Schlagwort: gearbox software

  • Tribes of Midgard Season 2: Serpent Saga

    Tribes of Midgard Season 2: Serpent Saga

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Hello Vikings! Tribes of Midgard Community Manager Sydnee here once again to welcome you to Tribes of Midgard Season 2: the Serpent Saga. The Serpent Saga is the next chapter in our adventure in Midgard, and adds another level of exploration and excitement for players to sink their fangs into.

    Oceans and boating and swimming – Oh my!

    At launch, many people found out the uncomfortable truth about Vikings in Tribes of Midgard –  they weren’t exactly strong swimmers. Whether it was a misaimed dodge roll or a jump off a ledge…Tribes of Midgard’s Vikings couldn’t swim… until now! We heard your drowning cries loud and clear, and have worked hard to implement aquatic exploration for Season 2. 

    At the launch of Season 2, we’re introducing swimming, boating, and an ocean biome full of danger and opportunity. How’s it work? Good question! Let’s get into the details:

    • Swimming: You can now explore our ocean biomes, but I wouldn’t get overconfident with your swimming ability, as it is limited by your Viking’s stamina bar. Make sure you’re back on a boat or on the shore (or do like we all do and use a last-ditch teleport to your Village) when your stamina runs out or it’s a trip straight to Rán’s watery halls. So now your fate is in your hands.
    • Shipyard: First, you’ll have to rebuild your Shipyard, just like you would for the Quarry, Farm, Lumberyard, etc. From there, you’ll gain access to boat kits, and be faced with a decision. As you upgrade the Shipyard, you’ll gain access to new and sturdier boat kits, all of which will allow you to use your construction screen to build your boat.
    • Boating: Do you go with Drakkars that will require more materials, but hold more players, have a higher HP, and move faster when every moment is a race against Ragnarök? Or smaller, more nimble Færings… that are flimsier and carry fewer Tribe-mates? The choice is yours!.
    • Streams are for Streamers, Not For Boating: Not all water is equal in Tribes of Midgard – so take note so that you can only build boats in the ocean, not rivers or ponds (not sure where you’d really go anyway). 

    However, being on a boat doesn’t mean you are invincible either (don’t let your Viking pride fool you)! 

    • Beachside Enemies & Combat: The shores of Midgard are full of hazards and creatures that can churn your sturdy ship to splinters before you even make landfall! You can explore the oceans free of fear, but be wary of which shore you wash up on, because not all inhabitants will be waiting with a warm welcome. 
    • Seafarers: If sea exploration doesn’t seem like your thing, then you better have someone in your Tribe who can, as the world of Midgard will now be split into the Main Continent and a swath of smaller islands in the Midgardian sea. Vikings and their Village will still spawn on the main continent, with merchants, points of interest, and Saga Boss unlock requirements scattered across these islands.

    Don’t rune It

    To aid in your exploration and impending battles, we’ve added in five Runes – each of which will randomly drop in-game. We want to have some surprises left after this post, so we’ll reveal these Runes closer to launch. I will say this: as with the Runes added for Mid-Saga 1, these will be available during future Sagas. Along with the Runes from launch and Season 1, you’ll now have 40 of Runes at your disposal to adapt the game to whatever playstyle best suits you.

    SSSSSay my name…

    As many of you experienced with Fenrir, the vibrant and luscious world of Midgard is also home to some rather formidable foes that make even the Jötnar look tame. Although we’re not ready to reveal all the details surrounding our Serpent Saga boss just yet, you’ll find this mythical creature of legend on a desolate island out at sea. For all the Fenrir fans out there, fear not. Fenrir will remain in the game alongside the Saga 2 boss, and you can even attempt to defeat both in one world!

    Before you can even set foot in their den (or cave, or, tree house? Who knows), you’ll need to unlock the Lair. I won’t just tell you how to do it, but I would advise you to get comfortable with your boat!

    Yule of Yggdrasil

    We’re not done piling on the content just yet! Along with the launch of Season 2, we’re giving you the gift that keeps on giving – our seasonal Yulidays. For three weeks straight, we’ll be dropping festive seasonal content, including a pet, cosmetics, and festive changes to your main menu and village – so make sure you’re jumping in each week to collect those Yulidays rewards! 

    Phew, that was a lot. Along with the content we shared above, Season 2 will also implement a boatload of additional balancing and quality of life updates I’m sure you’re bound to appreciate. I don’t want to spoil it all for you yet, so keep your eyes peeled for more updates over the coming weeks leading up to Season 2.

