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One of star wars outlaws' coolest features doesn't really even matter, rauru actually tried his zelda: totk plan before & it was a disaster.

Sony's Play At Home promotion has made developer thatgamecompany's Journey available for free to all PlayStation 4 owners. But time spent on a game is still a form of cost, so PS4 users might be wondering if the free game is any good. Luckily, Journey is a wholly unique video game that everyone should experience, especially when all they have to do is hit "Download."

The Play At Home initiative is Sony's way of encouraging social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with Journey , the company is offering a free download of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection , which includes remastered versions of the first three Uncharted games. Unlike Sony's usual free game offerings, these two titles don't require a PlayStation Plus membership to download, so every PS4 owner can grab them while the initiative is active.

Related: Why You Should SKIP The First Uncharted Game

The WHO has recommended playing video games to ensure people are stimulated while staying indoors, but with near-infinite game download options available, even a free game needs to be good to warrant a playthrough. Here's why Journey is absolutely worth the time.

Is The Free PS4 Game Journey Any Good?

In the old "video games as art" debate , few games make a stronger argument than Journey. Take a screenshot at nearly any moment, and it will look like it was deliberately constructed to be displayed that way. There is no dialogue in Journey , so the game's entire story is told through its visuals and music - which happens to be the first video game soundtrack ever nominated for a Grammy Award . Journey' s story isn't a grand tale by any means, but it's still best left unspoiled. The simple, titular journey can have a disproportionately complex effect on many of those who experience it, making some players cry without really knowing why.

Journey' s surprising emotional impact is its main draw. It's not a game that's worth playing because of its deep lore or complex mechanics (though its seamless, wordless multiplayer is still among gaming's most unique). What makes Journey special is how it conjures emotions in a way that would be impossible in another medium. Players feel connected to its world and its playable, scarf-like protagonists because they're playing it. It's worth experiencing because there's simply nothing else - game, movie, or otherwise - like it.

Journey doesn't demand much from players to have that experience, either. It has few fail states, no real difficulty spikes, and it's only about two hours long. That brief run time may have upset some players when it had a $15 price tag, but it works in Journey' s favor when the game is free. All PS4 owners need to play a game like no other is an internet connection and two hours, and Journey is well worth that relatively small investment.

Next: How To Make Sure You Secure A PS5 Pre-Order

Journey first released for PlayStation 3 on March 13, 2012, and has since been ported to PlayStation 4, PC, and iOS.

• SR Originals

The Uncharted collection and Journey will be free on PS4 this month

Sony also started a $10 million fund for indie studios affected by COVID-19

You can soon download Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey for free on your PS4, thanks to a new initiative from Sony . 

The company recently unveiled its Play At Home Initiative, a movement to help keep gamers occupied while they're sheltered at home in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Nathan Drake Collection includes three out of the four games in the Uncharted series: Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception. You'll still have to spend some money if you want to play Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, but you certainly won't need it right away with three other games to get through. The other free game is indie adventure darling Journey, a 2012 title that's as beautiful as it is entertaining. 

Both the Uncharted collection and Journey will be available for download from April 15 through May 5. Once you claim them, you can keep them forever. Note that German and Chinese PS4 players won't have the same free games - instead, they're getting platformer Knack 2 along with Journey. 

Sony CEO Jim Ryan unveiled the Play at Home Initiative in an official blog post , writing that it has two components: "First, providing free games to help keep the PlayStation community entertained at home; and finally, establishing a fund to help smaller independent game studios who may be experiencing financial difficulties continue building great experiences for all gamers." That fund has gathered $10 million for indie game studios that were hit hard by the global pandemic, and who likely don't have the financial stores to make it through such an economic struggle. 

It's lovely to see that both the games offered and Sony's fund split the focus between indie and AAA games - a shared interest that's more important now than ever.

Sony isn't the only company stepping up to the plate, check out the many ways the video game community is helping coronavirus relief efforts . 

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Alyssa Mercante is an editor and features writer at GamesRadar based out of Brooklyn, NY. Prior to entering the industry, she got her Masters's degree in Modern and Contemporary Literature at Newcastle University with a dissertation focusing on contemporary indie games. She spends most of her time playing competitive shooters and in-depth RPGs and was recently on a PAX Panel about the best bars in video games. In her spare time Alyssa rescues cats, practices her Italian, and plays soccer.

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thatgamecompany

life’s companions

Experience the wonder in this anonymous adventure where you travel on a life’s passage, with the chance to connect with companions along the way.

a mysterious world

Alone and surrounded by miles of burning, sprawling desert, you soon discover the looming mountaintop is your goal. The passage will not be easy but this experience of a lifetime will help you discover who you are, what this place is, as you arrive at your purpose.

beautiful art and music

Soar above ruins and glide across sands as you explore the secrets of a forgotten civilization.  Featuring stunning visuals, haunting music, and unique online gameplay, Journey delivers an experience like no other.

The release of Journey attracted over 100+ industry awards and media accolades, with some naming the game as their ‘Game of The Year’ in 2012.

"A glorious, thoughtful, moving masterpiece"

- entertainment weekly, "mysterious and beautiful", "an incredible, emotional game", "one of the most amazing game experiences of my life", - gamesradar.

© 2012 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. Developed by thatgamecompany. Journey is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC.

