Final Fantasy VII Remake is nearly upon us, and the latest installment of the Inside Final Fantasy VII Remake video series is here to prime us for the game’s battles. While episode 1 was a general introduction and episode 2 focused on story, the third episode of this documentary series, embedded below, dives deep into the new combat system for the remake.
The reworked combat system came about because action is “the mainstream style right now,” according to director and concept designer Tetsuya Nomura. However, the numbers and stats that fly off enemies during combat were maintained because “they make Final Fantasy what it is.”
The battle system has been designed with the thought that this is how it would work if it was designed for the first time today, but the developers report that it was difficult to decide just how action-focused it would be, and whether things like reflexes would be important. Classic Mode, which automates a lot of the fighting and lets players focus on making choices through menus, was included because a lot of fans online were worried about not being able to play because they are not good at more action-heavy games.
Materia will play a bigger part in this game compared to the original, and the developers are hoping that players who die in boss fights will change their Materia before trying again to see what will work. Speaking of bosses, they’ve been overhauled pretty substantially, as this video shows. They’re all phase based now, moving between different stages punctuated by cutscenes, and follow the principles of Jo-Ha-Kyu–that is, a slow start, a swift break, and then a rapid end.
There’s also a Chocobo stampede attack shown off, which is a real treat.
The story is discussed further in the video too, and it’s said that in the second half of the game the characters will experience a lot of growth. Subquests have been moved around to better suit the pace of the remake’s storytelling, and minigames are designed to fit in with the rest of the plot. The game is said to be “story-driven” moreso than “open world”.
Depending on where you live, you might already have your hands on Final Fantasy VII Remake–it has shipped early in some places. The game, which covers the Midgar portion of the original, will be greatly expanded compared to the PlayStation 1 classic.
PlayStation Plus subscribers will get access to two games in April:Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Codemasters’ Dirt Rally 2.0. Those PlayStation 4 games will be available to download as part of PlayStation Plus starting Tuesday, April 7.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End sees series protagonist and fortune hunter Nathan Drake coming out of retirement for a globe-trotting adventure with personal stakes. Developer Naughty Dog’s action-adventure game is about to celebrate its fourth anniversary in May, and PlayStation Plus subscribers had a chance to catch up on Drake’s story so far with Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection back in January through PlayStation Plus.
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Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End review
Codemasters’ racing game Dirt Rally 2.0 is “the most immersive and truly focused off-road experience yet,” according to its creators. Dirt Rally 2.0 features a single-player campaign and online competitive multiplayer, complete with real-life off-road environments based on New Zealand, Argentina, Spain, Poland, Australia, and the U.S., and eight official circuits from the FIA World Rallycross championship.
Both Uncharted 4 and Dirt Rally 2.0 will be available to download through May 4.
March’s PlayStation Plus games — Shadow of the Colossusand Sonic Forces — are available to download through April 6.
PlayStation Plus
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We’re about a week away from Final Fantasy VII Remake’s release on PS4. The long-anticipated revival of the original PlayStation classic launches on April 10, and even though it’s just the first episode, it promises to be a lengthy adventure. As demonstrated in the demo that’s available now, the remake significantly alters the gameplay, turning the battle system into real-time action combat. If you’re as excited as we are about revisiting Midgar, you’ll probably want to check out the growing collection of merch, which includes a poster collection, vinyl soundtrack, compendium book, and, of course, the numerous collectibles that come with various editions of the game.
If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy of the game just yet, check out our Final Fantasy VII Remake pre-order guide, which gives a rundown of the numerous editions and bonuses. You should also know that due to the coronavirus pandemic, certain regions (Europe and Australia) will likely receive the game a bit early. Square Enix hopes that everyone who pre-ordered Final Fantasy VII Remake in the US will get their game on launch day, but it’s possible (and understandable) that shortages of physical copies may occur. While you wait for your game to arrive, take a peek at the merch that’s on the horizon.