    A saga for the road

    And this is just the beginning for Tribes of Midgard. We’ve shared our updated roadmap outlining our future content plans – with lots more coming in 2022 as you can see above. So, yes, you’re stuck with us for quite some time. 🙂

    Tribes of Midgard Season 2: The Serpent Saga, along with Yulidays, will launch December 14 on PlayStation, and is free to all players. You can purchase Tribes of Midgard from PlayStation Store for $19.99 USD / £15.99, or the Digital Deluxe edition, which includes platform-exclusive cosmetics and pets, for $29.99 USD / £24.99 – both versions come with free seasonal content and seasonal updates.

    Website: LINK

  • Tribes of Midgard Saison 2: Die Schlangensage

    Tribes of Midgard Saison 2: Die Schlangensage

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Seid gegrüßt, Wikinger! Ich bin Sydnee McLeod, Community Manager von Tribes of Midgard, wir kennen uns ja bereits. Heute möchte ich euch einige der Inhalte von Saison 2: Die Schlangensage vorstellen. Die Schlangensage ist das nächste Kapitel im Midgard-Abenteuer und lässt euch noch mehr erkunden und entdecken – Spannung garantiert.

    Das Meer steht euch offen – ob per Boot oder schwimmend. Wunderbar!

    Als wir Tribes of Midgard veröffentlichten, mussten viele Spieler zu ihrem Leid feststellen, dass die Wikinger in unserem Spiel nicht gerade zu den guten Schwimmern zählten. Einmal in die falsche Richtung ausgewichen oder von der Klippe gesprungen und euch erwartete ein nasses Grab. Aber das ändert sich jetzt! Wir haben eure Schreie der Verzweiflung gehört, als ihr langsam in den Fluten versunken seid, und uns richtig ins Zeug gelegt, in Saison 2 auch die Erkundung auf dem Wasserweg zu ermöglichen.

    Zum Start von Saison 2 erwarten euch Schwimmen, Boote und ein Ozean-Biom voller Gefahren und Schätze! Und wie funktioniert das? Eine gute Frage! Lasst uns gemeinsam einen genaueren Blick drauf werfen:

    https://gfycat.com/forkedheartfelthousefly
    • Schwimmen: Ihr seid jetzt dazu in der Lage, unsere Ozean-Biome zu erkunden, aber an eurer Stelle würde ich nicht gleich übermütig werden, da ihr nur so lange schwimmen könnt, bis die Ausdauerleiste eures Wikingers erschöpft ist. Ihr müsst also unbedingt ein Boot oder das rettende Ufer erreichen (oder euch panisch im letzten Moment zum Dorf teleportieren, so wie wir das alle machen), bevor eure Ausdauer aufgebraucht ist, wenn ihr nicht auf direktem Wege in Ráns nassen Hallen landen wollt. Eure Zukunft liegt also jetzt in euren Händen.
    • Die Werft: Zuerst müsst ihr eure Werft wieder aufbauen, genauso wie bei der Mine, dem Bauernhof, dem Sägewerk usw. Dort könnt ihr dann Boot-Bausätze erwerben und müsst eine Entscheidung fällen. Wenn ihr die Werft verbessert, erhaltet ihr Zugang zu neuen und stabileren Boot-Bausätzen, mit denen ihr im Baumenü euer Boot bauen könnt.
    • Boote: Setzt ihr im Wettrennen gegen den Weltuntergang lieber auf Drachenschiffe mit mehr Lebenspunkten und höherer Bewegungsgeschwindigkeit, die zwar mehr Materialien benötigen, aber auch mehr Spielern Platz bieten? Oder auf kleinere Færinge, die wendiger sind, dafür weniger aushalten und weniger Stammesmitglieder befördern können? Ihr habt die Wahl!
    • Flüsse sind tabu: In Tribes of Midgard ist Gewässer nicht gleich Gewässer – ihr könnt eure Boote nur im Ozean benutzen und nicht auf Flüssen oder auf Teichen (wo immer ihr da eigentlich hinwollt).