Journey Coming To PS4 This Month, Here's How To Get It For Free

The breakout indie hit from 2012, Journey , is finally soaring onto the PlayStation 4 this month, bringing with it all of the magic and wonder that made the game such a talked about experience three years ago. Oh, and many of you will be able to dive back into the desert free of charge, too.

Announced today through the PlayStation Blog , thatgamecompany’s Journey is set to arrive on Sony’s home console in just a couple of short weeks, launching July 21. Don’t expect a “director’s cut” full of additional challenges, leaderboards or other nonsense, though. Based on the description from Santa Monica Studio Community Specialist Aaron Kaufman, it sounds like folks should expect the PS4 version to be the exact same game that caused so many waves on the PlayStation 3, only looking better than ever on the beefier hardware.

That’s fantastic news, actually, as Journey is one of those games that should be left the hell alone.

“But wait,” I hear you say. “Why would I pay more money for basically the same game?”

Well, that’s kind of the beauty of Journey ’s , um, journey to the PlayStation 4. This spruced up version of the game is actually cross-buy, so those of you who already own Journey on the PS3 will be able to download the PS4 version at no extra charge when it launches on July 21.

And in case you’re wondering what all of the hubbub is about, thatgamecompany has actually started up a pretty nifty campaign designed to share players’ experiences with the rest of the world. It’s called #OurJourney, and you can get all of the finer details by visiting the official website right here .

In short, the developer wants people to record a short video explaining “What your Journey experience meant to you.” After that, simply post it on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and tag it with #OurJourney. Many of those videos will then be pulled into a compilation, which can be viewed on the #OurJourney website linked above. So if you’ve ever wondered why Journey is still being talked about three years after its original launch, you’ll have the opportunity to find out firsthand from folks who made a deep connection with the game.

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To help get the ball rolling, I’ll leave you with this video from Creative Director Jenova Chen, who explains why Journey was so important to him.

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Get ready to experience one of the most beautiful, unique and critically acclaimed PlayStation® games ever released as Journey arrives on PlayStation®4. Explore vast deserts and primitive ruins on an emotional quest to uncover the long-lost secrets of a forgotten civilisation. Feel the strain of every step as you guide your nameless nomad through the wilderness to reach a mountaintop looming on the horizon. In the face of oppressive heat and howling winds, tap into an ancient magic to soar through the skies and discover this mysterious world alone or with a stranger you may meet along the way. Featuring stunning 1080p HD visuals and an enchanting, award-winning musical score, it’s time to revel in the wonder on PS4™. Set off on a personal journey that will challenge your mind, touch your heart and stay with you for years. Cross-Buy • Buy this game for PS4™ or PlayStation®3 to receive both versions at no extra cost.

Journey (PS4) Review

• First Released Mar 13, 2012 released

The light by which my spirit's born.

By Kevin VanOrd on July 23, 2015 at 10:41AM PDT

This review contains spoilers. For a spoiler-free review of Journey, you can read our original review here .

It was my eighth playthrough and the tears still streamed, almost inexplicably; Journey is a song without words, reliant on its rapturous presentation and liberating movement to stir your mind and move your heart. With many games, I have wished that I could play them again for the first time--to experience that buzz that inevitably diminishes with each return visit. I will never need to waste this wish on Journey, however: each pilgrimage is as bittersweet as the last. How appropriate, given the game's theme of death and rebirth, that it feels so sorrowful, so joyous, and so true , each and every time.

"Journey would be just as effective as a movie," a friend once told me, but I must contradict her. Not that I can argue against the game's sumptuous environments and its sublime musical score, which earned masterpiece status the moment Journey was initially released on the PlayStation 3 in 2012. Certain landscapes have rightfully gained iconic stature, becoming the very definition of video game beauty. One shot depicts the cloaked figure you control standing atop a sand drift and gazing at the mountain you must reach, which rises above the desert and pierces the clouds. The view is a master class in simplicity and color story; the peach-orange tones of the sand give way to a sea-green sky--hushed hues for a hushed visual revelation. Another seminal sight: you skate across the sand from right to left, illuminated by a godly beam of sunlight while watching the remnants of a lost culture rush past. The screen is awash with shades of amber, and the warm sand glimmers as if mixed with golden crystals. Yes, even as a work of cinema, Journey would instill wonder.

But Journey is not a film, and its power is not gained by pretty pictures alone, but by your presence in its world. That side-scrolling glide would not choke me up if I couldn't feel the sand beneath my feet, and couldn't hit a ramp in just the right way to propel myself into the air. I wouldn't feel so beat down by the wind if I didn't feel it pushing against me as I trudged forward, and I wouldn't be so euphoric if I didn't personally experience the joy of skimming the ground. You see, you hear, and, vitally, you do . You surf the sand, you ride the wind, you seek shelter from danger, you make a friend. Seeing is believing, but it takes interaction to understand and know.

Describing Journey means describing these moments and these emotions. The mechanical basics are almost secondary, and quickly explainable. As a mysterious robed figure, you cross sand and other terrain en route to a far-off mountain. You make use of only two buttons. By pressing X, you leap into the air and soar, an ability that is limited by the length of the scarf that trails behind you. By pressing circle, you cry out to whatever or whomever might heed your call. Journey is desolate, but you are not alone. You call to flocks of ribbons that hover about like restless robins, and they provide energy to your scarf. You meet cloth creatures that become travel guides and provide magic-carpet rides to higher ground. And presuming you play while connected to the Internet, you may encounter another lone individual in your travels--an individual you can ignore, or one you can accompany, chirping to her when you locate secret hieroglyphs, or when a fearsome ribbon-dragon appears and you don't want to continue alone.

