PS4 New Releases This Week and PSN Store Must Buys for November 29-December 5, 2016

As we stand on the precipice of December, the video game industry is gearing up for one final hurrah before the end-of-year coverage begins. Not only do we have The Game Awards 2016 and this weekend’s PlayStation Experience to look forward to, but thanks to the back-to-back release of Final Fantasy XV and The Last Guardian, Sony has ensured PlayStation users have plenty of content to keep them ticking over throughout the holiday season.

And so, on this week’s episode of PlayStation Releases and PSN Store Must Buys, we welcome the former, long-in-development JRPG, and you can readily expect our official FFXV review to go live in the coming days. As for this week’s sale, and off the back of the much-touted Foundation Update, No Man’s Sky stands as our weekly recommendation. It’s available for $39.95.

When it comes to those titles on offer, you can head on over to PlayStation Store for further details. Keep in mind, though, all of these promotions will be valid up until Monday, November 28 at approximately 10am PT/1pm ET.

If you have any questions or queries about our sale highlight, or indeed if you have any suggestions for the show, drop us a line: tips@playstationlifestyle.net.

PlayStation LifeStyle’s YouTube channel is your one-stop hub for all things PlayStation, featuring the latest game trailers and more original content than you can shake a DualShock 4 at.

Essential Reading:

Final Fantasy XV Info Dump

FFXV - Everything You Need to Know

Ready to reclaim your throne?
What is Final Fantasy XV?

It’s the next mainline installment into Square’s decorated JRPG series, and one that has been kicking about in some capacity since 2006. Back then, it was known as Versus XIII, but as development uprooted for PS4, that spinoff was overhauled into the Final Fantasy XV we know today. November 29 is the date for your diaries, for real this time.
Welcome to Lucis

Lucis is the war-torn kingdom in which much of the core FFXV experience takes place. Under siege from the Niflheim Empire, your journey spans all across the world of Eos and its many continents.
The Story at Hand

Searching for his missing bride to be, Luna, heir apparent Noctis catches wind of the Niflheim Empire overthrowing Lucis.

Our well-tailored hero then receives reports that his father, his fiancée Luna, and he himself are dead, sparking a gruelling search for the truth and, ultimately, a chance to reclaim his rightful spot on the throne.
A Mixture of Open-World and Linear

If FFXV plumps players down in a lush open-world in the beginning, the JRPG will shift gears into a more linear experience during the game's second half.

Said Tabata-san:

"For Final Fantasy XV, we’ve put in both open world parts and linear parts to make up the game’s full structure. The first half is a continuous open world, but the second half is story-driven and progresses linearly. By doing this, the entire game is tightened so that the open world doesn’t get tiring, and so that you can also get a taste of traditional Final Fantasy progression. If we assume you’ll play only the main routes of the first and second halves, it’ll take about 40 to 50 hours."
Meet Your Party

With Noctis at the core, your FFXV party consists of Prompto, Gladio, and Ignis — on a road trip using his father King Regis’ car, the Regalia.
Meet the English Voice Cast
Curious to know who will be voicing who in the English-language version of FFXV?

We've got you covered:
- Ray Chase (Xenoblade Chronicles X, Killer Instinct) as Noctis
- Adam Croasdell (Shadow of Mordor, Reign, NCIS, Once Upon a Time) as Ignis
- Robbie Daymond (Sailor Moon, TMNT: Mutants in Manhattan) as Prompto
- Chris Parson (Overwatch, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Rango) as Gladio
- Jim Pirri (Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst, The Penguins of Madagascar) as Regis
- Amy Shiels (Twin Peaks remake, Call of Duty: Black Ops) as Luna
- Matt Mercer (Overwatch, Resident Evil, Fallout 4) as Cor
- Darin De Paul (Overwatch, Doom, Star Wars: The Old Republic) as Ardyn
- Kari Wahlgren (Rick and Morty, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness) as Aranea
FFXV 101 Trailer

Before venturing forth into Eos and Lucis, you'll want to check out the 101 trailer for Final Fantasy XV.
Extended Universe

Final Fantasy XV is a tale that grew immensely in the telling. Not only has Square’s imminent JRPG spawned a CGI movie, but also a spinoff animated series called Brotherhood designed to clue you in on Noctis and Co. prior to release.

Speaking of which…
Brotherhood Animated Series

Brotherhood is a five-part animated series set before the events of Final Fantasy XV. It's designed to introduce you to Noctis and his companions, and you can watch all episodes for free via Square's YouTube.

Episode 1 – Before the Storm

Brotherhood delves into the extraordinary friendships between Crown Prince Noctis and his three comrades, setting the stage for the adventure players will set out upon in the action-packed RPG.

Episode 2 – Dogged Runner

In this episode we get a look at how the friendship between Prompto and Noctis started when they were young.

Episode 3 – Sword and Shield

Find out how the bond of friendship between Gladiolus and Noctis first formed with the help of a certain sibling.

Episode 4 - Bittersweet Memories

This episode focuses on the bond of friendship forged between Ignis and Noctis when they were younger.