    Beachtet auch, dass ihr auf einem Boot nicht unverwundbar seid (lasst euch nicht von eurem Wikingerstolz blenden)!

    https://gfycat.com/pastfabulousiridescentshark
    • Feinde am Ufer und Kämpfe: Die Ufer Midgards sind voller Gefahren und Kreaturen, die eure Nussschale zu Treibholz verarbeiten, bevor ihr überhaupt Land erreicht habt! Ihr könnt die Meere ohne Furcht erkunden, aber nehmt euch davor in Acht, an welcher Küste ihr vorbeifahrt, da nicht alle Einwohner euch mit offenen Armen empfangen werden.
    • Seefahrer: Sollte die maritime Erkundung euch nicht so liegen, solltet ihr in eurem Stamm aber jemanden haben, der richtig heiß drauf ist, denn die Welt von Midgard wird ab jetzt in einen Hauptkontinent und mehrere kleinere Inseln in der See von Midgard aufgeteilt. Wikinger spawnen weiterhin in ihrem Dorf auf dem Hauptkontinent, Händler, Orte von Interesse und die Freischaltanforderungen für Saga-Bosse findet ihr nun aber auf diesen Inseln.

    Neue Runen braucht die Welt

    Um euch beim Erkunden und den bevorstehenden Kämpfen zu unterstützen, haben wir fünf neue Runen eingeführt, die alle nach dem Zufallsprinzip gefunden werden können. Ein paar Überraschungen wollen wir aber noch nicht verraten, deshalb gibt es einen genaueren Blick auf die Runen erst kurz vor der Veröffentlichung. Soviel sei gesagt: Wie bei den Runen, die im Update zur Mitte von Saga 1 hinzugefügt wurden, werden auch diese Runen in zukünftigen Sagas verfügbar sein. Zusammen mit den Runen bei der Spielveröffentlichung und den Runen aus Saison 1 habt ihr dann 40 Runen zur Verfügung, mit denen ihr eure Spielweise an eure Vorstellungen anpassen könnt.

    Sssssssssssag meinen Namen …

    Viele von euch haben es ja bei Fenrir schon selbst erlebt, aber die farbenprächtige und herrliche Welt von Midgard wird von einigen mächtigen Feinden bewohnt, gegen die selbst die Jötnar verblassen. Wir sind zwar noch nicht bereit, alle Details über den Schlangensagen-Boss preiszugeben, aber ihr könnt die legendäre mythische Kreatur auf einer verlassenen Insel im Meer finden. Und all ihr Fenrir-Fans müsst euch keine Sorgen machen. Fenrir wird neben dem Boss von Saga 2 auch weiterhin die Spielwelt unsicher machen. Ihr könnt sogar versuchen, beide in einem Spieldurchgang zu erledigen!

    Bevor ihr euch aber in ihren Bau (oder Höhle, Baumhaus, wer weiß das schon?) wagen könnt, müsst ihr zuerst einmal Zugang dazu erlangen. Ich werde euch aber nicht einfach verraten, wie das geht … ihr solltet euch aber mit eurem Boot vertraut machen.

    Yggdrasil-Jul

    Das war’s aber noch nicht mit neuen Inhalten! Zum Start von Saison 2 bekommt ihr auch ein Geschenk, das euch alle Jahre wieder beglücken wird: das winterliche Jul-Fest. Drei ganze Wochen lang erhaltet ihr festliche, winterliche Inhalte, darunter ein Begleiter sowie kosmetische Gegenstände, und das Hauptmenü und euer Dorf erstrahlen im weihnachtlichen Gewand. Schaut also unbedingt jede Woche vorbei, um euch die schmackhaften Jul-Fest-Belohnungen nicht entgehen zu lassen.

    Puh, das war ja eine ganze Menge! Zusätzlich zu den oben aufgeführten Inhalten werdet ihr in Saison 2 eine ganze Schiffsladung voller Balance- und Vereinfachungs-Updates erhalten, die euch sicher gefallen werden. Ich will noch nicht alles verraten, also haltet in den nächsten Wochen, bis Saison 2 beginnt, die Augen nach neuen Updates offen.

    Eine Saga für unterwegs

    Und das ist erst der Anfang für Tribes of Midgard! Wir haben die aktualisierte Roadmap mit unseren Plänen für die Zukunft veröffentlicht und wie ihr sehen könnt, ist 2022 einiges geboten. Ihr habt uns also noch einige Zeit an der Backe! 🙂

    Tribes of Midgard Saison 2: Die Schlangensage und das Jul-Fest sind ab 14. Dezember auf PlayStation verfügbar – kostenlos für alle Spieler. Ihr könnt Tribes of Midgard im PlayStation Store für 19,99 € kaufen. Alternativ gibt es natürlich auch noch die Digital Deluxe Edition mit plattformexklusiven kosmetischen Gegenständen und Begleitern für 29,99 € – die kostenlosen saisonalen Inhalte und Updates sind in beiden Versionen enthalten! 