The mechanics are simple, but they establish a direct connection to the heart. Consider that flowing scarf, which trails behind you as you surf and soar, growing larger whenever you locate and touch a glowing flower. On a mundane level, it functions as a power bar that you fill up by making contact with cloth, and deplete by leaping. In context, the scarf is your life force, governing your ability to joyfully drift through the air. Gliding is Journey's most exuberant act, and by limiting its use, the game makes joy itself a currency.

Journey uses this ecstasy-based economy to craft an emotional arc across its entirety, as well as to emphasize individual moments. Your scarf grows longer and longer, but a frightful encounter with that terrible ribbon-monster turns your rippling shawl into a mere stub. You cannot fight--you can only hide. Being discovered is devastating because the scarf is where the cheer and comfort of flight are stored. You were offered a heartwarming gift, only to have it yanked from your hands. Journey also uses this moment to connect you with your wordless cooperative companion. By this stage, you understand the meaning the scarf carries with it. Seeing your sidekick succumb like this forges empathy: you know that the monster has abolished his joy.

This give-and-take is how the final levels gain their potency. Your ability to glide is diminished, then revoked. You no longer drift through sand, but brace yourself against an exhaustive wind. Then, the moment comes when all hope seems lost. You hold your breath and assume the worst. And then, the controller rumbles--just once, like a single heartbeat. And all that was taken away is restored, then multiplied, and multiplied again.

This is the source of those tears. It is not the sadness of the loss, but the bliss of being honored for your perseverance. These are tears of elevation, so perfectly described by Roger Ebert in 2009 . I have heard people describe this final climb in terms of an afterlife, and that's a reasonable interpretation of the scene, in which you float higher and higher towards the mountain's zenith. But even in the moment, whether or not you make this conscious religious association, you might feel weepy in spite of yourself. The gift was given, and it was taken away. And then, you were liberally showered with gifts, and so you ascended, higher and higher, towards your next journey.

It is possible that Journey will not move you. In such a case, it is simply a beautiful game with a glorious soundtrack, grounded by a wistful cello melody later threaded through a warm quilt of winds and strings. The chance you might be swept away, however, makes it worth plunging your feet into the warm sand. If you are returning to Journey, a higher resolution and a higher frame rate are your ostensible rewards for returning--a return that doesn't cost you anything if you already own the game on the PlayStation 3. But Journey's real rewards aren't so pedestrian. Journey offers you comfort. It gives you companionship in a lovely but forsaken world. It gives you reason to dream even when facing loss.

• Leave Blank
• Sumptuous visuals
• One of the best game soundtracks written to date
• Simple mechanics that elicit powerful emotions
• Instills empathy between cooperative partners
• Iconic moments that stay with you for years

About the Author

Kevin VanOrd

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'Journey' and Uncharted remasters will be free on PS4, no PS Plus required

Sony also set up a $10 million fund to support indie developers..

Sony has announced a Play At Home initiative through which it's giving away free games while folks are sheltering indoors and helping out indie developers who’ve been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak . Starting tomorrow at 11pm ET/8pm PT, you'll be able to claim Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey at no cost, even if you aren't a PS Plus subscriber. The former is a collection of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception remastered for PS4.

The offerings are a little different in Germany and China, where gamers can snag Knack 2 and Journey gratis. If you claim the games by May 5th at 8pm PT, they'll be yours for good. But actually getting them on your console might take a little longer than you'd normally expect, since Sony has temporarily capped download speeds in the US and Europe .

Meanwhile, Sony Interactive Entertainment has set up a $10 million fund to support indie developers during this particularly trying time. It'll reveal more details about that in the near future.

Announcing the Play At Home initiative: https://t.co/pOn3hJ7poI Stay safe and pick up Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey for free from April 15 through May 5 #PlayAtHome 💙 pic.twitter.com/BSlbcwosgU — PlayStation (@PlayStation) April 14, 2020

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Uncharted collection and Journey free on PS4 as part of Sony ‘Play At Home’ initiative

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sony’s giving away games and $10M to indies

by Michael McWhertor

If you buy something from a Polygon link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Sony Interactive Entertainment is encouraging PlayStation 4 owners to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic by giving away two games: Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey . Both PS4 games will be free to download — no PlayStation Plus required — and free to keep forever starting April 15.

The giveaway is part of Sony’s newly announced Play At Home initiative, which comprises both a way to “help keep the PlayStation community entertained at home” and a $10 million fund “to help smaller independent game studios who may be experiencing financial difficulties continue building great experiences for all gamers.”

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Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, announced the Play At Home program on the PlayStation Blog on Tuesday. “During these days of physical distancing, fans have turned to gaming for moments of respite and enjoyment,” Ryan said. “At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we are privileged to bring this much-needed entertainment. We know this is just one small step and we are thankful to be able to offer this support to our players, our communities, and our partners.”

SIE’s $10 million fund for independent developers was not detailed. Ryan said that more information and how indie devs can participate will be revealed soon.

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey will be free on PS4 from April 15 at 8 p.m. PDT through May 5 at 8 p.m. PDT. Both titles were previously available as bonuses through PlayStation Plus; the Uncharted three-game collection in January 2020 , and Journey in September 2016 .

