Commander Fury

Includes the music and costumes of characters from the Yakuza series. In addition to costumes, this special pack also includes newly arranged music from Virtua Fighter 3 and additional stamps to hype up the fights. Play Video Includes: ・650 Character customization items ・19 Character costumes ・19 Yakuza series character costumes ・20 Yakuza series BGM ・20 “Virtua Fighter 3” arranged BGM ・40 Spectator stamps Compete against fighters across the world and create a new Virtua Fighter legend! Details Product： Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown Genre：Fighting Players：1-2 players (Up to 16 online players*) *For Room Matches, if the host creates the room as a spectator, 17 players (1 spectator and up to 16 players) will be allowed. Release：June 1, 2021 Official website：https://virtuafighter5us.sega.com/ ©SEGA View the full article

We’re excited to share our latest trailer for Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, remastered for PS5 and coming to PC for the first time ever in the series. Our upcoming release includes the single-player experiences of the award-winning Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, which features Nathan Drake’s weary return to his old ways and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, a breakout story for antagonist turned ally, Chloe Frazer. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection will be available on PS5 on January 28. For those of you who cannot wait to get your hands on the PC version, stay tuned for more details from us on specs and the upcoming release date. Play Video Of course, experiencing the over-the-top blockbuster action and adventure that both games are renowned for has been greatly improved to compliment and take advantage of the features the PlayStation 5 console is known for so let’s get into just that. Graphics First off, graphic updates. Here’s a look at the options players can select from: Fidelity Mode – For those of you who have a 4K display and want super sharp resolution above all else to enjoy the stunning environments and details the Uncharted series is known for, select Fidelity Mode and play in native 4K resolution with a 30fps target framerate. Performance Mode Performance Mode targets a 60 FPS frame rate. Performance+ Mode – If you’re all about the smoothest gameplay possible and don’t mind a resolution drop, try out our first ever Performance+ Mode which targets 120fps* at a 1080p resolution. *Requires a compatible 120hz display. Features Thanks to the power of the PS5 console, the load time is near instant so you can jump into the action faster than Nate or Chloe can draw their weapons (which, if you’ve seen Chloe take on a band of mercenaries before, is pretty fast). Enjoy Spatial 3D Audio* and know where the shots are coming from and immerse yourself in the ambience of the locations across both games. With the DualSense wireless controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, we’ve fine-tuned the rumble and resistance here: feeling the 4×4 vehicles roll along in your hands or landing a punch and then rope swinging to safety has never been so rewarding. *3D Audio via built-in TV speakers (setup and update to the latest system software required) or analogue/USB stereo headphones. Pricing and Upgrades The Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection will be available physically and digitally for the PS5 console for SGD67.9 / MYR209 / IDR729,000 / THB1,690 / PHP2,490 / VND 1,249,000. You can pre-order digitally here. Players who purchased Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, or Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End & Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Digital Bundle have the option to pay SGD13 / MYR40 / IDR150,000 / THB400 to upgrade to Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Digital Version. The upgrade will be available starting at launch on January 28, 2022. Owners of PS4 disc copies must insert them into the PS5 every time they want to download or play the PS5 digital versions. PS4 game disc owners who buy the PS5 Digital Edition disc-free console will not be able to get the PS5 version for the discounted price. PlayStation Plus members who claimed Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End via their PlayStation Plus subscription are not eligible for the SGD13 / MYR40 / IDR150,000 / THB400 digital PS5 upgrade. Please note that the multiplayer mode included in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy will not be a part of this new collection. PC Update PC players, wishlisting for Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves can be done on the Epic and Steam Stores, and rest assured, we will be revisiting and revealing more pertaining to the PC launch as we head into 2022. We are thrilled to be able to bring both epic adventures to returning and new Uncharted fans. View the full article

There have been many amazing weapons throughout Destiny’s history. Some have achieved notoriety for their effectiveness in combat or their startling beauty. A handful have earned legendary reputations for their unique traits or memorable backstory. Then there’s Gjallarhorn. The Exotic Rocket Launcher, introduced in the original Destiny, has become a hallmark for players since its debut in 2014. As Bungie celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2021, we’re celebrating in the only way we know how: By continuing the party in Destiny 2 with our amazing community. As part of that celebration, we’re bringing back Gjallarhorn with a new Exotic quest that will grant players the opportunity to add the powerful Rocket Launcher to their arsenal. While the Gjallarhorn of Destiny 2 will feel familiar to long-time fans, the team behind its return have included some fun twists that prove that even old… ahem, wolves can be taught new tricks. Recently we caught up with the Destiny development team to learn more about what went into the return of Gjallarhorn. Legacy of Boom “Gjallarhorn was one of the first Exotics that really made you feel overpowered, especially against bosses,” said Bungie designer Brandon, who led the gameplay design on the weapon’s return to Destiny 2. When asked about the legacy of the weapon he added, “It was also incredibly elusive for players that didn’t buy it from Xûr in the early weeks of Destiny.” [Editor’s note: “Why would I waste my heavy slot on an exotic rocket launcher?”] Those who managed to snag Gjallarhorn from the vendor were lucky indeed; most players found it as a rare drop at the end of raids such as Crota’s End or Vault of