Episode 5 - The Warmth of Light

The conclusion of the original animated series Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV is here.
Summons are Called Astrals

Forget Aeons, Espers and Primals, in Final Fantasy XV summons are called Astrals, and you can catch a glimpse of them in action right here.
Soundtrack

Want to get a sample of the JRPG's soundtrack prior to release?

Look no further than this series of sample videos.
Tabata Wary of Spoilers

As FFXV inches closer to release, Game Director Hajime Tabata has warned fans of story spoilers slipping out.

"The November 29th release date is approaching and I sincerely hope everyone enjoys this game with a fresh state of mind.

"Unfortunately, there has been an unauthorized distribution of the boxed edition of Final Fantasy XV in select regions and we have noticed that gameplay footage from people playing these copies has appeared online. Though this type of situation is brought on by various region specific circumstances and may not be something that is completely avoidable, we are very regretful of this situation.

"One of the major goals of Final Fantasy XV is for everyone to enjoy the story and to discover the surprises together through the simultaneous worldwide release. Due to these recent events, videos with unexpected spoilers could potentially be posted online, so we would like to warn everyone who has been waiting in anticipation for this game.
We will also do everything in our capacity to prevent unauthorized footage from appearing online. We would also like to ask anybody that has obtained an early copy of the game to be respectful to those that are looking forward to the official release and to not spoil the surprises for everyone."
A Long Time Coming

There was a time when Final Fantasy XV — sorry, Versus XIII — was right up there with The Last Guardian as a gestating title that looked set to simmer in development hell in perpetuity. But it's (almost) here, and it's very, very exciting.
The Road So Far

You wait forever for a pixelated white whale and suddenly, two come along within the space of a fortnight. Yes, both FFXV and The Last Guardian are fast approaching release, and we know all too well that the former is emerging from a tortured development cycle.
Square Sought Production Help From Streamline

Not for the first time, Streamline Studios has enlisted to help push a tentpole title over the finish line. Having worked on the likes of Street Fighter V, BioShock Infinite and Star Citizen, the Kuala Lampur-based developer was brought aboard Final Fantasy XV to help iron out day-one patches and last-minute fixes.

“Our team are big fans of Square Enix and their games, and we’re honored to have worked with them on the upcoming release of such a cherished series as Final Fantasy. We look forward to applying our years of production experience and state-of-the-art technology, Streamframe to this new collaboration.”
Prettier on PS4 Pro

Final Fantasy XV will support PS4 Pro right out of the gate, presenting users with two display modes: 4K High and 4K Light.
Camping & Progression

Camping is a crucial facet of Final Fantasy XV's gameplay loop. That's because leveling up does not immediately happen after each battle — heed that warning!

To spend your XP, you’ll need to camp either in the wild at specific locations or designated places in towns like inns. Per PS Blog: "If you die before you remember to camp or collect all the XP you’ve earned, you’ll lose it all!"

Rather than the sphere grid or materia, players will progress through FFXV via the Ascension tree. Ability Points are your friend here, and you can use AP to level up characters depending on your gameplay style.
Demo Builds

Across Episode Duscae and the Japan-only Judgment Disc, fans have got a real taste of what to expect from Final Fantasy XV. Each demo build has also provided Square with an opportunity to fine-tune the experience at a technical level.
Online Co-Op Inbound

Beyond the three story episodes for Gladiolus, Ignis, and Prompto, Square Enix will bring out Comrades, an expansion pack that adds an online co-op mode for up to four players. Letting you take control of Noctis, Gladio, Prompto and Ignis as a group, Comrades will be included in the Season Pass. You'll also be able to pick it up as a standalone add-on.
Hands-On Impressions From PAX West

Our own Keri Honea got her hands on an early build of FFX at PAX West and walked away overly impressed. Full thoughts here.
Reversible Box Art

For the traditionalists out there, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Final Fantasy XV box art is reversible.
Pre-Order Perks

There's an abundance of pre-order perks for Final Fantasy XV, and you can take a peek at those wares right here.
Season Pass
Priced at $24.99, the Final Fantasy XV Season Pass contains six DLC packs in total, including original episodes revolving around Gladiolus, Ignis, and Prompto:
- Booster Pack (DLC #1)
- Episode Gladiolus (DLC #2)
- Holiday Pack (DLC #3)
- Episode Ignis (DLC #4)
- Episode Prompto (DLC #5)
- Expansion Pack (DLC #6)
Day One Update
Weighing in at 7GB on PS4, patch 1.01 for Final Fantasy XV is “the result of some additional time for development since mastering the full game.”

Full details below:
- Improvements to the camera with new options to better assist and track the action in tight space and to improve visibility during battles
- New event scenes and scenes from Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV and the “Omen” trailer have also been added to the game to make the story and timeline of events easier to follow for newcomers
- The addition of an ability tree for the “Wait Mode” function which improves the strategic element of this feature
- Players can obtain the “Beast Whistle” which can be used to call monsters to battle
- A wider variety of recipes and fish with an addition of a gallery for completionist players who enjoy collecting items
- Implementation of social media support, allowing the photos Prompto takes along your journey to be uploaded to Facebook and Twitter
Review Embargo

Mark the calendars - Open Critic has revealed that the FFXV review embargo lifts on Monday, November 28 at 9am PT/12pm ET.