Final Fantasy VII Remake 1st Class Edition | $330
The 1st Class Edition was sold out for months, but you can currently pre-order yours at the Square Enix Store. It includes a gorgeous Play Arts statue of Cloud Strife on his Hardy Daytona motorcycle and several other goodies in addition to the game:
Mini Soundtrack
Steelbook
Artbook
Cactuar Summon Materia DLC
Carbuncle Summon Materia DLC
Final Fantasy VII Remake Deluxe Edition | $80
The $80 Deluxe Edition of Final Fantasy VII Remake also comes with some nice goodies:
Artbook
Mini-Soundtrack
Steelbook
Cactuar Summon Materia DLC
Carbuncle Summon Materia DLC
The Deluxe Edition has been sold out practically everywhere for months, but you can currently find it at Best Buy. You also get $10 of Best Buy rewards credit for buying FFVII Remake at Best Buy.
Final Fantasy VII Remake: World Preview | $18.42 ($25)
Though it won’t be ready in time for launch, Final Fantasy VII Remake: World Preview will certainly be a neat collector’s item. The hardcover, 128-page book features full-color illustrations alongside background information on the game’s world, its characters, and the gameplay. Game director Tetsuya Nomura and producer Yoshinori Kitase will pen the introduction. The book is expected to release on September 8 and is available to pre-order at Amazon for $18.42, roughly 25% off its list price.
Final Fantasy VII Remake LP Vinyl | $70
To celebrate the release of Final Fantasy VII Remake, Square Enix is producing a new vinyl set featuring two LPs: select music from Final Fantasy VII Remake and memorable songs from the original. While these vinyls don’t contain the full soundtracks, they do feature both of the main themes and roughly a dozen more tracks. The foldout sleeve is gorgeously designed and the art on each vinyl showcases Cloud in his two vastly different visual styles. A limited-edition of the vinyl has been sold out for a while, but you can still nab the regular edition for $70 at Best Buy.
Final Fantasy VII Remake poster book | $18.88 ($25)
Unfortunately, we don’t know what every poster looks like in this bundle, but getting 22 high-quality posters for under $20 is a pretty good deal. Each poster is 11 x 14 inches and the collection spans numerous Final Fantasy VII properties: Final Fantasy VII Remake, the original, Advent Children, Dirge of Cerberus, and Crisis Core.
Buster Sword keychain | $16.95
Yes, the Buster Sword makes for a fairly sizable keychain (about four inches), but this metal replica features a great design, especially when you consider the relatively low price.
Sephiroth statuette | $50
Final Fantasy VII antagonist Sephiroth is one of the most well-known characters in franchise history. This 10-inch statuette has a striking pose and an amazing attention to detail. It’s available to pre-order from the Square Enix Store for $50. The Sephiroth statuette releases August 28.
Cloud Strife statuette | $45
If you don’t want to shell out the cash for the 1st Class Edition, you can still get a stylish Cloud Strife statue. Standing at nine inches tall, the statuette of course shows Cloud’s Buster Sword hanging over his shoulder. It’s also expected to release August 28.
Aerith Gainsborough statuette | $40
Whether you call her Aerith or Aeris, this 9-inch statuette will round out your Final Fantasy VII Remake collection. Like Cloud and Sephiroth, Aerith has a realistic look and comes with a display stand. Available to pre-order for $40 at the Square Enix Store, this Aerith statuette releases August 28 as well.
Final Fantasy VII Remake jigsaw puzzle | $25
Releasing in July, this 1,000-piece puzzle naturally comes together to form an image of Cloud Strife on his Hardy Daytona motorcycle. The finished puzzle is 27.6 x 19.7 inches, and it’s a picture you’ll probably want to frame.
Final Fantasy VII Remake tumblers | $29
Tumblers are great for keeping drinks at the right temperature, and it’s becoming a thing for video games to have their own branded tumblers. Final Fantasy VII Remake will join this trend with a pair of options, one featuring Cloud and another showcasing Sephiroth, releasing in May for $29 each. The downside here is that each one only holds 12 ounces of liquid.
