So, it’s official: Andy Bogard is making his grand entrance into the gaming world again with Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves on June 24th. Because, let’s face it, we were all just waiting for another opportunity to see a man in a headband throw punches at pixelated opponents, right? I mean, who needs character development or innovative storytelling when you can have a guy with a sweet mullet and a never-ending supply of martial arts moves? It’s almost poetic, really. Here we are, in the year 2023, still throwing ourselves into the nostalgia of 90s fighting games. It’s like we’re all stuck in a time loop, eagerly awaiting the return of characters who clearly haven’t aged a day. Andy Bogard, with his flashy moves and a wardrobe that screams "I’m too cool for school," is the epitome of that era. Who needs new heroes when you have the same old faces to beat the proverbial stuffing out of each other? Let’s not ignore the clever marketing behind this either. “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves” – a title that suggests we might actually encounter something wild and untamed. Spoiler alert: it’s just going to be more of the same. But hey, if you love the taste of nostalgia with a sprinkle of familiarity, then you’re in for a treat! I can already hear the collective “YAAAS!” from the fanbase as they dust off their old consoles, ready to relive the glory days of button-mashing combat. And what about the rest of the roster? You know, the characters who might actually bring something new to the table? Oh, who are we kidding! As long as Andy is there, it’s like the rest are just wallpaper in this nostalgic room. “Oh look, another character that’s not Andy Bogard! Let’s just ignore them and wait for him to throw a fireball again!” So mark your calendars, folks! June 24th is the date when we’ll all be reunited with our childhood memories. Just remember to keep the first aid kit handy because I can already hear the groans of all the players who will be nursing their thumbs after a night of relentless button-mashing. In a world that constantly craves innovation, it’s refreshing to see that some things never change. Here’s to Andy Bogard – the man, the myth, the mullet. May your punches be swift and your headband ever stylish. #AndyBogard #FatalFury #NostalgiaGaming #RetroGames #CityOfTheWolves

PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst has insisted that Bungie's upcoming live service shooter Marathon won't make the same mistakes as Concord.Discussing the company's live service ambitions during a fireside chat aimed at investors, Hulst said the market remains a "great opportunity" for PlayStation despite the company having a decidedly patchy track record when it comes to live service offerings.Last year, the company launched and swiftly scrapped live service hero shooter Concord after it failed to hit the ground running. It shuttered developer Firewalk weeks later after conceding the title "did not hit our targets."Sony scrapped two more live services titles in development at internal studios Bluepoint Games and Bend Studios in January this year. Earlier this week, it confirmed an undisclosed number of workers at Bend had been laid off as the studio transitions to its next project.Hulst said the company has learned hard lessons from those failures, and believes Marathon is well positioned to succeed as a result. "There are som unique challenges associated. We've had some early successes as with Helldivers II. We've also faced some challenges, as with the release of Concord," said Hulst."I think that some really good work went into that title. Some really big efforts. But ultimately that title entered into a hyper-competitive segment of the market. I think it was insufficiently differentiated to be able to resonate with players. So we have reviewed our processes in light of this to deeply understand how and why that title failed to meet expectations—and to ensure that we are not going to make the same mistakes again."Related:PlayStation Studios boss claims the demise of Concord presented a learning opportunityHulst said PlayStation Studios has now implemented more rigorous processes for validating and revalidating its creative, commercial, and development assumptions and hypothesis. "We do that on a much more ongoing basis," he added. "That's the plan that will ensure we're investing in the right opportunities at the right time, all while maintaining much more predictable timelines for Marathon."The upcoming shooter is set to be the first new Bungie title in over a decade—and the first project outside of Destiny the studio has worked on since it was acquired by PlayStation in 2022.Hulst said the aim is to release a "very bold, very innovative, and deeply engaging title." He explained Marathon is currently navigating test cycles that have yielded "varied" feedback, but said those mixed impressions have been "super useful."Related:"That's why you do these tests. The constant testing and constant revalidation of assumptions that we just talked about, to me, is so valuable to iterate and to constantly improves the title," he added. "So when launch comes we're going to give the title the optimal chance of success."Hulst might be exuding confidence, but a recent report from Forbes claimed morale is in "free fall" at Bungie after the studio admitted to using stolen art assets in Marathon. That "varied" player feedback has also reportedly caused concern internally ahead of Marathon's proposed September 23 launch date.The studio was also made to ensure layoffs earlier this year, with Sony cutting 220 roles after exceeding "financial safety margins." #playstation #studios #boss #confident #marathon