Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Shahid Ahmad at PlayStation Europe. Strategic Content is the name of the game. It’s a fancy corporate-sounding term, but it’s also a bit “black-ops” sounding, so that’s cool. Our focus has been working with the indie dev community over the last year and a half, but it’s not all we do. We also work with larger publishers. In this post, we’ll be focusing on the indie story.
At gamescom, we’ve just underlined our commitment to bringing PlayStation fans the creative work of the some of the best indie talent in the world. Many of the games we’ve announced from our indie development partners will be making their console debut on PS4 and PS Vita. We’ve also got titles continuing to come to PS3.
Remember, at PlayStation, we allow the smallest indies to self-publish on the PS Store alongside the biggest publishers, we’re democratic like that. We’re also working hard to make things better for our partners, large or small, all the time.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the titles we announced.
Rogue Legacy (Cellar Door Games)
The genealogical Rogue-LITE which has you throwing countless number of children into an ever changing castle will soon be portable. Also non-portable depending on what system you play it on. But either way, you will die. A lot. But no worries, because all the money you made is inherited by your children. Children who will try to avenge you, or die trying. It’s a vicious cycle, and it’s one that only YOU can break. So prepare yourself, because the McRib is back (the enemy, not the sandwich).
Our fans have asked for this game endlessly. Imagine how hard it was for me to keep my mouth shut about this. We’re really incredibly happy about Rogue Legacy coming to PlayStation. And just in case you were wondering, that’s PS4, PS3 and of course, the love of my life (but don’t tell my family), PS Vita.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (Nicalis)
Edmund McMillen has made a career of creating intensely personal gaming experiences, pouring himself into worlds of twisted monsters – all with his signature art style and gameplay that’s tough as nails but never unfair, and always satisfying. When we met up with him over hamburgers, he shared his full vision for The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. Nicalis are completely remaking this smash hit, adding a whole new game’s worth of content, from co-operative play to new characters and bosses, and a full optional 16-bit makeover.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth will make its console exclusive debut on PS4 and PS Vita next Spring; and for PlayStation Plus customers, it’ll be available at no additional cost.
N++ (Metanet)
Mare and Raigan, the tiny team at Metanet Software, have been working tirelessly on the final and definitive instalment of their addictive ‘N’ series, the gold-collecting standard for action-platformers. N++ will feature a striking new art style, innovative new multiplayer modes, thousands of hand-crafted levels, and the tools to create, share, and compete worldwide across endless levels of your own. N++ will debut exclusively on PS4 this Winter.
Volume (Mike Bithell)
What’s not to love about this? Mike is a star now and not without good reason. I remember decades ago there was an advertisement about whether a game could make you cry. Well, with Thomas Was Alone, Mike managed to inject more personality into rectangles than anyone could have imagined was ever possible. It takes a great storyteller and someone who really understand creative characterisation to achieve that.
Mike is now revisiting stealth in an exciting new way. What I really like about Volume is that it’s still quite a way away, but it’s already so exciting and so different. The great thing about being indie is the freedom it affords you. My team has a motto – “Support, steer, don’t interfere.” It’s how development works best. We know Mike is a good developer, so we trust him to make a great game. We’re just proud as punch that Volume is coming to PS4 and PS Vita first.
Guns of Icarus Online (Muse Games)
Howard Tsao and his team at Muse Games are ambitious. Pursuing their vision, refusing constraints, they’ve continued to evolve and refine their dream project, where you pilot a variety of majestic airships, through the war-torn skies, of a steampunk universe.
We’re happy to announce that Guns of Icarus Online will make its console exclusive debut on PS4. Majestic steampunk airships. Come on. What’s not to like here?
Wasteland Kings (Vlambeer)
Vlambeer are the very essence of indie. Totally free, fixated on the detail and utterly devoted to crafting the deepest gameplay experiences from the simplest elements, I’ve always understood why so many people love their games.
As for Wasteland Kings, well, Rami brought a build of this to our offices a while back and we were just bewitched. It was utterly magnificent. You know when you think you’ve got a game and then you see something new arise from a combination of gameplay elements you didn’t foresee? And you want to get mad, but because you realise it’s totally fair, you sit back, exhale, smile and salute the designers’ genius? Well that’s what Wasteland Kings did for me and the tiny Strategic Content team.
I’ll tell you something else for free – the music Rami has been teasing me with raises the hairs on the back of my neck. Vlambeer know how to play with feeling and watch the rest of the world have fun with what they make. I’m so pleased Wasteland Kings is making its console exclusive debut on PS4 and PS Vita next year.
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (Dennaton Games/Devolver Digital/Abstraction Games)
And finally, Hotline Miami by Dennaton Games has been one of the outstanding success stories in the indie world. It blends a powerful story with razor-sharp action, backed up by one of the most loved soundtracks ever.
We worked with Devolver Digital and Abstraction Games to make Hotline Miami best on PS Vita. This has freed Dennaton Games to focus on Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, which we’re absolutely thrilled to tell you will make its console exclusive debut on PS4 and of course, PS Vita next year.
This is a game I’ve played a lot of on my Vita. I found it best played at sunset on late summer evenings with headphones on and the screen popping its majestic ‘80s neon as I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into the astonishing story. Hotline Miami plays with your mind. Tell me that isn’t the very essence of the provocative creative process…
The full gamescom PS4 indie list…
- Assault Android Cactus (Witch Beam)
- Fez (Polytron Corporation)
- Final Horizon (Eiconic Games)
- Guns of Icarus Online (Muse Games)
- Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (Dennaton Games and Devolver Digital)
- N++ (Metanet)
- Rogue Legacy (Cellar Door Games)
- Samurai Gunn (Teknopants)
- Starbound (Chucklefish)
- Switch Galaxy Ultra (Atomicom)
- The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (Nicalis)
- Velocity 2X (FuturLab)
- Volume (Mike Bithell)
- Wasteland Kings (Vlambeer)
I can’t tell you how excited I am about these games coming to PlayStation. It was so exciting working with some of these partners in the run-up to gamescom, and now we’re looking forward to working with them more openly as they bring their creative energy to the PS4. Of course, many of these titles are also coming to PS Vita. Just in case you were wondering!