Cloud and Sephiroth plushies | $20
Released a couple years back, these rather cute 6-inch Cloud and Sephiroth plushies are still in stock at the Square Enix Store. Each plush costs $20 and could arrive right on time for the release of Final Fantasy VII Remake.
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Developer Team Ninja has dropped a brand-new update for Nioh 2 on PlayStation 4 that makes various adjustments to the game’s difficulty in some areas. We’ve compiled the full patch notes below.
A bunch of Nioh 2 sub-missions have had their difficulty altered in order to assuage the game’s nail-biting challenges. In addition to the sub-missions, some of Nioh 2’s enemies have also been tweaked to make the experience a little more forgiving. Further, the drop rates of Smithing Texts and The Art of Combat tomes, items used to upgrade your created character and equipment, have been increased.
The update also makes a number of quality-of-life adjustments. These include fixing duplication item problems, addressing Yokai Realms and status effects that would not dispel, tweaking skills that would not activate, ironing out other bugs, and much more.
We awarded the action-RPG an 8/10 in our Nioh 2 review, saying, “Though it sometimes feels like a curse as you play, it is a testament that Nioh 2 successfully grabs and holds your complete attention so close for so long.” With its already punishing difficulty, we don’t recommend starting Nioh 2 with the bird guardian spirit.
Full Nioh 2 Version 1.07 Patch Notes
Adjustments
Adjusted the mission difficulty of the following sub-missions:
A Favori for the Blacksmith
The Greedy Hunter
The Sunomata Yokai Hunter
The Viper and the Butterfly
The Brothers’ Blades
The Burning Sky
Scattered Fragments
Calling on the Fire God
The Dream’s End
Weakened the attacks of some non-boss enemies. Previously, though the player could be above the recommended level some enemies would kill the player in one hit.
Weakened some attacks of Shibata Katsuie that are especially difficult to dodge.
Buffed the drop rate of Smithing Text and The Art of Combat.
Added “Difficulty” to the search condition of Random Encounters.
Added the “Accessories” tab to the “Tempering” menu.
Added a feature to initialize settings in the HDR settings.
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue where the level of the shiftling skill “Devour Yokai Realm” would reset when performing a reset on other skill trees.
The level of “Devour Yokai Realm” and overused skill points will be fixed in this update.
Fixed an issue where custom active skills would remain set to an active skill slot even when a reset of the Samurai Skill tree was performed.
Fixed an issue in the Dojo where an acquired Tea Utensil would disappear when completing the mission.
Fixed an issue in the Dojo where the player could obtain duplicates of a Smithing Text if the player had not already turned in the text in question to the blacksmith.
Fixed an issue wherein the Kodama Bazaar the stock of the items would not increase when using a skill that would increase the maximum amount of items a player can possess.
Fixed an issue where twice as many items would be sold when selling items in the Storehouse.
Fixed an issue where a visual of certain weapons while sheathed was reversed when wearing Youngblood Cuirass.
Fixed an issue in the mission “Bird in A Cage” where it was not possible to give dung balls to “Ryunojo the Dung Lover.”
Fixed an issue in the mission “Rain Draws Near” where the player could not ring the bell.
Fixed an issue in the mission “A Way Out” where the Yokai Realm would not be dispelled when the boss-spawned object was destroyed.
Fixed an issue in the mission “The Golden Castle” where the boss would not run out of Ki and would not be knocked down at times even when certain conditions were fulfilled.
Fixed an issue in the multiplayer version of the mission “Strat Cats” where the mission would not end.
Fixed an issue in the missions “The Fire God’s Magatama” where an unobtainable blue treasure box location was placed in the compass.
Fixed an issue in the mission “Sharp Eyes” where the player could not get amrita when completing the mission.