Glass, among other sources. But even then, it remained elusive and (as such things are wont to be) highly sought after. As Brandon puts it, “Who didn’t scream out loud when they finally got the weapon to drop after months of grinding?” Bungie’s Mark Flieg, a senior artist who worked on the visual effects (VFX) on Gjallarhorn in Destiny 2 as well as on the original weapon in 2014, thinks there are several reasons for its hallowed reputation. “It was one of the first Exotic weapons in the game, meaning there were far fewer other ‘hero assets’ to choose from (since you can only equip one Exotic at a time). It’s a beautiful weapon with a unique and regal look that set it apart from the others; and the ability to clear the playing field with a few shots made it a fun tool in your arsenal.” That ability to clear a room is thanks in no small part to its intrinsic Wolfpack Rounds, where rounds fired splinter into multiple clusters of explosives tracking down their targets. As a result, a fireteam full of Gjally-equipped Guardians in the original Destiny would cause even the staunchest foes to cower in fear. For the weapon’s return in Destiny 2, the team gave the Rocket Launcher some timely updates that make it just as effective. Lead designer Brandon said the goals were to maintain that feeling of being overpowered that the original Gjallarhorn offered, while also giving it a touch up to compete with the Exotic Rocket Launchers found in the modern sandbox. “There was no question that the Wolfpack Rounds perk from the original was a crucial part of the weapon’s identity, so we kept it as the intrinsic perk in Destiny 2,” he said. “We also wanted to update the weapon by adding a new perk called Pack Hunter which would give it even more power when using it in a fireteam.” That new Pack Hunter perk is one of the prime examples of how Bungie can update a weapon for the modern sandbox, while still maintaining a weapon’s original flair. With Pack Hunter, Gjallarhorn extends the Wolfpack Rounds to Guardians in range who are wielding a non-Exotic Rocket Launcher. In addition, the Destiny 2 Gjallarhorn catalyst enhances the perk to create more Wolfpack Rounds when the initial round gets a final blow, and also gives the weapon two rounds in the mag. “The Pack Hunter perk came about when we were thinking about the player experience in the original Destiny,” Brandon said. “Often fireteam leaders would require that everyone in the group have Gjallarhorn equipped for harder content such as raids, much to the dismay of players that didn’t have the weapon yet. I thought it would be fun to turn that idea on its head by making the perk require only a single person to have the weapon equipped while still allowing everyone in the group to ‘have’ Gjallarhorn.” Beneath the Ice The work of bringing Gjallarhorn into the modern age was a careful balance of past and present. As Bungie staff artist Matt Lichy says, “I wanted to try and keep the overall look that was crafted back in Destiny 1 as much as possible but bring it up to the current quality standards that we use now.” Lichy said he referred to the original textures of the weapon (built by former Bungie artist Mark Van Haitsma) and updated it for the modern game’s higher geometry budgets and new PBR (physically-based rendering) shader methods. Though the Destiny 2 Gjallarhorn does have some additional detail to the front of the weapon and its upper cowling, Lichy said the goal was to maintain the iconic look of the original. “Weapon reprisals are what I’d consider ‘iceberg assets,’” said VFX artist Mark Flieg. “The final product that players see represents only a fraction of the work that goes into each one.” So what, then, was the “work hidden beneath the surface?” “My primary focus [was] to drive the design and provide players feedback to their actions. If people are focusing on the VFX after the first few shots, however, I’ve missed my mark – my intention is to help you feel your shots, without taking away from the action.” True to its namesake – the mythical Norse horn blown by Heimdall – Gjallarhorn is more than just its iconic look; it needed to sound great too. Bungie sound designer Noah Sitrin worked on making the wolf howl. “We wanted to make the weapon feel as special and powerful as players remember when they first got ahold of it in D1,” Sitrin said. “We also wanted to distill the weapon’s audio theme and spread it across every sound it makes. This meant leaning heavily into the ornate, wolfish, and larger-than-life qualities of the Gjallarhorn.” While much of Gjallarhorn’s fundamental sounds – such as firing and its associated explosions – are relatively unchanged from the original Destiny, some of the secondary sounds were significantly upgraded. “I started from scratch on secondary sounds, such as reloads, handling, and targeting and packed a lot of character in to make it feel like a finely crafted, but brutal weapon. We used plenty of heavy mechanical elements, and animal growls morphed with synthesized basses to give it that intense, animalistic quality.” If you already think the Wolfpack Rounds perk is cool, just wait until you hear it. Sitrin explained, “A big part of the fun in this new Gjally is being able to share the Wolfpack Round perk with your teammates. Initially, the only way you could tell if the perk was active was the short growly sound that plays when teammates get in range. This indicator gets the job done, but we felt that there was an opportunity to go for some stronger theming here. “We thought, ‘What better way to let you know wolfpack rounds are active than for everyone’s Rocket Launchers to howl as they fire?’ This change was really well received in playtests, and personally made me smile as soon as I got it working, so of course it had to stay.” A labor of love – that’s what the return of Gjallarhorn has been for the entire team at Bungie. We look forward to seeing Guardians enjoy this reprised weapon and watching the videos of all those Wolfpack Rounds creating chaotic beauty across the solar system. Enemies of humanity, consider yourself warned! Bungie’s 30th Anniversary Pack is available now. View the full article

