Articles by Samuel Tolbert

While it’s still a niche market on consoles, many PS5 players will want to enjoy using a flight stick with compatible games. No dedicated PS5 sticks have yet been released, so it’s slim pickings for now. Fortunately, there’s a couple of PS4 options that’ll work with Sony’s new console and our favorite is the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas 4, which handles great for games like Star Wars: Squadrons or Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.

The release of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Star Wars: Squadrons wiped out most of the available HOTAS systems, so finding joysticks that are available right now is extraordinarily difficult. We’ll be continuing to update links as stock fluctuates.

Best Overall: Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas 4

One of the few officially licensed PS4 HOTAS joystick systems is the Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas 4. Its main downside is that it doesn’t have a headset jack but otherwise, it’s incredibly simple to set up, meaning you don’t have to worry about a complicated proces…

Yes, you read that correctly.

What you need to know

Luxury brand Caviar has created a gold PS5 called the Golden Rock model.
Nine of these Golden Rock units have been made and each one will cost $499,999.
Additional premium PS5 units made with leather are also being produced.

If you’re having trouble grabbing a PS5, you’ve got another opportunity to try for, provided you have a spare half a million dollars. Caviar, a brand known for producing high-end luxury versions of items, has created the PS5 Golden Rock. Mad with 24-karat gold, nine of these consoles will be made and are available for the price of $499,000.

Caviar notes that some of the people inquiring about possibly purchasing one of these gold PS5s include basketball player LeBron James. In addition to the half a million gold units, less-premium but still expensive consoles are also being produced wrapped in black carbon and leather respectively.

While the vast majority of people won’t have the ability or desire to buy…

He’s finally showing up — alongside performance updates for owners of the newest consoles.

What you need to know

Hawkeye is being added to Marvel’s Avengers on March 18 in a free update.
Hawkeye’s storyline is called Operation: Future Imperfect and delves into a new area called the Wasteland.
The next-generation patch will also be released for free on March 18.

Marvel’s Avengers launched back in September 2020, with ambitious post-launch plans for DLC including a wide range of new characters. Today, Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics shared that the iconic sharpshooter Hawkeye is coming to the game on March 18. Hawkeye will be accompanied by the next-generation patch for PS5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, which is a free update for anyone who has already bought the game.

This upgrade was originally planned to release in 2020 but was pushed back due to the developers targeting bug fixes and other quality of life improvements for players. You can check out the trailer below f…

Figure out the best way to dive in on this new adventure.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart now has a release date — June 11, 2021 — and preorders are live. If you’re not sure which version of the game is best for you to buy, fear not, as we’ve put together a full Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart preorder guide. This way, you’re set for what is promising to be one of the best PS5 games of 2021.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart all editions available for preorder

Right now, there are only two editions of Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart available for preorder. The standard Launch Edition is available physically and digitally, while the Digital Deluxe Edition is, as the name implies, exclusive to the PlayStation Store.

Here’s what you get for preordering the $70 Launch Edition:

Carbonox armor
Pixelizer weapon

Both of these iconic items have been graphically overhauled for the PS5 while staying true to their roots in earlier games. In addition to those preorder items, there’s some stuf…

Dominating the discussion and fans alike.

What you need to know

Lady Dimitrescu, or Tall Vampire Lady, is a major antagonist in Resident Evil Village.
Speaking with IGN, Art Director Tomonori Takano talked about early concepts for the character.
Takano was also “struck” by comments from fans about how they want Lady Dimitrescu to chase them.

Ever since the reveal of Resident Evil Village, the vampiric Lady Dimitrescu, better known as Tall Vampire Lady, has easily risen to the top of any discourse around the game. Speaking with IGN, Tomonori Takano, Art Director on Resident Evil Village, says that the character concept began with trying to create a “bewitching vampire.”

Takano notes that there was inspiration drawn from stories like that of Elizabeth Báthory, a Hungarian noblewoman and reported serial killer, as well as Morticia Addams as portrayed by Anjelica Huston.

With Dimitrescu standing at an imposing, eyebrow-raising 9’6″, Takano was also happy to work on the design upo…

A new add-on could be coming in the near future.