Fixed an issue where a Biwa Boku-Boku near a shrine would activate a Bloody Grave when the player is praying at a shrine.
Fixed an issue where the Drenched states would not be removed when bathing in a hot spring while being Drenched.
Fixed an issue where a ladder could not be used when certain enemies died with poison while the player was climbing the ladder.
Fixed an issue where co-fighting NPCs cannot be assisted when they went down and simultaneously fell off a cliff.
Fixed an issue where the Custom Active Skill Setting to the Active Skill “Sword Ki” was not applied to the Active Skill “Sword of Celerity.”
Fixed an issue where Ki was consumed before the Active Skill “Swirling Snow” was executed.
Fixed an issue where equipment effects and Custom Active Skill settings according to the active skill “Deadly Spiral” were not applied.
Fixed an issue where the Custom Active Skill was not applied when Mystic Art “Trained Throw” is applied to the Active Skill “Piercing Hurl Shadow/Light.”
Fixed an issue where the Active Skill “Dgraonful II” was not applied to the Mystic Art “Trained Throw.”
Fixed an issue with the grapple move of the hatchets where the grab would not follow through.
Fixed an issue where the Custom Active Skill Setting to the Active Skill “Windswept” was not applied.
Fixed an issue with the switchglaive where you could perform the special switch stances “Retrobution” and Edge” without having unlocked the skills.
The Final Fantasy 7 Remake isn’t set to launch until April 10, but Australian and European players may find the game ahead of time. Square Enix has opted to ship the game to both regions early in order to offset any disruptions caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In a statement on its official Twitter account, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake team said it wants to ensure everyone can play the game at the same time. This includes areas facing the most disruption, such as Europe and Australia. Shipping the game earlier could result in those regions playing it before everyone else, so the team asked that players do not spoil its story.
“We know there are potential spoilers that have been out there for over two decades as the original Final Fantasy 7 was released in 1997. But Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a new game that still has many surprises for everyone,” the team continued. “All our fans and players deserve to experience the game for themselves, and we ask for the support of our dedicated community around the world to ensure that.”
Square Enix added that its “highest priority” is making sure everyone can play the game at launch.
“As a result, there is a greater chance that some of you in there regions will now get a copy of the game prior to the worldwide release date of April 10.”
Copies have already made it into the wild, with players finding the game’s Deluxe Edition and showing off its contents on Reddit. Fortunately, the entirety of the game can’t be spoiled through early copies, as Square Enix is developing Final Fantasy 7 Remake as a multi-part title. Digital copies should also arrive at launch, and Square Enix has been actively communicating with players regarding potential changes.
The game launching in April only contains the story up through the Midgar area. It’s available exclusively for PS4 and you can check out GameSpot’s pre-order guide to learn where to purchase.
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One of the best games of 2017 gets even better today. Persona 5 Royal releases for PS4 on March 31 in North America and Europe, and it makes Atlus’ already-massive, beloved JRPG even bigger. It reworks the storyline and adds a host of new features, including a new party member, mechanics, and cutscenes to make sure fans spend even more time exploring modern Japan and the psyches of its crooked denizens. It’s even changing some of Persona 5’s problematic scenes.
Updates like Royal are par for the course for the Persona series–both Persona 3 and Persona 4 received major re-releases–but Royal looks to be the biggest update a Persona game has ever gotten. We’ve been following the game since it was announced in Japan, and you can check out our P5R reveal trailer analysis or our breakdown of the several new features in the game.
There are several editions of Persona 5 Royal available for pre-order right now, both physical and digital. No matter which edition you pre-order, you’ll gain access to all of Persona 5’s original DLC. Below, we outline all of your Persona 5 Royal pre-order options.
Persona 5 Royal pre-order bonuses
There’s no official pre-order bonus available for all editions of Persona 5 Royal, and the retailer bonuses are no longer available. However, both Best Buy and GameStop have a $10 if buy it from them.
