for using the Jiggly Transmission! Here is a set of equippable items that will aid you on your adventure! This time, please find: a sword, a staff, a gun, a bazooka, knuckles and defense items!
• Jiggly Transmission and Equipment Pack 10 (Free) – Thank you for using the Jiggly Transmission! Here is a set of equippable items that will aid you on your adventure! This time, please find: gloves, a spear, a scythe, Dual Long and Short Blades and defense items!
• Mugen Crimson Set ($1.99) – This is an original Mugen Crimson design! Use them all together or mix and match! Please enjoy many overwhelming combinations!
• Mugen Knight Set ($1.99) – This is an original Mugen Knight design! Use them all together or mix and match! Please enjoy many overwhelming combinations!
• Overwhelming Conquering Set ($1.99) – This is an original conquering design! Use them all together or mix and match! Please enjoy many overwhelming combinations!
• Overwhelming Ready-Made-Clothing Set ($1.99) – This is an original preta porte design! Use them all together or mix and match! Please enjoy many overwhelming combinations!
• Unlock All Clothing ($2.99) – I really want to make cool customizable characters, but I just don’t have the time to unlock everything! This set is for you! All clothing choices limited by job class are unlocked!
• Unlock All Physical Parts ($2.99) – I really want to make cool customizable characters, but I just don’t have the time to unlock everything! This set is for you! All hair style and faces are unlocked!
• Unlock All Voices ($2.99) – I really want to make cool customizable characters, but I just don’t have the time to unlock everything! This set is for you! All voices are unlocked! (JP audio only)
• Point Fever Pack 3 ($2.99) – Here is the set that you have dreamed of a set that compiles all the points into one great pack! Here is a set that contains the currency G, the character strengthening Mugen Points, and the item strengthening G Up!

Naughty Bear Panic in Paradise

• Batbear Costume ($0.99) – The Batbear Costume contains: the Bhat mask, BatBear Armored Tights and the BatBear Suit.
• Ghostfacebear Costume ($0.99) – Costume contains: Major Yawn Mask, Pitch Black Hood, Pitch Black Garb and Pitch Black Skirt.
• Naughty Unlocks ($5.99) – This DLC will unlock all the levels and over 300 fantastic costumes and weapons that are available in Naughty Bear Panic in Paradise (few items linked to normal progression will not be unlocked). As a special gift, player will also receive 1 million gold coins to spend in the shop.

Rock Band 3 – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing song game tracks. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• Closer ($1.99) – Nine Inch Nails
• Cold ($1.99) – Crossfade
• Cry Thunder ($1.99) – DragonForce
• Drained ($0.99) – Vangough
• Entropy/Extropy ($0.99) – Chaotrope
• I Can Swing My Sword ($0.99) – Toby Turner
• I Melt With You ($1.99) – Modern English
• Jessica ($1.99) – The Allman Brothers Band
• Superficial ($1.99) – X-Y
• The Consequences ($0.99) – Mystakin
• The Weight ($1.99) – The Band

Sleeping Dogs

• Square Enix Pack ($1.99) – Become a silent assassin, augmented warrior or king of chaos! Wei Shen dons new disguises in this pack, with three new outfits and three new weapons from Square Enix’s Hitman, Just Cause and Deus Ex games. Each outfit includes its own buff and signature weapon.
• Drunken Fist Pack ($1.99) – Rediscover a classic fighting style with this unique outfit.

Zen Pinball 2

• Civil War ($2.99) – Choose between Iron Man, who leads the Superhuman Registration Act’s supporters, and Captain America, who sees it as a threat to personal liberties, as you assemble your team and experience one of the most dramatic conflicts in the Marvel Universe. Purchasing this also entitles you to the PS Vita version.