We’re excited to share our latest trailer for Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, remastered for PS5 and coming to PC for the first time ever in the series. Our upcoming release includes the single-player experiences of the award-winning Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, which features Nathan Drake’s weary return to his old ways and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, a breakout story for antagonist turned ally, Chloe Frazer. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection will be available on PS5 on January 28. For those of you who cannot wait to get your hands on the PC version, stay tuned for more details from us on specs and the upcoming release date. Play Video Of course, experiencing the over-the-top blockbuster action and adventure that both games are renowned for has been greatly improved to compliment and take advantage of the features the PlayStation 5 console is known for so let’s get into just that. Graphics First off, graphic updates. Here’s a look at the options players can select from: Fidelity Mode – For those of you who have a 4K display and want super sharp resolution above all else to enjoy the stunning environments and details the Uncharted series is known for, select Fidelity Mode and play in native 4K resolution with a 30fps target framerate. Performance Mode – We carried over the high framerate PS4 patch with Performance Mode, which targets a 60fps frame rate. Performance+ Mode – If you’re all about the smoothest gameplay possible and don’t mind a resolution drop, try out our first ever Performance+ Mode which targets 120fps* at a 1080p resolution. *Requires a compatible 120hz display. Features Thanks to the power of the PS5 console, the load time is near instant so you can jump into the action faster than Nate or Chloe can draw their weapons (which, if you’ve seen Chloe take on a band of mercenaries before, is pretty fast). Enjoy Spatial 3D Audio* and know where the shots are coming from and immerse yourself in the ambience of the locations across both games. With the DualSense wireless controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, we’ve fine-tuned the rumble and resistance here: feeling the 4×4 vehicles roll along in your hands or landing a punch and then rope swinging to safety has never been so rewarding. *3D Audio via built-in TV speakers (setup and update to the latest system software required) or analogue/USB stereo headphones. Pricing and Upgrades The Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection will be available physically and digitally for the PS5 console for USD $49.99/€49.99 MSRP. You can pre-order digitally here. Players who purchased Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, or Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End & Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Digital Bundle have the option to pay $10/€10 to upgrade to Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Digital Version. The upgrade will be available starting at launch on January 28, 2022. Owners of PS4 disc copies must insert them into the PS5 every time they want to download or play the PS5 digital versions. PS4 game disc owners who buy the PS5 Digital Edition disc-free console will not be able to get the PS5 version for the discounted price. PlayStation Plus members who claimed Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End via their PlayStation Plus subscription are not eligible for the $10/€10 digital PS5 upgrade. Please note that the multiplayer mode included in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy will not be a part of this new collection. Uncharted Movie Ticket Offer Between now and February 3, 2022 11:59pm PT, players in select countries can purchase or upgrade to Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection on PS5 via PlayStation Store and receive a voucher code for one standard ticket to see the Uncharted movie in participating theaters starting from February 2022.. Must be a resident of Australia, New Zealand, UK, or US. Age restrictions apply. Ticket code delivered via email on or around Feb. 9, 2022. Full terms here. Stay tuned for offer availability in additional countries. PC Update PC players, wishlisting for Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves can be done on the Epic and Steam Stores, and rest assured, we will be revisiting and revealing more pertaining to the PC launch as we head into 2022. We are thrilled to be able to bring both epic adventures to returning and new Uncharted fans. View the full article

This past weekend (December 3-5) marked the fourth FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championships World Finals and our last on GT Sport before we switch to GT7 next year. This impending change was highlighted as Porsche unveiled their exciting new, all-electric Vision Gran Turismo car for GT7 as part of the Nations Cup broadcast on Sunday. It was also great to see Lewis Hamilton make an appearance to congratulate our 2021 Nations Cup champion. All in all, the World Finals were a great success again – raced and recorded remotely for the second year in succession. The freedom we have in the series makes it fascinating that we can create very different races in different cars for the finals, and those scenes really make an impression. You can also identify the different characters of our competitors. It really struck me at the weekend how high the level of the competitors has become. All of them are so fast, and so it all comes down to very small margins, having the strength to drive 100% for the whole race and, dare I say, a little bit of good luck at times. The weekend started on Friday with the Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup. While not part of the official Championships, close action is always guaranteed in the Toyota GR Yaris and new GR86 cars. The final race around the famous Circuit de la Sarthe saw experienced Japanese driver Tomoaki Yamanaka (yamado_racing38) take victory by a mere four-tenths of a second from last year’s champion, Takuma Miyazono (Kerokkuma_ej20). It was also very pleasing to see another Japanese driver, Rikuto Kobayashi (TX3_tokari71), take third. Not because he is Japanese, but because he is only 16 years old and a really exciting prospect for the years to come. Saturday’s Manufacturer Series World Finals was set to be another really exciting climax to the Series with Team Toyota and Team Mazda tied on points after the World Series events this year. In the end, Mazda could do nothing in the face of three impeccable performances from Team Toyota’s Igor Fraga of Brazil (IOF_RACING17), Coque López of Spain (coqueIopez14) and Japan’s Tomoaki Yamanaka. For Fraga and Yamanaka it was their second Manufacturer Series victory for Toyota, having lifted the Boccioni-inspired trophy in 2019. López started them off with victory in Race 1 on the Autodrome Lago Maggiore – GP II before Yamanaka – starting from the pole secured thanks to the Race 1 victory – drove beautifully and benefited from taking a