    Website: LINK

  • Borderlands 3’s Free Bloody Harvest Event Starts Today

    Borderlands 3’s Free Bloody Harvest Event Starts Today

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Hey Vault Hunters! Starting today, Bloody Harvest – Borderlands 3’s first Event with a capital “E” – is available for free to all players, and with it comes a new boss, new map, new Terror gameplay mechanic, new Legendary weapon, and more! Check out the trailer above for a quick look at what’s in store.

    Now that Bloody Harvest is here, we wanted to take this opportunity to talk not just about Bloody Harvest but also about Gearbox’s execution of “Event” content as a whole, since prior to Borderlands 3, Events weren’t something Gearbox had ever done as a studio.

    To start, let’s define what Events actually are. In a nutshell, Events are repeatable missions that put a twist on combat throughout the entirety of the game (in Bloody Harvest’s case, the introduction of Haunted enemies scattered through the galaxy) and eventually reward access to an Event Map and Boss. Events contain cosmetics unlockable via Event Challenges, a new set of unique gear, and Anointed weapon parts that are only available during each Event. After the Event, those items become unattainable, though any gear or cosmetics earned by players remain in their inventories.

    From the Beginning

    We came up with the earliest concept of what became Events almost two years ago in December 2017. At the time, we had three primary goals:

    • Leverage the ideas behind the Headhunter Packs of Borderlands and Borderlands 2 but give them a modern twist with free, cyclical, and re-usable content releases.
    • Create a layer of content on top of the regular game rather than a singular, separate Headhunter level.
    • Implement a robust reward system with limited time loot and Event Challenges.

    In the very first pitch for Events, we expected players to start a new character. Events would have released bi-monthly, and we were even considering leaderboards. I’m a huge fan of games like Path of Exile, Warframe, World of Warcraft, and Diablo 3, and the way they handle post-launch content inspired me in different ways. Path of Exile has an immovable release schedule and Challenge Leagues; Warframe has incredible scheduled and reusable content; and WoW and Diablo 3 do great seasonal bits.

    We needed to boil those various bits down, put our own spin on them, and turn it all into something that would work for Borderlands 3. Over time, player characters became something we wanted players to stick with, rather than encouraging players to make new ones. It turned out leaderboards don’t work without dedicated servers because it’s easy to fake/cheat your way to the top. A bimonthly release schedule is more or less untenable. Et cetera. But the things that stuck around were: limited-time loot, Event Challenges, and the idea that we could affect the entirety of Borderlands’ combat without breaking the whole damn game.

    On to Phase Two

    Once we had a plan in place, we then had to figure out how to bring it to life in-game. As Borderlands 3’s first post-release content, Events encountered a host of challenges due to the fact that our content would be the first to release following the launch of the game. We found solutions, but ultimately, there was one very robust piece of tech that provided the backbone of how Events work.

    This part gets a bit technical, but essentially: we ended up piggy-backing off of the game’s streaming system because Jasper Foreman, the coder who wrote the Spawn System, was simultaneously able to create a major component we needed for Events. Thanks to his work, we gained the ability to affect anything that spawns or dies across the entire game. This was a huge win for design. In the end, one relatively small piece of blueprint handles the entirety of the world mechanic (i.e. what players see in the regular game with Haunted enemies in the Bloody Harvest event).

    With this tech in place, we had what we needed not only for Bloody Harvest but for Events content in general. So naturally, we have plans for more Events and, more importantly, plans for branching out from holidays (though we will totally do those too). We get to be really creative about what we are adding in the future, and that’s fun – because when we have fun making stuff, players have fun. That’s how Borderlands gets made. We will eventually get back to things like Mercenary Day, but for now, enjoy Bloody Harvest and thanks for the continued support!

    Website: LINK

  • Borderlands 3’s Free Bloody Harvest Event Starts Today

    Borderlands 3’s Free Bloody Harvest Event Starts Today

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Hey Vault Hunters! Starting today, Bloody Harvest – Borderlands 3’s first Event with a capital “E” – is available for free to all players, and with it comes a new boss, new map, new Terror gameplay mechanic, new Legendary weapon, and more! Check out the trailer above for a quick look at what’s in store.