• ASSASSIN’S CREED III MULTIPLAYER TRAILER
• ASSASSIN’S CREED III OFFICIAL LAUNCH TRAILER
• BORDERLANDS 2 MECHROMANCER TRAILER
• F1 RACE STARS GAMEPLAY TRAILER 1
• God of War: Ascension Unchained – The Big Reveal
• NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED FEATURE 1 TRAILER
• NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED FEATURE 2 TRAILER
• NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED GET WANTED TRAILER
• NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED MULTIPLAYER TRAILER
• REMEMBER ME ANNOUNCEMENT TRAILER
• REMEMBER ME GC DEMO TRAILER
• REMEMBER ME MEMORY REMIX GAMEPLAY VIDEO

• Sports Champions 2 Golf Avatar– $0.49

• DERRRICK THE DEATHFIN WALLPAPER ONE — Free
• DERRICK THE DEATHFIN WALLPAPER TWO – Free
• ZOMBIE DRIVER HD WALLPAPER – TAXI ACTION — Free
• ZOMBIE DRIVER HD WALLPAPER – TAXI FRONT — Free
• ZOMBIE DRIVER HD WALLPAPER – TAXI SIDE — Free

• BATTLEFIELD 3: AFTERMATH THEME – Available at No Cost for Premium Users Only
• Dynamic Beach Theme — $2.99
• Rage Comics – Like A Baus Dynamic Theme — $2.99

Mass Effect 3

• Arsenal Pack — ($2.99)
• Reserves Pack — ($2.99)
• N7 Equipment Pack — ($2.49)

Real Steel

• Various Content – ($1.99 – $9.99)
• Frozen Weapons Style Pack — $4.99

Rock Band 3

• Jessica ($0.99) – Pro Guitar – The Allman Brothers Band
• The Weight ($0.99) – Pro Guitar – The Band

If you pick just one unique, fun element that truly stands out in a Hitman game, it’s got to be the ability to suit up in various disguises in order to fool passersby and infiltrate protected areas undetected. At IO, we’ve always had a lot of fun with disguises, which probably culminated in Hitman: Blood Money’s white suits, clown outfits, and full-body chicken costumes.

With Hitman: Absolution, we’re following up on that tradition and we’re adding new wrinkles as well. Most importantly, we’ve added the ability to “blend in,” which allows you to act out your disguise more convincingly. Whereas a disguise would fool people at a distance in the old games, Agent 47 can now use his Instinct powers to fool people up close. Normally, enemies can detect your disguise if you walk straight up to them and they are wearing similar outfits – for instance, a Chicago police officer will eventually start to question you if you are wearing a police uniform. But by blending in, you can briefly fool a nearby enemy and slip past undetected. To blend in, you simply hold down a button and Agent 47 will pretend to talk into his shoulder radio when dressed as a police officer, as just one example.

Of course, we’ve got a versatile array of disguises, including a large number of crazy outfits. In Absolution, you’ll see everything from regular police uniforms in various shapes and variations to chef’s outfits, judges’ robes and, yes, the chicken outfit. We’ve got more disguises in this game than in any of the previous games, and using them cleverly will be more important than ever as you progress through the game.

In the new trailer up above, you can see a wide range of the outfits available and learn more about the usefulness of shedding the black suit and red tie – just for a little while. We hope you’ll enjoy it and can’t wait to hear about your experiences with the game when it releases on PS3 November 20th.

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I can say with considerable confidence that today’s episode is our biggest and best yet, weighing in at a groan-inducing (but quality-packed!) two hours and 10 minutes. Our time at PAX Prime last week yielded sweet fruit in the form of five new game developer interviews, and each one is a treat. First, indie developer Matt Gilgenbach discusses how his new PSN-exclusive “reverse shooter” Retro/Grade changed his life; from there, we shift to Snapshot, the charming PS3 and PS Vita platform puzzler that enables players to manipulate their environment through photographs. Then Drinkbox Studios’ Chris Harvey and Graham Smith discuss their plans for cross-controller support on their upcoming PS3 and PS Vita adventure Guacamelee, while Hitman: Absolution Game Director Tore Blystad shares the secrets of the game’s newly announced Contracts multiplayer mode.

Finally, we launch into a sprawling discussion on The Walking Dead – Episode 3 with a literal mob of Telltale game designers: Jake Rodkin, Sean Vanaman, Harrison Pink, and Eric Parsons describe the challenges of episodic game creation, the most-loved characters in the game, and how they’ve managed to stay true to Robert Kirkman’s relentlessly grim vision. It’s a fascinating listen and one of my favorite interview segments of the year.

We’ve also got a special guest in the studio: Brad Douglas, who comes to us by way of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. In addition to be being a big gamer, Brad explains Japanese gaming culture and how he ended up in the role of publisher relations in this week’s Origin Story segment. Of course, today’s show features the usual niceties, from next week’s PlayStation Store game lineup to an avalanche of Player Queries™ and tips to a vexing new Mystery Theme. There’s even a farm-fresh new PSN Gem of the Week! Listen in and let us know what you think.