different tyre strategy to the rest of the field to win on the Tokyo Expressway – East Outer Loop. Igor Fraga has shown himself to be a huge fan of the Nürburgring 24h circuit, and he held his concentration, and the lead, throughout the five laps of the 25.4km track. You can hear on the team radio that these three compete very much as a team and work hard for each other behind the wheel or working on strategy. Team Mazda finished the year second in the points standings having found it hard to come back from a disappointing seventh place in the opening race, despite taking third in Race 2 and second in Race 3. Rounding out the top three was Team Porsche with a single point advantage over fourth-placed Mercedes-Benz. The World Finals of the Nations Cup on Sunday saw 32 competitors representing 18 different countries and territories. Three regional semi-finals would create the 16-driver field for the Grand Final. The Asia-Oceania semi-final played out on an intriguing combination of the Mazda Roadster Touring Car on Australia’s Mount Panorama circuit and produced some extraordinarily tight racing. A thrilling finish saw 2020’s Nations Cup champion Takuma Miyazono (Kerokkuma_ej20) take the race win by three-tenths of a second. Next up it was the turn of the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region that contained three of the top four in the points table, including Italy’s Valerio Gallo who has been in incredible form all year. Only the top six finishers would proceed to the Grand Final and anything was possible in a 15-lap race around Autodromo Nazionale Monza No Chicane in Gran Turismo’s take on a 1980s formula car, the F1500T-A. A daring tyre-strategy from Spain’s Coque López almost paid off, but it was Gallo and his closest rival in the points table, Spaniard Jose Serrano (PR1_JOSETE), who enjoyed a stunning last-lap battle. Gallo took the chequered flag by four-hundredths of a second to add to his lead in the points table. The North, Central and South American semi-final was an incident-packed affair around the Blue Moon Bay Speedway – Infield A in identical Ford GTs. With only five places up for grabs in the Grand Final, another close finish saw Lucas Bonelli (BRA) (TGT_BONELLI) cross the finish line first, followed by Igor Fraga (BRA), Angel Inostroza (CHI) (YASHEAT_Loyrot), Juan Hernandez (GUA) (TX3_Kangreti) and Andrew Brooks (CAN) (PX7-Deafsun), who took the final spot in the Grand Final. The Gran Turismo original Dragon Trail – Seaside circuit was the scene for the Grand Final with another Ford GT car, this time the LM Spec II Test Car, providing the hardware. The top 16 Gran Turismo drivers in the world lined up on the grid. Serrano had done all he could to stay in contention by taking pole position by just three-hundredths of a second from arch-rival Gallo. Gallo enjoyed a strong start, but with different pit stop strategies at play it was a hard one to call. On lap 18 of 22 a mistake by Miyazono allowed Gallo to retake the lead. Incredibly, however, on the penultimate lap, Frenchman Baptiste Beauvois (R8G_TSUTSU), who had started last on the grid after a costly mistake in qualifying, passed Gallo and took the lead on the softer compound of tyre while Gallo had to run to the end on the mediums. A small error allowed Gallo back past on the final lap and he was able to cling on through the last few corners for victory in the race and the Championship. Fourth on track for Serrano secured him second overall in the series. Miyazono’s drive to third in the Grand Final put him third in the points, just ahead of Beauvois, whose inspired drive promoted him to fourth overall. Once again, it was a really exciting World Finals weekend and congratulations to all our Champions who will be honoured during the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony in Paris later this month. I would also like to say a huge thank you to all of the drivers who have taken part this year in the Online Series and the World Series events. View the full article

The PS Blog Game of the Year 2021 Polls are now open! These awards are driven entirely by players’ choice, so cast your vote to nominate your favourite PlayStation games of the past year. All 16 categories recognise the best of PlayStation through 2021, across PS4, PS5 and PS VR to celebrate great games, captivating new characters, fantastic soundtracks, graphical showcases, and much more. As ever, there are a few rules for categories and their nominees. This year, some are new: Every category includes a write-in option in case there’s a title absent that you think should be considered. Due to the polls closure date, some titles aren’t eligible for inclusion. These will be eligible for next year’s nominee selection. As with the majority of the other categories, Best Multiplayer Experience focuses on titles released in 2021, but also recognises multiplayer-centric games that have seen significant new content or game-changing updates over this past year (such as Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker). There are a number of highly anticipated games on the horizon. Some have launch dates, while others have yet to even officially confirm the game’s name. As such, we’ve chosen to keep the selection for the Most Anticipated Game of 2022 and Beyond category to games that have official titles. Best Re-Release is a new category recognising remasters and remakes. Qualifying titles showcase enhancements like quality of life gameplay changes, graphical upgrades, and more. If a title won a Platinum in a category any previous year, it won’t be eligible for inclusion in the same category this year. Polls are live now and close on Monday, December 13 at 11.59pm Pacific Time, so scroll below and get clicking. We’ll collect the results and announce the winners later this month. Good luck to all the nominees! Best New Character Best Story Best Use of the DualSense Wireless Controller Best Multiplayer Experience Best Sports Game Best Accessibility Features Best Graphical Showcase Best Art Direction Best Soundtrack Best Re-Release Independent Game of the Year PS VR Game of the Year PS4 Game of the Year PS5 Game of the Year Most Anticipated Game of 2022 and Beyond Studio of the Year View the full article