Best Buy: $10 e-gift card, emailed after purchase
GameStop: $10 rewards cash for PowerUp Rewards members
Pre-order Persona 5 Royal Launch Edition (Physical) – $60
The physical launch edition for Persona 5 Royal comes with a limited-edition steelbook case and a P5R dynamic PS4 theme code. Walmart currently has the game available for $50, but it might only be available for in-store pickup, depending on your location. It’s also part of a buy two, get one free promotion at Target, so if you were looking to pick it and two other recent games up, now’s a good time to do so.
Pre-order Persona 5 Royal Phantom Thieves Edition (Physical) – $90
The physical Phantom Thieves Edition for Persona 5 Royal is a bit pricier at $90 but includes quite a few collectibles. You can see everything it comes with below. Last time we checked, the Phantom Thieves Edition is sold out everywhere, but you can double-check its listings below.
Official Joker mask with a stand
Collector’s edition box
Persona 5 Royal artbook
Persona 5 Royal soundtrack on CD
Limited edition steelbook case
P5R dynamic PS4 theme code
Pre-order Persona 5 Royal Deluxe Edition (Digital) – $70
The Persona 5 Royal Deluxe Edition is $10 more than the launch edition and includes the Kasumi Costume bundle DLC ($15 value).
Pre-order Persona 5 Royal Ultimate Edition (Digital) – $100
The priciest edition for Persona 5 Royal is the digital Ultimate Edition, which comes with quite a few in-game items. Check out the bonuses below.
Kasumi Costume bundle ($15 value)
Battle bundle ($10 value)
Persona bundle ($10 value)
DLC bundle ($60 value)
Six additional costume packs
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Persona 5 Royal adds tons of new content, chief among them is the new third semester that also contains the ninth and final palace, all of which happen after the events of the original game. But it’s possible to miss all those features entirely if you don’t meet certain requirements. It’s an absolute must to see all the game has to offer, so here’s everything you need to do to unlock the new content, as spoiler free as possible.
The gist of this is that you need to rank up three separate Confidants (Akechi, Kasumi, and Maruki) to certain ranks before specific dates. Some of the ranks are gated by certain days and events, and if you don’t rank them up by then, you’ll miss out on extra gameplay and the new, major story arcs. P5R does a pretty good job notifying you of opportunities to level up these Confidants; they’ll text you when they’re available to hang out and there is some dialogue that highlights important dates. You may still overlook things as there are some specific windows of when to do them. We have everything detailed below.
Goro Akechi (Justice Confidant)
First, let’s start with Goro Akechi, the Justice arcana. In the original Persona 5, Akechi’s Confidant arc was tied to story events and was unmissable, but in P5R you choose to spend time with him. You’ll first meet Akechi in early June when you take the class field trip to the TV Station. This is an unmissable story event that kicks off rank 1.
After rank 1 he’ll be in Kichijoji, the new area in Persona 5 Royal, to hang out. He’ll be a catalyst to show you some of the new things you can do like play billiards and relax at the jazz club. You can achieve ranks 2 to 5 right after rank 1, and there’s no time gate on them. However, his Confidant rank 3 requires you to have Knowledge and Charm stats at rank 3 before engaging.
Rank 6 is locked until a story event on September 3, and he’ll be waiting for you in Leblanc. Ranks 7 and 8 are then locked until November 2, but you must complete both before November 18. A word of advice: make sure you’re prepared to fight for rank 8, though you can always retry if you don’t succeed. If you do all those things correctly, ranks 9 & 10 will unlock automatically as the story progresses.
Kasumi Yoshizawa (Faith Confidant)
Next, let’s move on to Kasumi Yoshizawa, the new transfer student at Shujin Academy. You’ll bump into Kasumi on the train early on, but you won’t truly interact with her until the new park clean-up event on May 30. This is an unmissable story event, and you’ll reach rank 1 with her and open up her Confidant route (she holds the Faith arcana).