Stuff We Talked About

The Walking Dead – Episode 3
Hitman: Absolution
Snapshot
Retro/Grade
Guacamelee
Double Dragon Neon
Rock Band Blitz
Treasure Park
Pinball Arcade – Monster Bash table
PS Vita Cross Controller
Hatsune Miku

The Cast

• Sid Shuman – PlayStation Social Media Manager
• Jeff Rubenstein – PlayStation Sr. Social Media Manager
• Nick Suttner – PlayStation Sr. Product Evaluator

[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.]

• Thanks to Cory Schmitz for our beautiful logo and Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. Special thanks to Astro Gaming headsets for providing audio gear.

One of the best things about working with a vibrant and productive community, such as the one attached to the Hitman games, is that you can learn a lot by just watching people play. Going back to the previous games in the Hitman series, we’ve always enjoyed watching videos of how the fans tackle the different levels; both in terms of strategy and approach to the emergent systems within the game but also in terms of how they change the rules by going against the core of the level.

A great example is when we see people trying to set up mission parameters all by themselves. The previous games didn’t really support this – you were supposed to play a level in one of several different ways but targets always remained the same – but the fans pretty quickly started setting up conditions for completion themselves. Kill everyone with a particular weapon. Don’t get spotted by anyone. Only wear the chicken outfit. Kill that waiter in the bar at the Meat King’s party. Sometimes these conditions would be extremely hard to fulfill but equally satisfying when they did get completed. So for Hitman: Absolution, we decided to formalize a lot of that. The result – Contracts mode.

In Contracts, players get to create challenges for themselves and others through the creation of custom hits. All a player needs to do is choose a level, an outfit and a load-out, and, as he or she plays through the level, tag and assassinate up to three different targets – chosen from anyone within the level. The player is free to use any weapon or disguise brought in or found in the level but he must be able to complete the contract himself in order to save it and share it with the world. Contracts, then, is first and foremost a play to create experience where a player can play, create and share a hit and enter into competitions and tournaments (official or unofficial). Players can continually try to one-up their rivals and fight for the top slot on the global, local or friend leader boards attached to each individual contract. Because it’s asynchronous, Contracts can be enjoyed across time zones, and it isn’t dependent on having friends online.

By playing and completing contracts, players will earn in-game currency (amount depending on performance in each individual contract), which can be used to unlock more disguises, weapons and upgrades for specific weapons. IO will set up a number of featured contracts, select ‘best of the week’ contracts and feature those through the in-game notification system, and drop in once in a while to create some fun IO-made contracts as well. But what we’re really excited about is seeing the flood of user-made contracts as people start to wrestle the systems in Absolution to bring out some real brain teasers for us all to enjoy.

So, we’ve basically sat down and looked at how players were crafting new missions out of the ones that already existed in the game, and we’ve built the tools to let them do this in a formalized, organized and rewarding way. It’s going to be a grand experience seeing how much creativity the players can inject into the game once it comes out.

IO Interactive is showing off Contracts at a special event at Gamescom, and later in the week we’re releasing a trailer showing how Contracts works. Hitman: Absolution is out on November 20th, 2012.

Excitement around Hitman: Absolution has been building at an impressive rate over the last year. In fact, today it’s exactly one year ago we came out and announced that we were working on Absolution and we’ve had a great ride. From sharing the first gameplay at E3 2011 and releasing the full 16 minutes for everyone to see afterwards to showing off the gorgeous orphanage level, revealing the fate of 47’s long-time handler Diana, showing off new features like Instinct and introducing exciting new gameplay series of videos called ‘Introducing’, we can safely say the fans have been with us through quite a ride thus far.

And now it’s time to kick it up another level. Today, we announce two new things. One is the Hitman: Sniper Challenge pre-order bonus and the other is the release date of Absolution. Let’s start with the release date – November 20th, 2012 is the day the game will hit PS3. So get your behind to Mars, er, GameStop and pre-order the game. Why? Well, that’s where this Sniper Challenge comes in.

