2017 was something of a landmark year for the PlayStation 4’s life cycle. Though the Nintendo Switch gave Sony some ardent competition and deservedly stole back much of the attention, the PS4’s exclusive output was notably excellent. First Party studios like Guerrilla Games and Naughty Dog pumped out great work respectably, while Sony’s Japanese development partners delivered incredible offerings like Yakuza 0, Nioh and Nier: Automata. Some of these titles would see release on PC, but the PlayStation platform nevertheless stood out in terms of the sheer variety of its exclusive content in the console market. Can they do it again?

For every step it takes forward, every week it feels more and more like I’m playing Destiny 2 Steps Back. This week’s Faction Rally is a prime example of Destiny 2 attempting to clean house and breaking something else within its sandbox, as players are somewhat livid over changes made over the Faction token system. Bungie has promised a middle-ground fix for that latest controversy.

The streets of Kamurocho have never been safe in SEGA’s Yakuza franchise. More often than not, asking for directions usually requires smashing a face into a brick wall as hoodlums and con artists try to make a quick buck off of you. What’s a Yakuza dude to do, when he needs to unwind and de-stress from the day-to-day life of rearranging faces? Run a cat cafe of course. Or maybe something else. No wait, running a cat cafe still sounds like the best thing ever.

In Episode I: Making Monsters, DONTNOD gives more information about Jonathan Reid, the doctor-turned-vampire that players will step into the shoes of in Vampyr. Freshly turned, Reid’s ‘condition’ unveils a dark new reality, thrusting him into a once-hidden society of wretched creatures like himself. Ancient Ekons plot from the shadows, terrifying Vulkods prowl the streets at night, and cursed Skals hide in the darkest places of the city.

The beginning of the gaming industry was a modest one. It took decades for gamers to shrug off the stereotypes of being unsociable, basement-dwelling nerds. It took just as long for gaming to be recognised as a serious industry with far reaching significance and potential for positive social impact. Whilst most of the world lagged behind on the power of gaming, gamers themselves understood and believed in its future. Of course it would be hard to predict just how massive gaming would become and the scope of its competitive scene, but nowadays it is hard to argue against its importance globally.

For the latest God of War game, Kratos is done swinging the chain. The burly god-slayer is making do with a simple axe instead, one that has certain properties attached to it that would give a certain Odinson some weapon envy.

A new Aliens game is under development from a brand new Fox purchase. But no one is saying whether it's going to follow in the footsteps of Alien: Isolation or not.

I’m kind of keen for Metal Gear Survive and its harsh landscape filled with all manner of creatures who resemble the aftermath of a homeopathic apocalypse. Whether you want to go it alone or with a group of pals, the choice is yours. What isn’t up for debate however, is the fact that you’ll need a persistent online connection to the world wide web if you want to experience th spin-off seamlessly.