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Journey PS4 Review: A Classic Reborn

Neil Bolt / April 15, 2020

Journey on PS4 is divisive. Journey is overly artsy. Journey is an emotionally-charged masterpiece. Simply put, Journey is many things to many people. To me, Journey told a wonderful tale back in 2012. In the brief, yet perfectly paced, two hour playthrough it encapsulated its name perfectly, and despite having to go up against megahits like The Walking Dead and Borderlands 2 that year, it held its own as a truly outstanding member of the PlayStation family; to this day remains among my favourite games of the PS3 era and now we finally have Journey on PlayStation 4.

Journey PS4 Review

Now, in the hazy heat of midsummer’s gaming limbo, thatgamecompany’s magnum opus joins the PlayStation 4 ranks to try and captivate a new audience who were not fortunate enough to partake in it last generation. But what about those who have already experienced it? Granted, it is free to anyone who bought it on PS3, but can the game still have an impact after the initial glorious hit?

At the start of the game, where you traverse down the sand dune to begin your quest to reach the light-emitting mountain seen in the distance still holds the same magic, as Austin Wintory’s haunting theme plays out. It’s worth pointing out early on that the soundtrack is a huge player in conveying the emotional peaks and troughs of the otherwise near-silent narrative. It says things more eloquently than mere words could convey. Respect has to be paid to a game that can tell a captivating story without anybody uttering a single syllable.

Your adventure consists of the previously mentioned “journey” to the mountain, and the path there is filled with the task of your mysterious robed figure completing small, simple puzzles along the way.There is no combat, but there are dangers to contend with at certain points. All of which are there to seemingly prevent you from making that ascent.

Related Content – Best PS4 Indie Games – Excellent Games Everyone Should Play

The overarching theme of Journey is how you keep going in the face of adversity, pushing ever-onwards to that goal in a determined, single-minded fashion. It isn’t until you reach the game’s closing moments that you truly understand why this is. The short, non-spoilery version is to describe it as a pilgrimage, one that the game expects you to be joining in on beyond just pushing buttons on a controller. It’s hard to describe exactly why Journey’s narrative can be effective — even if you explain the themes in greater detail it remains something to be experienced hands on, not viewed from afar.

An aspect of it that can and should be discussed is Journey’s multiplayer. Another player can join your quest, and they simply appear without any notice being given during your playthrough (if you’re online of course). There is no matchmaking, no aggressiveness, no natural co-op structure and you only communicate through simple noises.

You won’t even know who you played with until you finish the game. It can often turn out the person you thought was your sole companion was in fact six or seven different people; as players fall behind or press on ahead they are subtly replaced. There are some genuine moments of bonding to be had, even with so little in the way of interaction. It’s a refreshingly different take on online multiplayer, one that fits Journey perfectly.

Related Content – Best PS4 Exclusives – Amazing Games That Everyone Should Play

Even three years on, and on a more powerful console, Journey remains a technical treat. The simple yet elegant graphical style is timeless, looking as beautiful as it did in 2012. Towering, glowing structures and billowing fabric-like movement are constants in this world, being used in interesting ways throughout, while the way the sand shifts beneath your feet and the swirling winds above your head flapping your ever-growing scarf around are wonderfully crafted details.

The visuals are even more striking with the touch ups the PS4 provides. It’s like a series of paintings come to life, and any number of scenes would be fit to capture and stick on your wall. Journey also runs more smoothly now. It was fine before, but the difference in quality is a noticeable enough upgrade when compared to the original version.

Otherwise, there’s nothing new added to the PS4 edition of Journey, not that there would be much worth adding that could actually improve the game and, as I mentioned earlier, you aren’t paying any extra if you’ve already purchased it before. So while those like myself can treat this remaster as an excuse to revisit what made the game so memorable -and for many, a chance to join in at the start when there are plenty of other players active- this is still mainly for those that missed out entirely last time round. Journey will no doubt cause fresh debate and split opinions with those people, which is just fine, because it’s a magical game that still deserves to be discussed.

Journey is out now on PS4 and PS3.

Review code kindly provided publisher.

The Final Word

Whether you played and enjoyed Journey before or are curious to see what the fuss is all about, the PS4 version provides a great excuse to experience one of PSN's greatest titles for a first or second time.

Face-Off: Journey on PS4

Improved gameplay vs PS3, but has the remaster compromised thatgamecompany's original vision?

Journey. Perhaps the perfect word to define the trajectory of this particularly elusive PlayStation 4 remaster. Having briefly spent time with the game just last year at Gamescom , performance was solid enough that it seemed likely that a full release would follow shortly thereafter. Instead, nothing. Outside of the odd blog post, this particular port remained shrouded in mystery throughout most of its development cycle. Now, three and a half years after its original last-gen release, Journey has finally emerged on PlayStation 4.

Its technological underpinnings are based on an advanced iteration of PhyreEngine - a modular, cross-platform, free to license graphics engine created by Sony Computer Entertainment . It's an engine which thatgamecompany , creator of Journey, previously used in each of its PlayStation 3 projects. With its complex sand rendering, dust effects, and fluid simulation, Journey made extensive use of the PS3's SPUs to bring its world to life. With a small development house known as Tricky Pixels tackling this PS4 port, we were genuinely curious to see how this ambitious project would translate to Sony's latest console platform.