You see, the Sniper Challenge is a way for us to say “thanks and we love you” to all the dedicated fans who have been waiting these last few years for a new Hitman experience. We’ve taken our time in creating a great game for fans, new and old alike, and we’ve tried out many different things in the process. One of those things was an early prototype for sniper gameplay in the game. It started out as two grey boxes with 47 on top of one and a target way off in the distance on the other. A few more items were added and the thing was shared internally to see if it worked. Pretty soon, it went viral at IO Interactive. Leaderboards were built, people started spending more and more time on it and we realized that this was something awesome. So we decided to expand upon it and make it into something that wasn’t Absolution – it was never going to go in the game as it just didn’t fit anywhere – but a few guys scrounged up some internal resources and started building the level out as a bonus to the fans that had been waiting for so long already.

So, here’s the deal – the Hitman: Sniper Challenge is a standalone hit, only available for Hitman: Absolution pre-orders. As the original assassin, you’ll unpack your Agency Kazo TRG sniper rifle, scope out the penthouse balcony of one Mr. Richard Strong Jr., CEO of Stallion Armaments and soon-to-be dead guy. And here’s the great thing: you get to play it immediately upon pre-order starting May 15th! Take out Mr. Strong Jr. and his entire staff of bodyguards, score big on the leaderboards and you’ll unlock equipment upgrades that carry over to Hitman: Absolution when the game comes out on November 20th. All you need to do is pre-order the game with GameStop, obtain the redeem code, boot up your PS3 and grab the Sniper Challenge from PlayStation Store starting May 15th. That’s it!

We truly hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we have. And don’t forget – November 20th is the day of Absolution.

By valuing stealth, careful observation, and meticulous planning over the run-and-gun bulletstorms of its contemporaries, the Hitman series has earned a sizable fan base over its long and celebrated career. As coldblooded antihero Agent 47, the player quietly stalks his prey through a Kafka-esque maze of guards and security measures, donning disguises, blending in with the crowd, and evading or subduing threats in order to efficiently fulfill his latest contract kill. The key phrase here is blending in; in Hitman, to stand out is to be detected, and to be detected is to die in a hail of gunfire.

This tense, analytical formula has served Hitman well over many successful sequels. But the steep learning curve and unforgiving stealth segments have also proven polarizing, preventing some newcomers from embracing what is by all accounts a uniquely rewarding stealth-action title. Taking a cue from 2011’s successful launch of Deus Ex: Human Revolution — another stealth game that sought to broaden its appeal without betraying its roots — Hitman: Absolution seeks to have its bloody cake and eat it, too.

To put it bluntly, Agent 47 no longer sucks in combat. In previous games, Agent 47 was a ghost, not a fighter. He stiffly plodded through the environments like an avenging automaton, poisoning donuts, setting up nasty “accidents,” always preferring to do his dirty deeds behind closed doors. In Hitman: Absolution, he’s capable of killing openly and gracefully, swapping lead with military precision and managing cover like a pro. But the classic stealth approach is fully supported, too. For the first time in Hitman history, you have a choice between two radically different but equally engaging interpretations of Hitman.

To prove this point, I sat in on a recent demo of the game running on PS3 — and looking mighty fine, may I add. A producer at developer IO Interactive played through a lengthy sequence using Agent 47’s time-tested skillset of distraction and deception. The result was a succession of nailbiting sequences in which Agent 47 narrowly avoided detection, weaving and rolling between cover, setting off small distractions in the environment to lure away and separate roaming guards, and donning disguises to penetrate deeper into the compound. Then the producer replayed the same scenario using Hitman: Absolution’s overhauled action gameplay. Instead of misdirecting his foes to avoid combat, Agent 47 brutally dispatched every poor sap he came across, hurling fire axes into craniums, bashing brains in with giant crucifixes, and double-tapping enemies at close range using a recovered pistol. The climax was a shootout against a mob of thugs using a room-clearing shotgun, cover-based shooting tactics, and a slow-mo burst of firepower called “Point Shooting.” And you know what? It looked like a helluva lot of fun.

Stealth or shooting: In Hitman: Absolution, the choice will be yours. To discuss the nitty gritty of this 2012 stealth-action title, I armed myself with questions submitted by @PlayStation followers and caught up with Lead Producer Hakan Abrak for an in-depth interview. If you have questions, leave them in the comments!

PlayStation.Blog: Is Hitman: Absolution a direct follow-up to Blood Money? (asked by @KnightAttack09 and @APakwashee)
Hakan Abrak, lead producer, Hitman: Absolution: It’s not set in a specific Hitman timeline. The setting is a bit different and we’re taking the story somewhere else — you start the game by killing Diana, the only truly human connection Agent 47 has ever had. And that changes the stakes immensely. In earlier games, Diana’s contracts set the tone and direction of the story. This time, Agent 47 is on his own. He must choose his next steps on his own.