    Now that Bloody Harvest is here, we wanted to take this opportunity to talk not just about Bloody Harvest but also about Gearbox’s execution of “Event” content as a whole, since prior to Borderlands 3, Events weren’t something Gearbox had ever done as a studio.

    To start, let’s define what Events actually are. In a nutshell, Events are repeatable missions that put a twist on combat throughout the entirety of the game (in Bloody Harvest’s case, the introduction of Haunted enemies scattered through the galaxy) and eventually reward access to an Event Map and Boss. Events contain cosmetics unlockable via Event Challenges, a new set of unique gear, and Anointed weapon parts that are only available during each Event. After the Event, those items become unattainable, though any gear or cosmetics earned by players remain in their inventories.

    From the Beginning

    We came up with the earliest concept of what became Events almost two years ago in December 2017. At the time, we had three primary goals:

    • Leverage the ideas behind the Headhunter Packs of Borderlands and Borderlands 2 but give them a modern twist with free, cyclical, and re-usable content releases.
    • Create a layer of content on top of the regular game rather than a singular, separate Headhunter level.
    • Implement a robust reward system with limited time loot and Event Challenges.

    In the very first pitch for Events, we expected players to start a new character. Events would have released bi-monthly, and we were even considering leaderboards. I’m a huge fan of games like Path of Exile, Warframe, World of Warcraft, and Diablo 3, and the way they handle post-launch content inspired me in different ways. Path of Exile has an immovable release schedule and Challenge Leagues; Warframe has incredible scheduled and reusable content; and WoW and Diablo 3 do great seasonal bits.

    We needed to boil those various bits down, put our own spin on them, and turn it all into something that would work for Borderlands 3. Over time, player characters became something we wanted players to stick with, rather than encouraging players to make new ones. It turned out leaderboards don’t work without dedicated servers because it’s easy to fake/cheat your way to the top. A bimonthly release schedule is more or less untenable. Et cetera. But the things that stuck around were: limited-time loot, Event Challenges, and the idea that we could affect the entirety of Borderlands’ combat without breaking the whole damn game.

    On to Phase Two

    Once we had a plan in place, we then had to figure out how to bring it to life in-game. As Borderlands 3’s first post-release content, Events encountered a host of challenges due to the fact that our content would be the first to release following the launch of the game. We found solutions, but ultimately, there was one very robust piece of tech that provided the backbone of how Events work.

    This part gets a bit technical, but essentially: we ended up piggy-backing off of the game’s streaming system because Jasper Foreman, the coder who wrote the Spawn System, was simultaneously able to create a major component we needed for Events. Thanks to his work, we gained the ability to affect anything that spawns or dies across the entire game. This was a huge win for design. In the end, one relatively small piece of blueprint handles the entirety of the world mechanic (i.e. what players see in the regular game with Haunted enemies in the Bloody Harvest event).

    With this tech in place, we had what we needed not only for Bloody Harvest but for Events content in general. So naturally, we have plans for more Events and, more importantly, plans for branching out from holidays (though we will totally do those too). We get to be really creative about what we are adding in the future, and that’s fun – because when we have fun making stuff, players have fun. That’s how Borderlands gets made. We will eventually get back to things like Mercenary Day, but for now, enjoy Bloody Harvest and thanks for the continued support!

    Website: LINK

  • Gallery: Four Hand-Crafted, Artisanal Borderlands 3 Wallpapers

    Gallery: Four Hand-Crafted, Artisanal Borderlands 3 Wallpapers

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Borderlands 3 launches on September 13 — yowza! That’s soon! The third mainline entry in the rootin’ tootin’ lootin’ shootin’ saga introduces a party of four new Vault Hunters, each with their own very particular set of skills. But you know who’s back in Borderlands 3?

    Bandits.

    Yep — a whole gaggle of wild, unpredictable maniacs who would love nothing more than to give you lots of violent hugs.

    To celebrate BL3’s impending release, our pals at 2K whipped up some fresh new Bandit-themed desktop and mobile wallpapers with which you can adorn your device of choice. You can also hop in and play Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition for free this weekend — click here to download it at PlayStation Store. Enjoy!