At first glance, this PS4 iteration appears to fully retain the beauty of the original game. The simple, clean designs, attractive lighting, and lovely sand simulation return alongside a nice bump in performance and image quality. Even better, it's available for free to owners of the original game thanks to the CrossBuy feature - if you bought the original and upgraded to PS4 in the meanwhile, the new remaster is sitting in your download list right now, just as it was for. We finished the remastered version of the game in one sitting and have to say that the experience was just as wonderful as we had remembered. However, upon closer inspection, we began to notice some rather subtle changes, suggesting a conversion scenario that was less straightforward than you might imagine.

Previously, Journey has been confirmed as featuring a 1080p presentation, but overall image quality is a little strange. The selected method of anti-aliasing is actually less effective than the technique used on the original PS3 game; pixel density has increased, but pixels tend to shimmer more during gameplay. There's also a number of soft edges throughout, giving the impression of a lower resolution - pixel-counting throws up a wide variance in potential resolution measurements, sometimes sub-native, occasionally above native resolution. Occasionally it seems as if we can see super-sampling on the horizontal axis and upscaling on the vertical. It may well be down to the effects of the post-processing pipeline, but overall it doesn't quite look like the 1080p presentation we would expect. Fortunately, the strong design work manages to side-step these issues for the most part. In-surface aliasing isn't an issue and temporal instability is kept to a minimum. Anisotropic filtering is also engaged to a reasonable degree though it only becomes observable on select surfaces such as flowing scarves.

Much to our surprise, certain visual effects have been removed or diminished in this new version of Journey, sapping away just a touch of the visual perfection that came to define the original game. Motion blur, which is beautifully utilised on PS3, has been completely eliminated, which has a small impact on the presentation: speeding along the sun-drenched slopes feels a tad less dramatic without this effect in place. It's likely that Trick Pixels felt that at 60fps, motion blur was no longer a necessity. We disagree and feel that even at higher frame-rates, motion blur can add greatly to the presentation.

This extends to lighting and effects as well. Sand simulation is a critical element in the presentation of the game. Created from a juxtaposition consisting of three height-map layers and textures designed to simulate millions of little 'mirrors', the original design successfully forms the illusion of a vast body of reactive sand stretched out before the player. This glittering sand effect is now reduced significantly. In the original version, you'll notice sparkling grains of sand present throughout many scenes, while the effect is often absent on PS4, resulting in a flatter overall presentation. The sand in general appears to lack the coarseness that is so evident on PS3.

There are also subtle differences in lighting - in one scene, the visible clouds on PS3 are completely obscured by light bloom on PS4. In another, the low-hanging sun peeking around a distant structure in the original game becomes less visible in the PS4 port. These are small details to be sure, but quite why there is a difference at all remains a mystery.

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This may seem like nitpicking really, but the extreme care and attention that originally went into Journey's original creation on PS3 shouldn't be under-estimated. Every single visual effect feels as if it were used with a purpose, nothing ever feels out of place and every second of the game feels hand-crafted. When you start cutting back some of the details, no matter how small they may be, the end result is that Journey's original identity feels somehow eroded. This is a game that many view as a work of interactive art - and tampering with it somehow feels wrong.

Thankfully, there are some genuine improvements in here. Performance-wise, Journey for PS4 now operates at a fluid 60 frames per second, greatly enhancing the sensation of player movement throughout the game. As a rather short experience, we were able to play through the entire game on PS4 enabling us to pass judgement on performance as a whole. By and large, we're looking at a completely stable 60fps, but it isn't quite as flawless as we had anticipated. Three specific areas in the game exhibit very minor slowdown: performance never dips lower than 55fps and while it's unlikely that most players will even notice the issue, it's worth noting its existence nonetheless.

Multiplayer features are handled just as seamlessly as the original. Players weave in and out of the world with nary a pause while the unique method of communication continues to delight. It's not clear if the game shares its player base between the two consoles. While testing on PlayStation 3 we were actually surprised to find people still enjoying the original version. Neither version of the game seemed to exhibit any issues while pairing players together. Journey doesn't exactly push the boundaries of online multiplayer from a technological perspective, but as we've seen all too often this generation, QA issues both big and small can impact on the overall polish of a game.

Journey on PS4 - the Digital Foundry verdict

Taken on its own as a standalone product, Journey on PS4 is an immensely polished experience from top to bottom. The visual design and fluidity of the experience rival the quality you might expect from one of Nintendo's top-tier development teams. The game is simply a joy to play and the faster input response coupled with higher performance really draws you into the world, to the point where a return visit after playing on PS3 remains a remarkable experience. Journey feels like a perfect blend of lofty artistic aspirations combined with the sensibility of classic game design. The purist fan may find some of the minor visual changes disappointing but these differences really only become evident when the two versions are placed side-by-side.

However, this does bring to light an interesting consideration when discussing "games as art" - particularly where Journey is concerned. When film grain is expunged from a Blu-ray release of a classic film there is an outcry. When a smudge on a famous painting is 'fixed', the repercussions are severe. How does this apply to a game? A video game is not a static work and its code can be modified or restored on a whim. This sort of control over a piece is not something other forms of expression really take advantage of. It's something that separates this medium from traditional works of art - almost like a half-step between a copy of a film and a remake.