Remastered classics, master assassins, and critters with enormous gnashers form December’s PlayStation Now lineup. Relive Liberty City’s 3D debut with Grand Theft Auto III: The Definitive Edition, attempt to save Spira from Sin in Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster, enjoy tactical gun-fu action with puzzler John Wick Hex, then unwind with some arcade hilarity in Spitlings. Let’s take a closer look at each of those games. Grand Theft Auto III: The Definitive Edition Experience the epic open-world adventure that started it all, updated for a new generation with across-the-board enhancements, bringing these beloved worlds to life with all new levels of detail. Enhancements include brilliant new lighting and environmental upgrades with high-resolution textures, increased draw distance, Grand Theft Auto V-style controls including updated Weapon and Radio Station Wheels, updated mini-maps with enhanced navigation allowing players to set waypoints to destinations, updated Trophies, and much more. Grand Theft Auto III: The Definitive Edition is available on PlayStation Now until Monday, January 31. Play Video Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster First released on PS2, relive two of the greatest RPGs of their generation widely acclaimed for their moving stories, endearing characters, and memorable adventures. Final Fantasy X takes you to Spira―a world terrorized by the supernatural monster Sin. The temple of Yevon teaches that the monster is a physical manifestation of mankind’s sins, and following the temple’s teachings and atoning could purge it. Yuna, a young woman from Besaid, is a summoner who embarks on a pilgrimage to defeat this terror. Tidus, a young man from another world, joins her as her guardian. The mysteries revolving around Sin unfold as they set off on a journey to save the world. Final Fantasy X-2 returns to the world of Spira two years after the beginning of the Eternal Calm. Having been shown a mysterious but familiar image in a sphere, Yuna becomes a Sphere Hunter and along with her companions Rikku and Paine, embarks on a quest around the world to find the answers to the mystery within. John Wick Hex Play the professional hitman from the critically acclaimed film franchise in this fast-paced, action-oriented strategy game. John Wick Hex is fight-choreographed chess brought to life as a video game. Featuring a unique blend of strategic time-based action, progress in the main story mode to unlock new weapons, suit options and locations. Each weapon changes up the tactics you’ll use and the manner in which you’ll play. Ammo is finite and realistically simulated, so time your reloads and make the most of weapons you scavenge on the job. Spitlings Spitlings is a chaotic action arcade game for one to four players. It puts you in control of the titular Spitlings: charming rectangular creatures with teeth they can spit at bubbles or use to jump. Your goal is simple, but hard to achieve: Get rid of all the bubbles bouncing around the screen! Enjoy local or online co-op multiplayer, and customise your game mode in Arcade and get spitting! View the full article

Heavenly Bodies is now only a day away from launch! We’re in near disbelief that the time has finally come but are beyond excited to see our game in everyone’s hands. To get everyone prepared for their inevitably troublesome time aboard the station, we’ve prepared a tips and tricks checklist. It’s a must-read for anyone aspiring to be an outstanding cosmonaut. Tips and tricks for mastering Heavenly Bodies Heavenly Bodies has a highly unique physics-based movement system unlike any other game. You must solely use your hands and arms to move your character and perform maintenance tasks in zero-g. Unsurprisingly, some find it tricky, so we’ve got some advice for those struggling to come to grips. Choose your movement style We’ve designed multiple ‘movement styles’ in Heavenly Bodies that present different ways for moving your character. Each offers a different challenge level, and we encourage you to find the one that works for you. Classic: This default style provides a good combination of challenge and fun. You’ll need to keep a firm grip to move around effectively, but we’ve made some exceptions to physical realism which make it easier to spin and ‘swim’ through the air by swinging your arms. Assisted: For players who may appreciate some ease of motion. Simply pointing your hands in the direction you want to travel will effortlessly move the character along. It’s fun… and rather liberating. Newtonian: The ‘physically accurate’ style for those seeking the full zero gravity experience. None of this ‘space swimming’ nonsense. Every action has a punishingly equal and opposite reaction. Hold on! The best way to get the job done is by using your hands. Keeping a firm grip on solid surfaces will help you push and pull your body around and will give you the leverage you need when flicking switches or using tools. Consult the manual When in doubt, the Operations Manual will give you the need-to-knows. Check it out during missions for your next objectives and for key details you won’t want to miss. Plus, it just looks nice. Keep the camera aligned There’s no ‘up’ in space, but you’ll know when you’re upside-down. If you ever find yourself topsy-turvy, hit square to realign the camera with your cosmonaut. Try Grab Toggle and other control options Weightlessness can be taxing on the body, and for extended space missions it’s not unreasonable for fatigue to set in. If you find grabbing/holding too strenuous, try enabling the Grab Toggle option. This will make the grabbing action toggle on and off, as opposed to having to hold it down. This can also be handy when moving objects over a long distance. There are plenty of options to explore in the controls menu, and we encourage you to tune them to find the configuration that works best for you. Bring a friend If the void of space is all too much on your own, try calling on a friend via local co-op. You can also invite them to an online session with PlayStation Share Play. Don’t give up! Professional cosmonauts train for years before taking to the stars, so don’t lose faith! With time and practice you’ll be moving around like the best of them. We hope that you’re now prepared for all the challenges the weightless world will offer when Heavenly Bodies releases tomorrow. See you up above. View the full article