You’ll notice that Kasumi only has five Confidant ranks which is different from everyone else. Ranks 2 to 5 aren’t gated by anything and can be easily unlocked after you officially meet her–you’ll find her hanging out in Kichijoji. You have until December 22 to do all of this so no pressure…but don’t slack off, unless Kawakami says it’s okay.
Takuto Maruki (Councillor Confidant)
Finally, the last important Confidant to ensure you reach the extra semester and palace, is Shujin Academy’s very own guidance counselor Takuto Maruki, who holds the Councillor arcana. Maruki joins the story after the first palace and is hired by the school to help the students through their problems. There’s an automatic story event that introduces him, and since you and your friends have endured traumatic experiences, you’re required to go visit him early on. From there you’ll reach rank 1 with him, and throughout the story you’ll see moments of your fellow Phantom Thieves receiving counseling from him as well.
Ranks 2 to 5 can be achieved immediately after that, and he’ll be hanging in front of the nurses office on Monday’s and Friday’s after school. Ranks 6 to 9 are then gated until September 20. You can also do ranks 1 through 9 after September 20 if you choose since you won’t be locked out if you wait that long. Rank 10 then happens automatically on November 18 if you have reached rank 9 by then. However, you will be locked out of rank 10 if you do not reach rank 9 by November 17.
It’s also worth noting that Maruki raises your SP cap and grants abilities like Detox, Flow, and Mindfulness which are extremely useful. He’s also a refreshing personality and you honestly should just meet with him regardless; he provides perspective for mental health, which will be very important by the time you reach the new content.
A Few More Tips
To rank up Confidants faster, make sure you’re carrying a Persona with the same arcana as the person you’re hanging out with–you’ll receive more points for proper dialogue options. Oh and lastly, make sure to refuse any deal that would compromise your morals throughout the course of the story.
If you accomplish all these steps then you should be ready for the brand new palace, third semester, and everything that comes with them. When you follow through on the new final boss, make sure you have everyone’s Baton Pass at rank 3 (which levels up by playing darts throughout the game)–trust us on this one.
For more on this extended version of the original RPG, be sure to read our early review of Persona 5 Royal’s first 50 hours and how the new mechanics effect the experience. You can also check out how some changes were made in the localization process and get insight on how Persona’s localization was done throughout the years.
As fans eagerly await the release of Final Fantasy VII Remake on April 10, Square Enix has unveiled an interview with the developers of the game that clarifies some details, including more on the size of the game–and it sounds like it’ll be huge.
Co-director Naoki Hamaguchi said that the upcoming remake has been “designed as if it were a standalone game, and comparable in size to other mainline Final Fantasy games.” Since the remake only covers Midgar, which is the first five to eight hours of the original Final Fantasy VII, this represents a significant expansion of content.
According to producer Yoshinori Kitase, much of these new sections come as part of an attempt to expand Midgar beyond its original scope. Since the original game had to imply the connective tissue of the different neighborhoods of the city due to technological limitations, the team endeavored to “fill all the gaps” to make it a more continuous experience.
The interview also confirms the existence of endgame content, and covers the controversial exclusion of the wolf-like beast Red XIII as a playable character. Though he will be playable in a guest capacity, he will not have full character progression. However, he may be more fully-realized in future entries.
It’s not immediately clear if Square Enix means that this remake will be similar in length to other mainline Final Fantasy games. For comparison, Final Fantasy XIII takes roughly 50-hours to main-line, whereas FFXV is only around 30.
In other news, Square Enix believes it is “increasingly likely” that the coronavirus will affect distribution for physical copies of Final Fantasy VII, though it is committed to meeting the current release date. No delay yet, but digital might be your best bet if you want to be safe.