PSB: Why does Agent 47 kill Diana?
HA: I don’t want to go into too many details, but something’s happening at the agency. Agent 47 suddenly receives a contract to kill Diana, and…well, he’s very professional! He kills her. Diana has been Agent 47’s connection for a long, long time, so when she makes a dying wish for him to seek out a girl named Victoria, he takes it on as a personal mission. There’s a strong connection to the the title of the game, Absolution. He’s seeking absolution for…something.

PSB: Is Hitman: Absolution a re-envisioning or reboot of the Hitman premise?
HA: I don’t know that I’d go that far, but we are exploring different aspects of Agent 47. The story is darker, more personal. You get to experience Agent 47 being placed in an unusual situation. He’s not just taking on contracts; he’s being hunted and he’s hunting for personal reasons. If you’re a longtime series fan, you know that’s very unusual for the cold, calculating Agent 47.

PSB: What was your primary goal from a gameplay perspective?
HA: We’ve been developing this game for a long time, and it’s very much linked to the technology, especially creating more complex, more believable artificial intelligence. Early on, we knew we couldn’t achieve our ambitions with the older Glacier 1 engine, so we decided to create Glacier 2. It’s a huge challenge to create new game technology, but it brought a lot of benefits.

PSB: Such as? What does Glacier 2 enable you to do that you couldn’t do before?
HA: We wanted to bring more fidelity to everything, to expand this concept of a living, breathing world. The characters are less binary and react in a lot of new ways. But we also wanted to enhance Agent 47’s skills and abilities, so we’ve introduced this concept of Instinct — an umbrella feature that conveys his keen senses. Agent 47 was genetically engineered to be the ultimate assassin, and in the past we’ve had a hard time communicating that through game mechanics. But with Absolution, I think we’ve succeeded in integrating his keen senses into the moment-to-moment gameplay. The way he can sense others around him, see through walls, shoot multiple targets almost instantly with Point Shooting…

PSB: Hitman is much loved for its stealth gameplay. What have you done to enhance it?
HA: When you’re making a stealth game, it’s important to find new ways to build tension. We built a lot of prototypes for Hitman: Absolution, and we learned that creating a “Giger counter” effect was a very effective way to communicate that the player is about to get spotted — you’d better move! In earlier games, it could be frustrating because you didn’t know when an enemy was about to spot you. And that “Giger counter” effect has the bonus effect of making you squirm when you play, it builds more tension. I find myself saying “ooh! ooh! ooh!” when I’m sneaking around.

PSB: Are you expanding on Agent 47’s use of disguises?
HA: Disguises are another area where we’ve added a lot more fidelity. If I’m wearing a guard outfit, guard characters will have an easy time seeing through my disguise…but other characters will be less likely to notice. Disguises have different ratings, too, and also different armour ratings: a SWAT disguise will give you far more protection than a doctor’s outfit.

When he’s disguised, Agent 47 can also act his way out of trouble when he has to walk near an enemy: he can scratch his head, pretend to speak into a radio to briefly deflect attention.

PSB: Is it fair to say that stealth and aggression are equally valid strategies in Hitman: Absolution?
HA: There are many more options for different emotional states and approaches to the gameplay. Some players do prefer a more violent approach; in earlier Hitman games, you were punished for that. If you screwed up, the entire level would come down on your head. But now, action is a more compelling option. But to our veteran fans, rest assured, the stealth is fully intact and better than ever!

Voyeurism has always been a key storytelling focus in Hitman, and we still have a lot of these small stories peppered throughout the game. It’s where a lot of the replayability comes in, actually. If you go into the game guns blazing, you’ll get a unique experience…but if you’re stealthy and explore more thoroughly, you’ll learn a lot more about the world and characters by overhearing conversations and the like.

PSB: Finally, do you think multiplayer is an important feature for a Hitman game? (asked by @yasemann)
HA: Agent 47 works alone.

IO Interactive has been on quite a ride with the first demo of Hitman: Absolution – touring the world with the code, showing it off to hundreds of thousands of excited people. The response was so overwhelming, we decided to release the full playthrough a few weeks ago. And now, after having captured two of the most busy gentlemen on the team, we are following up with a new video to ensure everyone gets the full experience.

