Big in 2021: Insomniac gives us new details on Rift Apart, the number one reason to upgrade to a PS5 if you haven’t already
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is going to be an adventure unlike any other. Insomniac Games first established this playground for interactive anarchy almost 20 years ago. Now, the studio is beginning the arduous process of picking it apart at the seams, setting the stage for a dimension-hopping excursion that would not have been possible on any previous generation of PlayStation hardware. For new and returning players alike, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will be a PS5 exclusive that you won’t want to miss in 2021.
“The premise is that our long-time heroes are confronted by an evil arch-nemesis who wields a dimension tunnelling device known as the Dimensionator. As often happens in this type of scenario, this damages the fabric of spacetime and our heroes will need to use an evolving arsenal of creative firepower to try to save the universe,” says Marcus Smith, creative director at Insomniac. “We don’t want to give away too much, but players’ jaws will hit the floor when they discover the butler did it… shoot, I said too much.”
If you don’t already own a PS5, you’ll want to have a DualSense controller in your hands by the time Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart releases in early 2021. The game will take two areas of Insomniac’s expertise and elevate them into the next generation: Insomniac’s penchant for forging outrageous weaponry, and its capacity to deliver best-in-class movement mechanics. You’d have seen these proficiencies in action across its impressively diverse back-catalogue, from the Resistance trilogy to Sunset Overdrive, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and its 2016 reimagining of Ratchet & Clank’s first adventure – but Rift Apart is operating on another level entirely.
“Since Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was built from the ground up for PS5, we have access to the broadest palette of techniques and the highest fidelity we’ve ever had for developing weaponry,” says game director Mike Daly. “You can look forward to some new developments that make weapon impact feel absolutely amazing: custom adaptive triggers for each weapon that add new functions to the pull of the trigger itself, advanced VFX that take visual spectacle over the top, haptics to give every impact unique and physical sensations that further allow weapons to express their personality, and our signature creativity for exotic and unexpected weapon concepts is in full force. The weapon experience is shaping up to be incredible.”
While plenty of fan favourite gadgets from Ratchet & Clank’s past arsenal will return, it’s the new weapons that are stealing the spotlight. There’s the Shatterbomb, a concussive deployable that appears to be an upgrade on the Fusion grenade. The Topiary Sprinkler, a variant of Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando’s Miniturret Glove, fires bolts of ice to freeze enemies in place as vines sprout around the crowd control device to shatter encroaching Thugs-4-Less forces. Then there’s the new Burst Pistol and Enforcer Shotgun, two weapons set to take full advantage of the PS5’s unique capabilities.Image 1 of 4