Final Fantasy VII Remake News
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Final Fantasy VII Remake Demo Is Out Now
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The Last of Us Part 2 is riding on high expectations. It’s easily one of our most anticipated games of 2020, but many also think The Last of Us doesn’t need a sequel, which means developer Naughty Dog has its work cut out for it. Naughty Dog is known for its tight set-pieces, incredible character-building, and powerful storytelling, and we can’t wait to see how the developer builds on the story of Ellie and Joel. We won’t have to wait long, thankfully, as the game is scheduled to hit May 29 for PS4.
The latest story trailer showed protagonist Ellie on a killing spree after a terrible event involving her best friend and romantic interest, Dina–and we got our first look at a much older-looking Joel, who shows up to help her get revenge.
In a recent media event, two GameSpot staffers spent a couple of hours playing The Last of Us Part 2–you can check out their impressions and new details learned from the hands-on preview. Plus, catch up on everything we know about The Last of Us Part 2, including its story, setting, combat, and more. One major change: Naughty Dog has confirmed Part 2 will not have multiplayer, focusing instead on the single-player experience. Despite that removed mode, we know that the game will span two Blu-ray discs.
The Last of Us Part 2 is now just two months away, so we know plenty of details about its pre-order bonuses and special editions. From the Ellie Edition to the Collector’s Edition and new Ellie statues, here’s what you should know about pre-ordering The Last of Us Part 2, including the best places to buy it.
The Last of Us Part 2 pre-order bonuses
Pre-order The Last of Us Part 2 standard Edition
Pre-order The Last of Us 2 Part 2 Special Edition
Pre-order The Last of Us Part 2 Digital Deluxe Edition
Pre-order The Last of Us Part 2 Collector’s Edition
Pre-order The Last of Us Part 2 Ellie Edition
Pre-order The Art of The Last of Us Part 2
Buy The Last of Us Part 2 art prints
The Last of Us Part 2 pre-order bonuses
If you pre-order The Last of Us Part 2, you’ll receive two in-game items–an ammo capacity upgrade and crafting training manual–at launch. Pre-order the standard or Digital Deluxe edition on the PlayStation Store, and you’ll also receive a PSN avatar featuring Ellie’s tattoo.
Pre-order The Last of Us Part 2 standard Edition
The standard edition, which costs $60, comes with just the base game and will include any pre-order bonuses.
Pre-order The Last of Us 2 Part 2 Special Edition
If you opt to pre-order the Special Edition of The Last of Us Part 2, you’ll receive:
Base game and any applicable pre-order bonuses
Collectible steelbook
48-page mini art book from Dark Horse
PS4 Dynamic Theme
6 PSN avatars
The Special Edition will cost you $80, and you can pre-order it below. It’s currently unavailable at Amazon and GameStop, but might come back in stock closer to launch.
Pre-order The Last of Us Part 2 Digital Deluxe Edition
Prefer to buy digitally? The Digital Deluxe Edition is similar to the Special Edition and comes with:
Base game and any applicable pre-order bonuses
Digital mini art book from Dark Horse
Digital soundtrack
6 PSN avatars
The Digital Deluxe Edition will cost you $70, and you can pre-order it below at the PlayStation Store.
Pre-order The Last of Us Part 2 Collector’s Edition
Of course, The Last of Us Part 2 has a Collector’s Edition, which comes with some nice physical goodies.
Base game and any applicable pre-order bonuses
12″ Ellie statue
Life-sized replica of Ellie’s bracelet
Collectible steelbook
48-page mini art book from Dark Horse
Set of six enamel pins
Lithograph art print
Set of five stickers
PSN Dynamic Theme
Six PSN avatars
Digital soundtrack
Digital version of the mini art book
The Collector’s Edition will cost you $170, and you can pre-order it below (assuming you can find it in stock). At the time of writing, the CE was still available at Best Buy.