Join Game Director Tore Blystad and Gameplay Director Christian Elverdam as they take us all behind-the-scenes of the award-winning Hitman: Absolution, with a full 17-minute commentary version of the “Run For Your Life” playthrough. The commentary will let you learn first-hand what it takes to create a living and breathing world. The aim is for the fans to gain new insight into the creation and ambition for the game and get a taste of what players can expect when they enter the mindset of the original assassin: Agent 47. We hope you will enjoy it!

How does it feel to be bringing Hitman back after such a long time away?

TB: It feels super great. Part of time was spent building a brand new engine from scratch. We looked at all the previous Hitman titles and said, “Okay, there’s a lot of DNA here, what do we want to improve?” We looked at everything, from Agent 47 himself – how does he move? what can he do? – to the AI. We had quite a few binary reactions in the old games, where if you got discovered it turned into a bit of a clumsy combat situation. We wanted to widen that a lot. Obviously we still have a lot of stealth elements in the game.

Let’s say you get discovered by a police officer. He won’t immediately try to shoot you, he’ll attempt to arrest you. This means that in Hitman: Absolution we have a bit of rubber-banding, a bit of leeway to try things out. You can back away, find a dark corner or try to disarm him.

We created a lot of different scenarios. So for example there’s a kind of hippies’ apartment which Agent 47 enters disguised as a police officer. These guys don’t like cops, so this disguise is not a good idea in there. But they won’t just attack you without warning. They’ll want to know why you’re there and warn you off. Of course, they might try to attack you, but that’s probably not going to end well for them.

Now, if you go in there dressed as Agent 47, they probably would allow you to be there, even though you’re trespassing and would arouse suspicion. There’s a lot for us to play around with.

So a lot of the experience will depend on you reacting to what’s going on around you?

CE: Yes, you need to play with your eyes open. Disguises play a big part here to alter how the game pans out in front of you. A lot of the disguises have their own attributes, and the Instinct system ties in there too. Instinct allows you to see potential challenges in real time. If you’re disguised and it’s cop versus cop then you can try to bluff them and sneak away to save ammo.

Is Instinct always available?

CE: No, Instinct is an economy. You have to earn it by doing the sorts of things a real hitman might do – by carrying out silent kills, successully concealing bodies and bluffing a large number of people, for example. You have to use it carefully on the most expert difficulty settings, while it’s more prevalent on the easier ones.

The demo we saw was set in a rain-lashed Chicago. Is the whole game set there?

TB: I can’t get into specifics there I’m afraid, but there are a lot of locations and Agent 47 will be collecting his air miles.

What’s the nature of Agent 47′s assignment this time?

TB: It’s a much more personal journey for Agent 47. He’s completely invested in the story, and we see an interesting turning point where he gets betrayed. This sets him off on a hunt for the truth, but, of course, it’s still very much about finding people and killing them.

There’s a real sense of non-playable characters’ micro-dramas happening all around you.

CE: Well an open world game needs to feel alive, so that’s what we’ve gone for here. The characters can do so many different things according to the situation. Along with the cinematic sequences, this has been the toughest thing for us to get right, hence us having to build our own brand new tool set and basically attack it from any angle.

If you take out the guy that was supposed to turn on the lights in a room, it changes the situation completely. Every action, however small, has its own consequence.

TB: We have a rookie cop character who has been called out with his colleagues to a library which Agent 47 is stalking round. This new guy is always getting told off by his sergeant, and you can actually distract him. He will go off and investigate before carrying on with his own little story. If you take a different path through the library, you can see his story unfold from a different perspective.

This allows you to play with your morals – you can kill the rookie without a second thought, or isolate his sergeant and kill him instead, giving the new guy a bit of a break. We really wanted to include a lot of this kind of stuff. Imagine playing through this big, dark library without this and it’s just a normal stealth game. It loses a defining Hitman characteristic. Nothing else has that. Whichever way you play it, it should always be entertaining.

Do you create the characters first, then build the game around them?

CE: It goes into a big jumble. Often we think of a cool disguise then devise a way to get it into the game, like the chicken suit in Hitman: Blood Money.

We sometimes think of the situation first then devise the characters to populate that – like the library full of cops. Pacing is always top priority, so anything that can add variety is a good thing because it makes the player think differently.