    Website: LINK

  • 8 Irresistible Gameplay Improvements in Borderlands 3

    8 Irresistible Gameplay Improvements in Borderlands 3

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Nearly seven years have passed since the last mainline Borderlands game, and the world is ready for a return to Claptrap’s turf. If you played the previous entries, you know to expect gonzo co-op action with an emphasis on outlandish weaponry. While Borderlands 3 delivers the first-person, looter-shooter goodness you’d expect, it also comes with a host of enhancements to the formula. More cathartic weapons, diverse character classes, copious quality life changes, and more. These are the bad-ass details that impressed me from a recent hands-on session.

    Weapons feel incredible

    Borderlands is all about scoring progressively stronger weapons and laying waste to your enemies with them. These tools of destruction feel more satisfying and impactful than ever. In addition to damage numbers popping above enemies’ heads, weapons now have convincing impact and feedback. A doomed bandit may go flying across the map from a shotgun blast before clambering to his feet for more punishment. The clear, punctuating sound design of each concussive blast or rata-tat-tat drives the satisfying feeling home.

    A cornucopia of bonkers firearms

    Speaking of guns – they are bountiful and each one feels special. Wield a submachine gun that turns into a mini-turret when you reload. A weapon that needs to be doused with water when it overheats. Hold the trigger to charge up an elemental incendiary or corrosive blast. These wonderful toys have personality and variety in spades.

    The colorful Vault Hunter classes feel distinct

    I’ve never had so much trouble picking which character class to run with in a Borderlands game — they’re all enticing. Moze’s summoned mech, Iron Bear, grants her beefier armor, shields, and shoulder-mounted artillery that wrecks shop. FL4K can cloak himself and send his trusty Skagg or Rakk pets to harass goons for him. Amara — the Siren — summons spectral arms to trap and smash fools. Zane’s shady secret agent background lets him unleash drones and pop up distracting clones (which he can then teleport to). I can’t wait to see how these Vault Hunters complement one another in the long run.

    Secondary fire options increase gunplay options

    Many guns in Borderlands 3 feature an alternate fire (press the down directional button) that spices up combat. A scoped mini-gun clicks into a powerful sniper rifle. Swap between elemental attributes to freeze then flame the opposition. Unleash a barrage of explosive rockets with your pistol. Each time I snagged a weapon with alt-fire, I was thrilled because it’s essentially two guns in one.

    Item Scores make trading out loot a cleaner process

    Weapons, grenades, and shields come with a lot of stats, and comparing loot can be a process. Obsessive min-maxers can still lose themselves in the details, but everyone else can reference a handy Item Score. This go-to distilled number gives players a good idea of whether the new loot they scored is an upgrade. I love that this new quality-of-life feature because it lets me equip new gear quickly and get right back into the action. No time wasted with lackluster sidegrades!

    Movement feels fluid and natural

    Prepare for the best-playing Borderlands 3 game yet — and we’re talking more than just weapon handling. Mantling up ledges feels liberating, and Gearbox uses it to great effect with thoughtful environmental puzzles. Sliding also makes a dramatic series debut. At one point I sprinted towards an explosive barrel, slid across the ground, and melee’d it into an enemy — all in one smooth, satisfying sequence.

    The humor is ridiculously on brand

    Okay, so not gameplay per se, but Borderlands 3 is a riot. One unforgettable mission on the lush Eden-6 features Balex, a sentient AI voiced by the inimitable Ice-T. The foul-mouthed Balex loses access to his primary “body” in some mishap and is temporarily inhabiting a ratty, dilapidated teddy bear. His mission takes you deep into an overgrown facility infested with nasty creatures called Ratch. Turns out these slimy parasites are… communicable… and the AI operating the facility is a scorned lover of Balex’s dealing with the scourge. I won’t spoil the twists and turns, but this ludicrous mission goes places.

    More exotic locales

    Running and gunning through the blasted landscape of Pandora is still lovely, but new environments like Eden-6 really shake up the scenery. For example, Eden-6’s destinations range from deadly forest, to tree-top village, to derelict high-tech facility. Gearbox has also teased bustling futuristic cities, treacherous swamps, and more.

    The loot ‘n shoot insanity of Borderlands 3 is almost here. Start recruiting your co-op buddies now (four-player online, two-player splitscreen), because blasting the bandits and feral dinosaurs of the galaxy is always better with friends. Gearbox’s next adventure hits PS4 September 13.