What you need to know

Sony released a Back Button attachment for the DualShock 4 in 2020.
A patent filing indicates Sony is working on something similar for the PS5 DualSense controller.
This would add two remappable buttons to the back of the DualSense.

Sony released the DualShock 4 Back Button attachment last year, giving players the easy ability to expand their DualShock 4 controllers with some comfortable paddle-like buttons for a very low price. Now, it looks like that option could soon come to the DualSense controller.

A patent filing first spotted by IGN indicates Sony is looking into providing a similar Back Button attachment for the DualSense. The patent was filed back on February 4, so it’s quite recent. You can see the diagram provided in the patent below:

The diagram clearly matches the shape and ports of the DualSense controller. The description of the patent confirms that the device would allow players to remap d…

Whether you’ve had your PS5 for months or just a day, there’s nothing worse than running into a huge error and needing to get it repaired. If you’ve tried the basic remedies and nothing is working, it’s time to check in with Sony for proper repairs. Here’s how to start a warranty repair for PS5.

How to start a warranty repair for PS5

Before you file a warranty, it’s worth checking in with the PlayStation Support page to see if there’s a simple solution to your particular issue. After all, being without your console for a while is the worst-case scenario, so you don’t want to go through with it unless you have no other choice. Note that the process will be a little depending on what model you have, a PS5 or PS5 Digital Edition.

There are a few different issues that, if you can’t find a solution, will be covered the warranty. The disc drive on a regular PS5 failing is covered, as is any storage failure problems, issues with the screen not being displayed properly, or constant crashe…

Evolve to match every single challenge this fantastical world throws your way.

Biomutant takes open world action and throws in tons of unique mechanics. While things have been quiet lately, it’s very much still in development and is still one of the most ambitious upcoming games from THQ Nordic. Here’s everything we know about Biomutant so far.

Jump to:

What is Biomutant?
Check out the gameplay and features
Will it have multiplayer?
Is it an open world game?
Has it been canceled?
Check out the collector’s editions
When is the release date?

Genre-busting

Biomutant

$60 at Amazon
$60 at Best Buy
$60 at Walmart

Adapt, improvise and overcome

Biomutant is an action-RPG that gives players the ability to mutant and evolve with biomechanical upgrades, taking on every challenge as they attempt to save the Tree of Life from being corrupted.

What is Biomutant?

Biomutant is a third-person action-RPG that has players take on the role of a cat-like creature that knows mart…

A while longer before you can escape this planet.

What you need to know

Returnal is a PS5 exclusive being developed by Housemarque.
The game revolves around a woman stranded on an alien world, stuck in a timeloop.
Returnal has been delayed to April 30, 2021.

Returnal is an upcoming third-person sci-fi shooter developed by Housemarque for the PS5. While this adventure was originally set to be available on March 19, players will need to wait a bit longer to enjoy this PS5 exclusive title. Sony confirmed today that Returnal is delayed to April 30, citing a need for additional polish.

Update: Returnal has a new release date of April 30, 2021. SIE and Housemarque have made the decision to move the release date in order to give the team extra time to continue to polish the game to the level of quality players expect from Housemarque.  See you in April! pic.twitter.com/xb6IBWJ5TQ— PlayStation (@PlayStation) January 28, 2021

Returnal makes special use of the DualSense haptic f…

Next-gen immersion in a hands-on fashion.

The PS5 doesn’t just bring in better graphics and higher framerates — it also gives players a new controller, the DualSense. This successor to the DualShock 4 features a higher-quality built-in microphone, a refined touchpad, an improved battery, and most importantly, haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.

Those latter two features can be used by game developers in unique ways. Haptic feedback can give unique sensations, like the pattering of rain or a blast of energy, in a way that is more focused and accurate than rumble motors. Meanwhile, adaptive triggers can provide a variety of functions with different weapons due to the special physical functions that have been implemented.

To provide a couple of examples, adaptive triggers are being used in Arkane Studios’ Deathloop so that if a gun jams, the trigger physically locks. Meanwhile in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, you can pull a trigger partially to fire one barrel on a particular g…