Tag: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

  • PS Plus February 2026 Game List Leaked: Three New Extra, Premium Titles

    PS Plus February 2026 Game List Leaked: Three New Extra, Premium Titles

    Key Takeaways

    1. Sony will soon announce the official PlayStation Plus Game Catalogue for February 2026.
    2. A reliable leaker, Billbil-kun, revealed three games expected in the lineup.
    3. The first game is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, featuring Peter Parker and Miles Morales in New York City.
    4. The second game is Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, focusing on open-world driving with over 120 cars.
    5. The third game is Neva, an emotional action-adventure about a girl and a wolf cub in a crumbling world.


    Sony is set to unveil the official PlayStation Plus Game Catalogue for February 2026 soon. Yet, it seems that a part of the lineup has leaked before the official announcement, providing players a sneak peek at what they might expect.

    Leak Details

    This information comes from Billbil-kun, who has a good track record of accurately leaking PlayStation Plus lineups. His latest update confirms that three games will be included in the February 2026 Game Catalogue.

    Game Highlights

    The first and most notable title is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (for PS5). This game was launched for the PS5 in October 2023 and was later made available on Windows in January last year. Players can take control of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, who team up to defend New York City. Switching between characters is quick and easy. The narrative features prominent villains, such as Venom, Kraven the Hunter, and the Lizard.

    The second title that has leaked is Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown (for PS5). This game revives the Test Drive Unlimited franchise, emphasizing open-world driving and online gameplay. Players can navigate through expansive, realistic recreations of Hong Kong Island and Ibiza, driving through urban areas, mountains, and scenic coastal routes, while participating in races and various activities. The game includes over 120 cars from more than 30 different manufacturers, along with options for customization, dealerships, and social areas for player interaction.

    Emotional Journey

    The third game revealed in the leak is Neva (for both PS5 and PS4). Developed by the team that created GRIS, Neva is an action-adventure game that centers on the journey of a young girl named Alba and a wolf cub as they navigate through a crumbling world. The emphasis is on their bond, collaboration, and emotional storytelling, rather than on high-paced action.

    At this point, Billbil-kun has not confirmed what other games will be part of February 2026’s PlayStation Plus Game Catalogue. However, Sony is likely to announce the complete lineup either tomorrow or during the upcoming State of Play event, which is set for February 12.

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  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Steam Deck Unplayable, ROG Ally Works

    Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Steam Deck Unplayable, ROG Ally Works

    Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 has made its debut on PC, but the launch has been anything but smooth. Many players have reported issues like game crashes, frustrating frame drops, and some odd graphical hiccups. On a brighter note, the game has fairly modest system requirements, which could lead to a decent experience on various gaming handhelds. Nonetheless, an in-depth review from TechPowerUp reveals that the reality is a bit more complex than it seems.

    Handheld Performance Test

    TechPowerUp ran tests on two well-known gaming handhelds while playing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: the Valve Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally, both utilizing AMD APUs. The Steam Deck operates with the AMD Van Gogh APU featuring a Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU, while the Asus ROG Ally comes equipped with the much stronger Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU. The latter has an 8-core CPU and a 12-CU integrated GPU, delivering an impressive 8.6 TFLOPS of performance. Now, let’s dive into how these devices performed during the tests.

    Frame Rates and Settings

    At a resolution of 720p with “very low” settings, the ROG Ally, powered by the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, achieved a playable 51.3 frames per second (FPS) at 25 watts, with a minimum of 17.8 FPS. When it dropped to 15 watts, the performance fell to 38.9 FPS, with a minimum of 13.1 FPS. In contrast, the Steam Deck struggled, managing just 26 FPS under the same conditions, with a minimum of 12.8 FPS. When set to the slightly more appealing “low” preset, the ROG Ally performed well with 46.1 FPS, while the Steam Deck was left behind at 21.1 FPS.

    Issues and Future Updates

    Notably, the game crashed on the Windows-based ROG Ally, a problem that didn’t occur on the Steam Deck. According to TechPowerUp’s findings, the Steam Deck maintained more stable frame rates, although still teetering on the edge of being unplayable, even with upscaling. The ROG Ally, on the other hand, showed much better results and is expected to improve even further with an update that introduces the new Ryzen Z2 Extreme, which comes with four extra CUs. Currently, the Steam Deck is priced at $470 on Amazon, but unfortunately, a successor isn’t anticipated anytime soon. However, Lenovo has already released SteamOS handhelds featuring Ryzen Z2-series APUs.

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  • PlayStation Boosts AI Use to Speed Up Game Development and Cut Costs

    PlayStation Boosts AI Use to Speed Up Game Development and Cut Costs

    In the latest Corporate Report 2024, released on September 13, 2024, Sony outlines its vision for an entertainment company that aligns with societal changes and advancements in technology. The report highlights the significant roles that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will play, particularly in the gaming industry.

    Advancements in Game Development

    Sony aims to incorporate technologies like real-time 3D processing and sensor technology into its game development processes. The objective is to accelerate production times and lower expenses while maintaining high standards of quality. An example mentioned in the report is the making of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, where speech recognition software was utilized to automatically sync subtitles with character dialogues. This innovation considerably shortens the time required for development.

    Innovative Capture Techniques

    Additionally, Sony is investing in the Volumetric Capture Studio, which is designed to collect 3D data of people and settings to create images and 3D assets. This captured data will be utilized throughout the company and may also be offered for sale externally. In partnership with Epic Games, Sony is exploring the Unreal Engine to repurpose 3D elements from music video production for use in video games.

    Ethical Considerations in AI Use

    The application of AI in game development presents significant possibilities but also raises important ethical discussions. A major concern includes the potential displacement of jobs, along with worries that AI might hinder the creative process for developers. Proponents argue that AI can help eliminate monotonous tasks, giving developers more time to concentrate on creative projects. A conversation about Sony’s increased reliance on AI has already begun on Reddit.

    Image source: PlayStation, Frank_Reppold / Pixabay