    Website: LINK

  • Behind the Scenes: How Gearbox Built Borderlands 3 for PS4 and PS4 Pro

    Behind the Scenes: How Gearbox Built Borderlands 3 for PS4 and PS4 Pro

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    launches September 13, and we’re over Elpis — er, the moon for it. The trail-blazing loot-shooter series’ latest installment brings back some familiar faces, but also adds four new vault hunters, an army of new enemies, and millions billions gazillions of gonzo guns.

    Since this is the first Borderlands game built from the ground up for the current generation of consoles (including, of course, PS4 and PS4 Pro), we took a moment to chat with Scott Velasquez, Online & Social Product Owner for Borderlands 3 about the tech behind the game. You know, the stuff that makes the game work.

    PlayStation Blog: Is Borderlands 3 built on the same engine you used in previous games? If so, have you made any changes to it?

    Scott Velasquez: Unlike Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, which were running on a heavily modified Unreal Engine 3, Borderlands 3 was built from the ground up using Epic’s new Unreal Engine 4. As always, we have customized Unreal 4 to best fit the needs of Borderlands 3 and our team’s workflow.

    Something that we’re extremely proud of is how fast we pulled off the engine switch, as this usually guarantees an extra two to three years of development. Major kudos to the entire team for this effort!

    PlayStation Blog: What are the key differences in building a game for PS4 / PS4 Pro when compared to previous console generations?

    Scott Velasquez: The PS4 is an amazing console, but the PS4 Pro takes things to another level and allows us to push the game further by running at higher resolutions and higher framerates. This is great because hardware in previous console generations was static for the entire generation, which, as a developer, was unfortunate because we always want to keep pushing the envelope further and further. Sony has done a great job this generation to make it easy on us as game developers.

    PlayStation Blog: What’s one thing the team did in Borderlands 3 that couldn’t have happened in previous gens?

    Scott Velasquez: The online capabilities of the PS4 and PlayStation Network this generation took a significant step forward compared to previous generations. Many of our online features wouldn’t have happened if it were not for this generation. For example, friend integration and matchmaking functionality are very important to Borderlands 3 and likely couldn’t have happened to this extent in previous console generations.

    PlayStation Blog: Does Borderlands 3 support 4K and / or HDR? If so, can you share any specific ways the game showcases these technologies?

    Scott Velasquez: Yes, Borderlands 3 supports both 4K and HDR output, and in fact, we allow you to configure them individually, which means you could play the game in 1080P HDR if you really wanted!

    With 4K and HDR enabled, the game looks amazing. Everything from the weapon in your hands to enemies to the FX from combat look especially crisp and detailed in this mode. Night fall is rendered in much darker blacks, and the killer sky boxes really pull you into the world that the team has built. If your display is capable, you’ll want to play around with these settings for sure!

    PlayStation Blog: Will there be different graphical / display modes for players to choose between?

    Scott Velasquez: Yes, players will be able to choose between “favor resolution” and “favor performance” on the PS4 Pro through a new setting called Graphics Preference. When “favor resolution” is selected, we aim for the highest resolution possible, capping framerate at 30 frames per second. In “favor performance” mode, we increase the framerate cap to 60 frames per second and render at 1080P.

    One interesting note is that when favoring resolution on a TV that only supports 1080p, the game will supersample from the higher resolution using the console’s hardware. Because of this, the 1080p output will look sharper in this mode than it normally would, again thanks to the power of the PS4 Pro.

    This setting among many others is core to our goal to not only accommodate as many people possible but also to allow them to play the way they want to play.

    PlayStation Blog: Any other interesting anecdotes you’d like to share about developing BL3 for this console generation?

    Scott Velasquez: The development tools and pipeline for the PS4 and PS4 Pro this generation have been amazing. Sony really listened to our feedback as game developers and delivered a huge improvement that allows us to iterate quicker, optimize the game to run more efficiently, and ultimately provide a better user experience for PlayStation gamers.

    PlayStation Blog: What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to players preparing to dive into Borderlands 3 later this year?

    Scott Velasquez: My biggest piece of advice for both beginners and series veterans would be to try co-op play in Borderlands 3. Bring a partner or select an asynchronous matchmaking activity to find another Vault Hunter while you continue playing your game. Co-op play adds another level of fun and mayhem to the Borderlands series, which I believe we’ve cranked up further in Borderlands 3.

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