I wish it were possible to talk about all of these games and developers in more detail, suffice to say, I’ve been so proud to work with some of these brilliant people and they are a credit to video games and to PlayStation.
For now, please bear with me as I give some shout outs… — Sanatana at Witch Beam — thanks for your patience! Simon and everyone at Eiconic — you guys are a micro powerhouse! Beau — love your enthusiasm, can’t wait to play Samurai Gunn on PlayStation! Gary at Atomicom — from the 98 bus to the stars my friend!
PS Vita
And now to talk about the love of my life again. I know you must get tired of me talking about the PS Vita, but really, if there is a better way for me to get my gaming wherever I’m at, I’ve yet to hear about it.
Here are some of the highlights that we’re delighted to be bringing to the PS Vita. These are the cream of the indie crop. The dev budgets are big by indie standards because the aspirations and content go much further than the stereotype would suggest. There comes a point where the label just falls away and you just end up playing a fantastic game and really, isn’t that what it’s all about?
Starbound (Chucklefish)
In Starbound, you take on the role of a character who’s just fled from their home planet, only to crash-land on another. From there you’ll embark on a quest to survive, discover, explore and fight your way across an infinite universe.
You’ll encounter procedurally generated creatures and weapons, discover populated villages and abandoned temples. Explore planets dotted with dungeons, eyeball trees and treasure. Build vast stone castles or lonely, secluded cabins, and do all of it alone or with friends!
Starbound lets you live out your own story of space exploration, discovery and adventure. Settle down and farm the land, hop from planet to planet claiming resources, or make regular visits to populated settlements, taking on jobs and earning a living. NPCs are scattered about the worlds, offering quests and challenges for those looking for a little extra excitement in their lives.
The meeting with Tiy from Chucklefish was great. It went something like this. “We’d love to see you on PlayStation.” Tiy said “Yeah, we’d love to be on it.” We said “Okay, let’s get you started.” And that’s how business should be. People who respect each other’s work creating something wonderful together.
Fez (Polytron)
Fez is a game developed by Polytron coming to PS Vita, PS3 and PS4. In it, you play as Gomez, a 2D creature living in what he believes is a 2D world. Until a strange and powerful artifact reveals to him the existence of a mysterious third dimension!
I cannot tell you just how happy I am to have Fez on PS Vita so I can play it on the go. Obviously, I’m delighted it’s coming to PS3 and PS4 too. I want everyone who has a PlayStation to be able to play this charming game, which is quite rightly, one of the most acclaimed indie titles of all time, by one of the indie community’s true creative masters.
Velocity 2X (FuturLab)
Weaving together two classic game formats into one seamless experience, Velocity 2X features puzzle-platforming action alongside the award-winning top-down shoot ‘em-up gameplay.
Velocity 2X gives players an opportunity to experience two beloved genres combined into one adventure. Players will take control of the teleporting Quarp Jet to outsmart enemies in race-tuned space combat, and then dock their ship, jump out and run around on foot to infiltrate enemy space stations. Once they’re done with the action on-foot, they can jump back into the Quarp Jet and continue their mission in space!
FuturLab is one of my favorite developers in the world. They combine exceptional focus on quality with a professional approach that never loses its indie spark. Some of the highlights of my day are when FuturLab send us something new to look at. They know how to make us happy, because they know how to please gamers. Velocity Ultra is one of the highest rated shooters of all time on the PS Vita. With Velocity 2X coming to PS Vita and PS4, I expect FuturLab’s success story to continue.
And now, here’s a full list of titles we’re announcing at gamescom, the vast majority of which my tiny team has been beavering away at signing up to PS Vita, and some of which will have PS3 or PS4 versions.
The full list of PS Vita indie titles
- Age of Zombies (BlitWorks/Halfbrick)
- A-Men 2 (Bloober Team)
- Assault Android Cactus (Witch Beam)
- Avoid Droid (Infinite State Games)
- Broken Sword: the Serpent’s Curse (Revolution Software)
- Eufloria HD (Omni Systems)
- Fez (Polytron Corporation)
- Final Horizon (Eiconic Games)
- Flame Over (Laughing Jackal)
- Gravity Crash Ultra (Just Add Water)
- Gunslugs (Abstraction Games)
- Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (Dennaton Games and Devolver Digital)
- Joe Danger 1 (Hello Games)
- Joe Danger 2 (Hello Games)
- Kick & Fennick (Green Hill Studios)
- Rogue Legacy (Cellar Door Games)
- Samurai Gunn (Teknopants)
- Supermagical (Tama Games)
- Switch Galaxy Ultra (Atomicom)
- Table Top Racing (Ripstone)
- The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (Nicalis)
- Volume (Mike Bithell)
- Wasteland Kings (Vlambeer)
Crikey, quite some list, right? Remember, these are just some of the new games we’ve announced for PS Vita. There are actually a ton more games that we’d already announced that are on the show floor and you’ll really want to go check them out to see what’s in store for you in the very near future. Remember, the likes of Terraria, Spelunky and TxK are yet to come, and they’re going to be awesome.
Take a look at that long, long list above to see just how much love there is for PS Vita. We’re just getting warmed up. Watch this space. It’s going to be a lot of fun.
Thanks for being awesome.
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