Perhaps this ties into the concept of ageing. Unlike a painting or a novel, games and technology are inherently connected. A creative work designed on an older computer is limited in ways that modern games are not, yet these limitations sometimes inspire creativity and push creators to new heights. When updating such a work for a new platform, developers must take special care to maintain its original intent. If you look at a title such as Shadow of the Colossus , which has also received an HD re-release, you can see the brilliance in its original design. It utilised the PlayStation 2 in ways that no other developer had. However, it's still a video game meant to be played and its frame-rate was disappointingly sluggish. It's difficult to imagine the artist's intent including such a low frame-rate. As such, a remaster makes a lot of sense - aspects of the design which were inspired by the original hardware remain intact but unintended flaws can be eliminated. It's a dangerous line and one that requires an expertly guided hand. In comparison, it doesn't really feel as if Journey was held back in any detrimental way on its original platform, and by changing numerous visual elements, the revised vision feels as though it has been needlessly compromised to a certain extent.

Ultimately, Journey is still a video game at its heart. It may evoke a feeling or emotions but it's still a game and, as a game, it plays better on PlayStation 4. There are changes to be sure - and clearly not all of them are for the better - but the experience of playing Journey has not diminished. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Some of the changes and cutbacks don't feel right to us, but in the final analysis, Journey on PS4 plays and runs better than the original and that is - perhaps - the most important element to consider.

UPDATE 26/7/15 4:40pm: Developer Tricky Pixels has posted its response to this article in the comments below that's well worth a read. Here's the post in its entirety:

Just to mention a few things here:

• The removal of the motion blur was intentional and carefully considered. The post process motion blur of the original gave a very different feel at 60FPS. It's difficult to describe but it really detracted from the cinematic style - it just really stuck out as an obvious post process effect at 60. The best way I can describe it is being akin to switching on some of the frame processing on an old movie with a modern LED display - the effect started to make Journey feel like a modern racing title and really compromised the original artist vision. Additionally with the increase to 1080p, a global increase in anisotropic filtering and a reduction in texture compression the game gained a new solidity and clarity - a lot of this got lost when re-enabling motion blur, so we stuck with the much more natural blur from POV at 60.
• One of the compromises made in the original PS3 version was the resolution of the sand texturing, which is procedurally generated. For surfaces near or low to the camera the illusion of sand was often broken by texture magnification - so we opted to use some of the extra power available on PS4 to double the resolution of this system. The result is a finer grained surface (like sand!) at the loss of some of the coarseness you sometimes see in the original. You can see see this improvement most clearly in the open sections of the dune surfing section after 'landing' (level 4).
• Early on in the development process we received a bunch of fan emails asking us to keep various glitches and exploits that people use in the game - nearly all of these have been intentionally kept/replicated to make the game as true to the original as possible.
• This was a non-trival re-master - the original PS3 version of Journey is a master-piece in PS3 Cell/SPU programming and utilized all of the power of the original system. Translating all of this to a new CPU (and GPU) was an immense technical challenge. We'd recommend people read around some of the Naughty Dog articles/posts about their experiences in bringing a late generation PS3 title to PS4 - it really is/was a tough job. There were many thousands of hours of time spent making the re-master as faithful as possible.

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Journey Media

JOURNEY | 10 Year Anniversary Trailer

JOURNEY | PC Launch Trailer

Journey Launch Trailer I Coming July 21 I PS4 Exclusive

Critic Reviews for Journey

Three years later, Journey remains one of the most powerful games in recent memory.

Read full review

Metro GameCentral

Less is most definitely more in this beautifully understated co-op adventure, that dares you to make sense of its enigmatic voyage.

Game Informer

An artistic tour de force of limited interactive complexity

Journey has only improved with time, earning its status as one of the best games ever created.

Game Revolution

At the end of the campaign, you'll most likely be surprised to find that the one person who hung out with you was really three, or four, or more. What's more surprising was that seeing all the people I'd come into contact with hits me emotionally. I don't know them, but I 'know' them.

Hobby Consolas

‎If you are one of those who did not play it on PS3, you have before you a unique adventure of its kind, of those that without words says it all. And if you have it, thanks to the Cross-Buy you can enjoy it on PS4 without costs and with visual improvements. The remasters like that, YES.‎

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Firing up Journey on PS4 is a delight. It's so gorgeous and fluid in 1080p and 60 frames-per-second. Even though that's really the only thing different about it, it's a wonderful experience.

‎A beautiful journey, unparalleled in the history of the video game.‎

Industry Coverage

Journey is now available for steam, comes with a free game.

Journey has been released on Steam, and comes with a free game when purchased Read more

Sony Has Announced the Stay At Home Initiative

Sony has announced the Stay At Home Initiative, through which they will give out free games Read more

Journey is Making Its Way to Steam

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Guides & Editorial

The best free-to-play games on PS4 and PS5

There are dozens of hard-to-put-down multiplayer games available on PlayStation Store that you can start playing now without opening your wallet. Here's a guide to the best of them. 

Free-to-play shooters

Finger on the trigger

Grab your arsenal of choice and get competitive with these high-intensity titles that offer a range of solo and team-based modes.

Enter a high-stakes, higher-intensity game show in The Finals, a team-based shooter with next-level destruction physics. Bring down walls, ceilings, and entire buildings to get the better of your rivals.

• Compete for viewers’ hearts and the coins left behind by your defeated opponents and decorate yourself in your personal spoils of war with wild looks, accessories and gadgets.
• Trap and surprise your rivals with a range of tools that you can find around the arena. Gas canisters can send them flying, while garbage cans and flowerpots make for handy melee weapons in a pinch.
• Use ziplines, moving platforms, jump pads and more to move fluidly around the destructible arena, using your imagination to execute amazing and memorable in-game moments.