Who dreams up the various ways to assassinate people?

TB: We had a base of mechanics from Hitman: Blood Money that we started off with, and we added to that whatever people could come up with. Plus, many of the improvised weapons are location specific, so you wouldn’t find too many heavy books outside of the library.

So does that mean people from IO Interactive go home at night and sit there thinking up ingenious ways to kill people?

TB: Yeah! People come in the next day and go, “Hey! I had this great idea last night about pushing a cop off a ledge”, or whatever. Everyone’s a closet hitman.

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time

Sly Cooper’s first PS3 outing isn’t due until 2012, but you can get a head start with this richly illustrated debut trailer. Check back later this week for our E3 demo from our E3 livestreaming session — it’ll be your first peek at gameplay.

Starhawk

This dizzying cinematic trailer shows off Starhawk’s sweeping set pieces and its new Build and Battle action with panache. This is one to watch.

DUST 514

CCP Games’ upcoming PSN exclusive is a first, marrying a punishing PS3 first-person shooter with the expansive player base of PC-based MMO EVE Online. DUST 514 will also support PlayStation Move and include a PS Vita component.

UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception

This slick piece of work would look at home on the silver screen. It’s got everything you could ask for: betrayal, infighting, and epic setpieces set to pounding music. My body is ready for 11.1.11.

Papo & Yo

You wouldn’t guess it from its cheery visuals, but this quirky PSN title was inspired by the designer’s stormy relationship with his father, a substance abuser with two deeply divided personalities.

Resistance 3

This E3 trailer sets a grim tone for Nathan Capelli’s grueling journey to New York City in a last-ditch bid to stop the Chimera in their tracks. If you watched the PlayStation E3 2011 showcase live, you saw Creative Director Marcus Smith guide an gameplay demo rendered in eye-popping 3D.

God of War Origins Collection

I know I’m not alone wanting to play PSP classics God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta on the big screen, and soon will be able to — in 3D! These puppies cleaned up real nice for the PS3.

Twisted Metal: Revenge

I’ve never dared to dream that we’d see mechs in Twisted Metal, but David Jaffe, Scott Campbell and the boys have never been short on imagination. Side note: I love the actor who plays Calypso.

Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest

This new trailer highlights the accuracy of the PlayStation Move motion controller: You swing it to slash your sword, flick it to fling throwing stars, and draw back to fire arrows. The trailer for Deadmund’s Quest highlights some of the different tools and magical abilities you’ll encounter.

Hitman Absolution

This slick reveal trailer shows Agent 47 back in the saddle and fighting dirtier than ever. There’s not a hint of gameplay footage to be found, but the grim mood is deliciously tactile.

inFAMOUS 2 launch trailer

The sequel to Sucker Punch’s sprawling open-world superhero adventure is available now, and this visceral launch trailer hits that point home by showcasing Cole’s devastating new electrical and elemental powers.

At this very moment, an army of hard-working team members are into the second day of presenting what is a true labor of love for IO Interactive – Hitman: Absolution. The knowledge that millions of fans have been waiting for news on Hitman is making the guys give it everything they have to present a game that we’re extremely proud of at IO. Lifting the veil on the development of a new game is always fun but given the connection between the studio and Hitman, this time it’s more exciting than ever.

And the debut trailer? Well, see for yourself. Agent 47, the world’s deadliest assassin, returns to take on his most dangerous contract ever. This time, he finds himself betrayed by the people he trusted and must use every skill and talent he has available to claw his way out of a dark conspiracy, which takes him through a corrupt world of twisted enemies. Thankfully, 47 is a resourceful individual and nothing will stand in his way for long.

When you’re creating a game with the scope of Hitman: Absolution, you don’t just have one finish line at the end of the race – you have lots. In fact, it can sometimes feel like you’re running a relay race all by yourself, constantly handing over and simultaneously receiving the baton to go another lap around the track. It’s exhausting, sure, but every time you complete a lap, a new surge of energy hits and you can run on that high for a long time.

Coming to E3 and delivering this debut trailer for Hitman: Absolution, as well as the presentations on the floor, has provided us with a massive boost of energy, which will come in handy for the next months as we push to make the game the absolutely best it can be. IO and Hitman are intertwined on an almost cellular level and with this game, we’re taking everything to the next level. We trust you will all enjoy the experience.