Pre-order The Last of Us Part 2 Ellie Edition
Finally, there’s the Ellie Edition, which has been incredibly popular among The Last of Us fans. Available for $230, the Ellie Edition includes everything that comes with the Collector’s Edition listed above, plus a full-sized, fully functional recreation of Ellie’s backpack. You’ll also receive an embroidered patch and 7″ vinyl record with music from the original soundtrack.
The Ellie Edition sold out quickly when it was first announced, restocked temporarily on February 13, and has since sold out again. That said, some retailers will let you sign up for notifications if the product comes back into stock, so it’s worth doing that and checking back regularly if you really want to get your hands on this edition.
Base game and any applicable pre-order bonuses
Full-sized recreation of Ellie’s backpack
Embroidered patch
7″ vinyl record with original music
12″ Ellie statue
Life-sized replica of Ellie’s bracelet
Collectible steelbook
48-page mini art book from Dark Horse
Set of six enamel pins
Lithograph art print
Set of five stickers
PSN Dynamic Theme
Six PSN avatars
Digital soundtrack
Digital version of the mini art book
Pre-order The Art of The Last of Us Part 2
Naughty Dog has partnered with Dark Horse to publish The Art of The Last of Us Part II, a hardcover volume featuring original art and creator commentary. A pricey Deluxe Edition is available and includes an exclusive cover, slipcase, and gallery-quality lithograph.
Standard Edition – $28
Deluxe Edition — $81
Buy The Last of Us Part 2 art prints
Museum-grade quality art prints are now available for The Last of Us Part 2 via Cook and Becker. The pricey prints start around $100 and can cost as much as $790 depending on the size you choose. These are true collector’s items that are hand-numbered and come with a certificate of authenticity, and they won’t be reprinted once sold out (as most of them currently are). The prints are expected to start shipping this month.
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If there’s anything we can count on in these uncertain times, it’s that Target will continue to offer buy two, get one free sales on video games, and Amazon will continue to price-match them. These B2G1 sales have become fairly common at the two retailers, offering a nice way to snag a bundle of new games for a fraction of the price. And this week, you can take advantage of the latest B2G1 sale at Amazon, which includes many PS4 and Xbox One games along with a few Switch titles. Unsurprisingly, some of these deals are beginning to sell out, and delivery dates will likely take longer than usual as Amazon prioritizes health and household goods. Be sure to check out Target’s B2G1 sale as well for even more options.
Amazon’s B2G1 sale spans not only video games but toys, board games, electronics, and more. To take advantage of the deal, just add three items from the sale page to your cart. At checkout, you’ll see a “multi-buy discount” that slashes off the price of the cheapest item in your cart. Keep that in mind as you select your three items–it may behoove you to pick three items at similar price tags.
Even though the sale just kicked off on Sunday, the pickings are starting to get slim on Amazon; however, there are still some solid options. Death Stranding is available for just $30, a fantastic price on this single-player adventure game. It’s also one of our picks for the best games to play when you’re social distancing. The Outer Worlds, a fantastic space-faring RPG, is down to $35.14. You can also snag Catherine: Full Body for $50.78, Metro Exodus for $30, and Monster Hunter World: Iceborne’s Master Edition for $38.49.
If you’re looking for more things to do while stuck inside, be sure to check out the non-video game deals too. Some fantastic board and card games are on sale as part of the B2G1 offer, including Betrayal at House on the Hill for $29.49, Codenames for $15.27, and Exploding Kittens for $20.
Best game deals (buy two, get one free)
Catherine: Full Body — $50.78 ($60) | PS4
Civilization VI — $40 ($60) | PS4, Xbox One
Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled — $33.58 ($40) | Switch
Darksiders Genesis — $33.88 ($40) | PS4, Xbox One
Death Stranding — $30 ($60) | PS4
Devil May Cry 5 — $24.24 ($60) | Xbox One
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot — $50 ($60) | PS4, Xbox One
Grand Theft Auto V – Premium Edition — $18 ($30) | Xbox One
Hitman – Definitive Edition — $16.97 ($30) | PS4, Xbox One
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