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Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone is the hugely popular series’ free-to-play take on the battle royale genre , mixing classic Call of Duty gameplay with new features.

• Discover supply boxes and complete contracts to build your arsenal in a Call of Duty experience where you must always keep moving.
• Take over a drivable train, use horizontal ziplines to move around areas at speed, and when you're downed fight your way out of the Gulag to rejoin the action.
• Join a growing global community and experience new weapons, equipment, modes and events added every season.

Apex Legends

This colorful hero shooter has a growing roster of larger-than-life characters battling it out for fame and fortune in the same universe as the Titanfall series.

• Pick from a diverse pool of playable Legends, each with their own unique abilities, and customize their looks and loadouts.
• Battle in 60-player matches as part of a duo or trio, aiming to be the last team standing.
• The universe of Apex Legends continues to evolve, with regular new seasons freshening things up with added modes, events and Legends..

Rogue Company

This third-person shooter casts players as Rogues, part of a vigilante force doing the dirty work that global governments can’t. These Rogues are everywhere and nowhere, and always show up in the nick of time.

• Matches contain varied objectives and last for multiple rounds, between which players can buy and upgrade weapons, equipment and perks.
• Rogue Company supports a variety of game modes including the 4v4 Extraction, the 2v2 Wingman, and the respawns-enabled Strikeout.
• The game can be enjoyed casually or competitively and can be played against fierce but fair AI if preferred. 

Bungie’s universe-spanning action- MMO has attracted million of players to its deep sci-fi storytelling and refined shooter mechanics. Explore the mysteries of the solar system as a Guardian, a defender of the Last City of humanity.

• Choose from one of three distinct Guardian classes: the mighty Titan, the mysterious Warlock, or the speedy and agile Hunter. Each has their own Super abilities.
• Thousands of weapons open millions of loadout options. Work out what stats are best for you, and which skills suit your play style. The perfect arsenal awaits you.
• Join friends on challenging co-op missions and in competitive PvP modes, or experience the game’s ongoing story solo, travelling the stars alone.

Become an unstoppable warrior using your bio-metal Warframe suit in this story-driven action game that merges elements of shooters, stealth games and RPGs. 

• Face off against warring factions in a massive interplanetary system, following the guidance of the mysterious Lotus to develop your Warframe and unlock its true potential – and your own.
• Play ground-based missions with close-quarter skirmishes, or experience shoot-outs in the stars in your own customizable spaceship. 
• Squad up with friends and complete objectives together for bonuses, healing allies and redirecting enemy fire to gain an advantage. In-game matchmaking means that friendly support is just a request away.

Season 11: Super Mega Ultra | Overwatch 2

Gear up for an epic showdown as Ultrawatch goes up against the forces of evil. Dive into the thrilling superhero realm of Season 11’s Premium Battle Pass.

Fortnite Reload | Fortnite

Dive in to an action-packed new Battle Royale mode with classic weapons, classic locations, and classic vibes for you and your squad!

Double Take | Apex Legends

Get ready to raise some chaos and grab an extra teammate for the all-new Quads Takeover, new mind-bending event items, Lifeline’s Prestige Skin “Apex Corruptor”, and more!

Launch | Zenless Zone Zero

Act One, Scene One! The all-new urban fantasy action RPG from the studio behind Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail is out now on PS5.

Free-to-play fantasy games

Explore worlds of wonder

Play as highly customizable characters with intriguing backstories, in colorful open worlds and hero shooter showdowns.

Honkai: Star Rail

From the makers of Genshin Impact, HoYoverse, Honkai: Star Rail is a space fantasy RPG presented in gloriously colorful cel-shaded visuals.

• Board the Astral Express and travel across the galaxy to find new civilizations, form bonds with new friends, and adventure across fantastical worlds.
• Choose your companions to form a four-person team to face up to any threat. The Stellaron in your chest guides you onwards, following the mysterious Aeons across the galaxy.
• With a combat system that’s easy for beginners but offers depth for more experienced players, Honkai: Star Rail regularly delivers explosive and spectacular battles.

Tower of Fantasy

Embark on an epic journey across a post-apocalyptic open world where magical underwater realms meet barren wastelands.

• As a shared-world adventure, players of Tower of Fantasy will encounter other players in the world of Aida, alongside non-player characters. Four players can team up to take on battles and exploration together.
• Take on foes in real-time combat, adding elemental effects to weaken their defences. Simulacrum weapons possess forms of previous owners, adding new abilities.
• Customize your chosen hero and develop your own play style by activating upgrades and abilities as you progress.

Genshin Impact

Explore the massive fantasy land of Teyvat in this open-world adventure that can be enjoyed solo or with up to three friends via console and PC cross-play.

• Fly, swim, climb or simply wander, on or away from the beaten path – how you experience Teyvat is up to you. Follow the storyline and complete quests or enjoy the environment at a relaxed pace, the choice is yours.
• Select from over 50 characters to build your party, each with their own abilities, personalities and combat styles.
• Master the seven elements, including Pyro, Hydro and Cryo, controlling and combining them to aid you in battle and solve puzzles.

Zenless Zone Zero

Step into the shoes of a Proxy, a professional specialized in navigating the dangerous Hollows of New Eridu and the monstrous Ethereals within them, in this action-RPG from the makers of Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail .

