New games, new stages, and new music are just the tip of iceberg in the PixelJunk Eden Encore expansion, available on April 16th for $5.99 at a PlayStation Store near your PlayStation 3. Smart bombs, gravity manipulation, and a special super secret surprise for those who complete the game and collect all of the new spectra also await fans willing to pay a little extra for some more time in the garden.

I'm just amazed that they've managed to actually keep a big secret to themselves all of this time. Luke seems to think that guns might be involved in the secret "completely different way" to play. I am going to guess it's a new blindfolded mode. It sounds crazy but it just might work.

PixelJunk Eden Encore Launching on PSN this Thursday [PlayStation Blog]

Firstly, and most importantly, there will be five new stages introduced. Five brand new stages, with five new backgrounds and even five new songs by the game's music man Baiyon. Not bad for a price of $5.99.

Next, a new feature introduced for Encore (hit three seeds in a row and all the bad guys EXPLODE) will be retroactively patched into the original game, which should make it a bit easier on you.

Finally, one level will introduce a "zero-G item", which when collected will let you float around to your heart's content, with no need to worry about silly little things like gravity.

Oh, and as for the "Big Secret(tm)" teased earlier in the month? They're still keeping mum on it, but did reveal that, if you get through the game and collect all 25 new spectra included, it "will enable you to play the entire game again in a completely different way".

With guns, perhaps?

PixelJunk Eden Encore Details [PlayStation]

Over at the Playstation Bloggers Lounge, Sony has set up a number of interviews for some of their upcoming and current titles.

Q-Games founder and president Dylan Cuthbert will be on hand to talk about PixelJunk Eden Encore. Sucker Punch will also be around to show off some new content for inFamous and Titan Studio will have Fat Princess on hand along with the game's creative director and producer.

Most intriguing, though, is what Insomniac will be there to talk about. The folks behind Resistance 2 will be on hand to discuss Resistance 2 map packs and what's to come for both cooperative play and mulitplayer gaming.

What's on your wish list for the Playstation 3 shooter?