• Experience combat that blends accessibility with strategic depth, with intuitive controls for newcomers.
• Explore a colorful post-apocalyptic world filled with unique citizens and diverse neighborhoods.
• Enjoy an immersive urban life experience, where every corner of New Eridu has its own stories and gameplay opportunities.

Overwatch 2

Pick your hero from over 30 varied options in this always-on  team shooter  that supports an array of game modes and maps.

• Play as an attack-soaking Tank, a fearsome-but-fragile Damage or healing and buffing Support character and lend your unique skills to the team to help it succeed.
• Get into the action on one of over 20 maps, each with its own challenges and objectives, and play one of six distinct PvP modes including Push, Control, Capture the Flag and Mystery Heroes.
• Competitive and Unranked options are available, and the game’s seasonal events tie into a growing storyline supported by a series of animated shorts. 

Creative free-to-play games

Your game, your way

Let your imagination run wild in these free-to-play games that encourage you to make your own fun - and to enjoy games and activities made by other players.

The most iconic of all battle royale experiences is exceptionally well supported and offers much more than last-man-standing shootouts.

• Play Battle Royale (classic Fortnite play, with building mechanics) and Zero Build (gunplay only, no structures) modes where the last player standing achieves the coveted Victory Royale.
• Enter LEGO Fortnite to become a Minifigure and challenge yourself in survival mode , lasting the night against all manner of threats, or opt to build in peace using the iconic bricks. 
• Pick up an instrument and rock the crowd in Fortnite Festival , or strap in for high-speed thrills in Rocket Racing . With thousands of player-made islands available, you’ll never run out of places to play. 

Join millions of players and creators in the Rec Room, a place where a multitude of gaming experiences, weird and wonderful, can be found in a welcoming atmosphere.

• Play a vast array of multiplayer games, including user-created content and several Rec Room Originals such as Paintball, Rec Royale (a take on the battle royale formula), 3D Charades and Dodgeball.
• Create your own games using Circuits, Rec Room’s visual programming tool, and use the Maker Pen to draw shapes in 3D. Advanced creations are possible thanks to Rec Room’s partnership with Unity.
• Rec Room supports PlayStation VR and Move controllers (PS4 only), for fully immersive play. Cross-play covers consoles, PC, other VR headsets and mobile devices, so you have many ways to play with friends.

The long-running life-sim series is free to download and play on PlayStation, offering substantial content with optional extras available to purchase. Enjoy endless possibilities as you guide your Sims through life’s highs and lows.

• Create your Sims, giving them unique appearances and personalities. Then unleash your imagination on the most fantastic home, decorating it with wild designs - or keep things minimalist, it's your choice.
• Help your Sims develop relationships with other characters and address their own dreams, aspirations, career choices and personal desires.
• Expand your Sims’ careers, fashion options and furniture by purchasing optional expansions and game packs. 

Family friendly free-to-play games

Get everyone together

Play with friends and family members in these varied and largely violence-free competitive and co-operative experiences.

This colorful party royale game has players compete across a series of slapstick obstacle courses. Overcome the hazards and stay ahead of the other racers to get across the finish line.

• Play solo in competitive free-for-alls and cooperative challenges or invite up to three friends to experience the chaos.
• Compete with friends using cross-play, cross-platform parties, and cross-progression via your Epic Games account.
• Customize your avatar with colors, patterns, costumes and nameplates, and celebrate your wins with a range of emotes.

Rocket League

Compete in this high-octane mix of arcade-style football and vehicular mayhem. Go one-on-one, play in a duo or be one of three across a variety of game modes.

• Enjoy easy-to-play, challenging-to-master gameplay where keeping all your wheels on the ground is a sure way to end up on the losing side. Use your boost, get airborne, and slam home a goal.
• Join free tournaments and compete across seasons, scaling the ranks as you go and earning new rewards. Switch between game modes like Snow Day, Hoops and Rumble to keep the excitement fresh.
• Make your car your own with amazing customization options. Receive in-game items as you complete challenges, browse the shop or build blueprints to unlock premium cosmetic content.

Sky: Children of the Light

This peaceful, social MMORPG comes from the creators of Flower and Journey and allows players to explore a beautiful open world either solo or with friends.

• Explore seven dreamlike realms and discover an engrossing story as you embark on a quest to return lost stars to their homes. New seasons and events deepen the narrative and immerse you further.
• Soar above the clouds, play instruments, meet characters with unique stories, or simply relax amid the bright and uplifting visuals and take everything in at your own pace.
• Create your avatar using a selection of customization options and then level up to unlock items to help you further explore the world of Sky. Meet other players in the realms and team up to seek ancient treasures.

Yu-Gi-Oh!: Master Duel

Play the popular Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game digitally with Master Duel. Enjoy fast-paced matches in stunning graphics, accompanied by a dynamic soundtrack. Duelists around the world are waiting to play.

• All skill levels are welcome, with in-game tutorials providing the basics you need to begin your Yu-Gi-Oh! journey. Add to your beginner deck by collecting new cards, unlocked through play.
• A wide range of tournaments and events await, some of which use special rules and focus on specific card types, drawn from a total of over 10,000 cards.
• Play through Solo Mode to follow the storyline of Yu-Gi-Oh!, which will fill newcomers in on the lore that supports this exciting trading card game.

Discover more great games

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