The epic landscapes and ruins of the Forbidden West may be breathtaking, but danger lurks around every turn. Aloy’s enemies, both human and machine, have multiplied since the end of Horizon Zero Dawn. Whether she comes across a convoy of cargo machines and their guardians, a squad of rebel warriors looking for a fight, or a pack of Stalkers cloaked in the forest, the heat of combat will bring new challenges… but also opportunities to turn the tables. Spoiler Alert: Please note this article may contain some spoilers for Horizon Zero Dawn and its storyline. Combat evolved For the team at Guerrilla, one of the goals for Horizon Forbidden West was to significantly evolve the combat design from Horizon Zero Dawn, and to continue to build on the principles of player freedom and choice during encounters in the open world. “Aloy is a smart and agile combatant,” says Charles Perain, Combat Designer. “In Horizon Forbidden West, the tools at her disposal generate a wide array of tactics that allow her to engage with physically stronger opponents — from fully armored humans to very large machines.’ ‘Our changes to combat design stayed true to Aloy’s identity. First, we wanted to add additional depth to gameplay and increase the skill cap for players, through skills like melee combos and Valor Surges. Players who spend some time perfecting their combat skills will find some efficient and stylish ways to dispose of their enemies. Second, we wanted to cater to a variety of playstyles and really focus on freedom of choice. Through new weapons and outfits, which can be upgraded at a workbench, players can adapt their tactics. Finally, we wanted to design challenging enemies that encourage players to use all their abilities and skills. A whole new set of machines as well as advanced human enemies will keep players on their toes throughout the game!” “It was important to us that players feel like Aloy has grown in her skills and confidence coming from her adventures in Horizon Zero Dawn and the Frozen Wilds,” says Richard Oud, Gameplay Animation Director at Guerrilla. “She gained a lot of experience and that needed to show in her animations. Our aim was to show that Aloy is more comfortable traversing her environment – without losing sight of the fact that she’s human, of course, so things don’t always go perfectly for her. The grapple mechanic is a good example of this: she is more agile and resourceful, but at the same time we show the physical struggle when she’s being pulled up on bigger inclines.” The AI team has played a big role in improving the combat system, especially when it comes to increasing the challenge level. Lead AI Programmer Arjen Beij: “We wanted enemies to feel more authentic by improving the fluidity and continuity of motion, like making enemies (and companions) more capable of traversing rugged terrain. The AI in Horizon Zero Dawn already supported some dynamic terrain changes, but we wanted to take this further by adding jumping and climbing as a systemic part of their behavior. As you are playing the game, the AI will be searching for opportunities to take shortcuts, where it previously was a cumbersome detour.’ ‘Another example is that more machines are now capable of swimming and have the ability to dive and chase Aloy underwater. Amphibious enemies can also use jumps to get in and out of the water, so if you are unlucky they will combine this with an attack.” Authentic animation As detailed in a previous blog, the skill tree has been overhauled and restructured, featuring many new abilities that promote and enhance different playstyles or combinations of those. From an animation perspective, increased possibilities for Aloy and her enemies presented some unique challenges for the team. “We extensively research to understand the anatomy and locomotion of a character,” explains Richard. ‘There are lots of differences between animating a human or a machine, however the core pillars for what we wanted to achieve with both were very similar.’ ‘First, we wanted to create clarity for players. Each human class or machine is designed around a clear gameplay function, which the animation team communicates to the player through actions, posture, and motion. We rely on readable silhouettes and behaviors that the player can recognize, so you can anticipate or react to an enemy move. We play around with the timing of those movements to not only create windows of opportunities for the player to strike, block, or run, but also to show some personality traits in the animations themselves.’ ‘Then we have the player and enemy responses. We work closely with the game designers to make sure we end up with fun yet challenging gameplay, whilst maintaining the authenticity of the characters. Enemies usually have some time to show their intention, so the player can respond accordingly and get that fast and (almost) instant response from the input.’ ‘Finally, we look at flow and rhythm for both human and machine enemies to make a combat scenario more interesting. For example, we experiment with different ranges (short or long), multiple directions (forward, sideways, up, etc.), speed and timing (fast or slow strikes) and strength (small or big hits).” Creating clarity and intent in a combat situation was not just a goal for the animation team. “We try to show the state of enemies through acting, posture, and vocalizations,” says Arjen. “The grace period before you are detected is acted out by having the enemy approach you. Enemies will investigate disturbances such as an arrow landing nearby or spotting a machine that you took out silently.’ ‘You can also escape from combat by breaking line of sight and sneaking away. When enemies discover that you are not where they expected you to be, they will start searching. Human enemies team up and search for you as a group, with the team leader giving orders and coordinating the work. Through animation and context-dependent speech, the player will have plenty of cues to figure out their next move!” This can help create opportunities during combat. “There are many ways to efficiently tackle a combat situation in the Forbidden West; how a player chooses to do so has a real impact on the duration of the fight, the risks involved and the cost in resources,” says Charles. “Some players prefer clearing enemies stealthily, while others will use the focus to analyze their opponents and find the best tactics to dispose of them efficiently. Or they might like to go head on with the spear and bow… at their own risk!” Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Bringing battles to life And those combat cues do not only exist in visual form; Guerrilla’s Audio team plays a pivotal role in breathing life into these epic battles. Senior Sound Designer Pinar Temiz explains how machines, unique enemies to the world of Horizon, have to sound just right. “Our main challenge for the machines was to balance the established sonic characteristics from Horizon Zero Dawn with the freshness and complexity of the new surroundings and machine types in the Forbidden West. There are machines with even more expressive animations and world functions in this new frontier — which required even more detailed sound design to match. We had to apply what worked well in the first game and build a sound palette that made each machine come to life, while keeping them unified in their ‘Horizon-ness’.’ ‘Machines have unique audio cues that are designed to help the player distinguish between a melee or a specific ranged attack. Melee attacks are communicated by a distinct sound that builds up towards the impact moment, while ranged attacks are communicated through their weapon specific charge up sounds, or projectile sounds. Especially in encounters that involve multiple machines surrounding the player, these audio cues will help attract player attention towards the most imminent attacker or source of danger, allowing them to respond in time.” Sound Designer Lovisa Bergdahl explains how Adhesive, an elemental effect, required a very hands-on approach to create: “The Adhesive effect starts off liquid, bubbly and gross, and slowly solidifies until it cracks and dissolves. To get that sound right, I spent several days playing with slime and going through the sound library looking for the slimiest and stickiest sounds. There are both my own recordings of stretching rubber, sloshing liquids and slime, as well as sound library assets and sounds my colleagues had recorded. It was simply put, disgusting and fun.” Awe-inspiring Machines with unique abilities Sound isn’t the only thing that makes the machines in the Forbidden West more impressive and threatening than before. “The team did a lot of research to get to the core personality and character traits of an enemy, as we were looking to make the world as authentic and immersive as possible,” Richard explains. “We’d usually start with a full enemy overview, including its intended strengths and weaknesses as well as keywords and traits that could fit the character. Then we’d start studying nature documentaries, feature films, encyclopedias, comic books, concepts art, and more — anything that will help get to the core of the character.’ ‘Once we have that overview, we create a moodboard video to clearly show the teams the intended personality, motions, and behaviors. For example, the fast and agile Clawstrider is very vicious and aggressive to encounter. They’re alert and calculated, which was a lot of fun to animate: we added small personality gestures so the player can understand what they are all about.” Pinar adds: “When the player alerts a machine, intentionally or not, these vocalizations help recognize the mode a machine is in. If a machine is in an idle, non-alert state, you’ll hear much calmer, more sporadic, and stylized natural vocalization to reflect the personality archetype we came up with within their individual sound design.” New enemies to deal with Aloy does not just encounter many threatening machines in the Forbidden West… She also has to deal with an increased number of human enemies, for example with Regalla’s rebels, a faction of the Tenakth tribe. This led Guerrilla to focus on a more in-depth combat system for encounters against humans, including new enemy classes with their own combat behavior and functions. Richard begins: “The goal was to make human combat as deep and challenging as machine combat. This meant extending the combat system and adding more variety in the way you encounter human enemies in the world. We want to give the player the option to engage in their own playstyle, whether they prefer ranged or close combat encounters. Switching between strategies resulted in a lot of transition animations which feel smooth and reactive.” The combat team added a neat new feature to make switching between ranged and close combat feel even more rewarding, according to Charles. “The resonator blast rewards players for using spear combos: whenever Aloy attacks with melee, the resonator in her spear stacks up some energy. This energy can be blasted at the enemy and will stick to them for a short duration. Shooting it with an arrow before it dissipates will deal a huge amount of damage! This mechanic creates a powerful synergy between close combat and ranged combat, encouraging players to transition smoothly between both.” “Since there are a lot of new archetypes in human enemies, we had different Mocap sessions to help bring these characters to life,” Richards tells us. “We worked with an experienced Mocap actor who knew how to deal with heavy stunt work and was a master in portraying different combat styles and personalities. We would explore idle behavior for specific classes, as this would tell us a lot about the kind of choices we were making for the character. For example, with the Champion class, it was key that the character came across as confident and experienced. So, the actor moved calmly, looking for gaps in the opponent’s defense and circling around while not losing eye contact and continuously closing in. It almost felt like a wolf stalking its prey!” That starting point of idle behavior and linking the acting to a certain animal really helped clarify the different personalities and approaches for the team, Richard continues. “The Rebel Soldier enemy behaves a lot like a hyena, which resulted in a rowdy and versatile personality with a lot of uncontrolled and ungraceful motion. The posture is hunched over and from a behavior point of view we think of them as being aggressive in groups, but at the same time hesitant in small numbers. They don’t always exactly behave like this from a combat and AI perspective, but it gave the team a better understanding of the character and helped us define choices in poses, combat attacks and personality.” Gear up for the Forbidden West Despite all the danger that lurks in the Forbidden West, Aloy will have plenty of opportunities to gear up and prepare before facing the worst of foes. It’s up to you to decide how to approach a situation, by using your skills, the surroundings, and the cues that the world gives you. “There are many things players can do to be best prepared for combat,” Charles smiles. “Have Aloy wear the appropriate outfit and weapons, and use the workbench to upgrade them and unlock additional stats, perks and ammo types.’ ‘The scanning mechanic from Horizon Zero Dawn is still in place, and will highlight your opponent’s weaknesses as well as their movement path. Don’t forget to craft potions and keep your berry pouch filled to the brim in case things go awry. And lastly, mix all the new traversal tools with our combat mechanics to create truly spectacular action!” “We hope players are just going to have a lot of fun fighting these enemies,” says Arjen. “Initially outnumbered, but then to find their own solutions to the obstacles that the enemies provide. The machines can be formidable enemies, each with their own pacing and unique attacks, yet it should be possible for players to take control of the situation and win by using different tactics. Melee combat has gotten a significant upgrade and in combination with the resonator blast system allows you to string together some pretty impressive moves.” Richard agrees: “We’re really looking forward to players discovering new machines and all their capabilities. We’ve focused on variety and different gameplay experiences for players to explore as they head into the Forbidden West. We love to see player reactions as they encounter new human enemies and machines, especially really intimidating ones like the Tremortusk!” If you are a returning player, we hope you will feel a sense of familiarity and appreciate the variety and depth that’s been added to all combat and player progression systems, and for new players, this is a chance to enjoy an immersive and challenging system full of different combat encounters.For more information about Horizon Forbidden West, please visit here. View the full article

Last week, we asked you to capture some glowing creations and share them using #PSshare and #PSBlog. From the setting sun, to vivid particle effects, to lunar light, here are this week’s highlights: @mett981 takes aim in Kena: Bridge of Spirits @mellydarkeyes gives Selene a well-earned moment to relax in Returnal @kimchitraveler catches Star-Lord looking blue in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy @MdeavorVP captures a fetching action shot in Infamous First Light @CaptureControl takes a shot in the dark in Control @SindyJ_B prepares to enter fog in Demon’s Souls Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: Sanctuary SUBMIT BY: Wednesday 9 AM PT on December 8 Next week, we’re seeking sanctuary for our Photo Mode creation theme. Share moments that capture the spirit of sanctuary using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. View the full article

What does it feel like to race the greatest cars in the world, on iconic streets and circuits, whilst dodging crashes and jaw-dropping moments around every corner? Well, in just a couple of months’ time, you’ll be able to find out… The entire team here at EA and Codemasters are so excited to announce today that Grid Legends comes to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on February 25, 2022 – and you can pre-order it right now from the PlayStation Store. Head there to get full details on everything coming your way, including bonus content for pre-ordering, and a Deluxe Edition option for more add-ons both on launch day and beyond. Oh, and make sure to Follow Grid Legends on PlayStation as well, to make sure you get all the latest news, gameplay and more content straight to your console, as we share more in the coming weeks. Race in the moment But hey, that’s for the future. We’re ready to give you more details right now on what makes Grid Legends a truly unique racing experience – starting with a simple question. When you play an exciting and enjoyable game, what do you remember most from it? Usually, it’s those unforgettable moments ­– those magical instances where the drama kicks in, the jeopardy amps up, and the element of surprise creates something you want to tell the world about. The beauty of Grid Legends is that it’s designed to deliver those amazing moments race after race, time after time. Of course, you will play your part in those moments – getting behind the wheel of well over 100 of the world’s greatest machines and battling for glory against 21 other drivers, on over 130 stunning routes. Intense pack racing is what the Grid franchise is all about, and Grid Legends takes that up yet another notch. That, though, is just the beginning of how this racer consistently delivers those epic moments. Thanks to hundreds of AI personalities, each with their nuances and differences, and a race choreographer working behind the scenes to conjure up some shocks, you’ll never know what’s coming around the corner in Grid Legends. Be ready to squint through the smoke of an engine blowout right in front of you. Keep an eye on the sky for a car launching into the air after shredding a tire. Look out for aggressive AI personalities intent on getting back ahead of your after you traded paint with them earlier. Everywhere you look in a Grid Legends race, there is unpredictability and drama unfolding. That means more surprises, and more of those unforgettable racing moments. Spectacular racing variety What also helps create those consistent instances of delight is the sheer variety of experiences on offer in Grid Legends. The Codemasters team have used their decades of racing game know-how to pack in more cars, locations, and ways to play than we’ve ever seen from this franchise. Prepare to hit the loud pedal in anything from hypercars to big rigs, single-seaters, drift legends, iconic prototypes, and stadium trucks. Enjoy a wide selection of event types, including the tense Eliminator, electrifying Boost races, and the return of stylish, sideways Drift runs. Hosting those vehicles and events is a massive slate of global locations, ranging from revered real-world raceways like Indianapolis, Suzuka, and Red Bull Ring, unique street circuits like the new London and Moscow routes, or even the new sprawling, high-speed Strada Alpina. Hundreds of curated events across multiple modes will be waiting for you, using eye-catching combinations all of this content – but we didn’t want to stop there. Using Grid Legends’ Race Creator, you can take all this variety and mould it into your very own unique and amazing events. Rip up the rulebook of racing and design something you couldn’t play anywhere else, controlling all the key aspects of an event. Want to put together a true motorsport challenge, putting our fastest GTs in a 50-lap race around Indy? Go for it. Fancy something a little more… out there? How about electric hypercars against big rigs, through the streets of London, in the snow? You got it! Just think of the chaotic and exhilarating moments you’ll be a part of via the Race Creator. We have plenty more to share soon on what’s coming in Grid Legends, including fresh info on the ground-breaking Driven to Glory virtual production story, the massively expanded Career, and new online features that make multiplayer races more thrilling than ever. However, all those features flourish thanks to that action-packed, edge-of-your-seat racing gameplay that you’ll feel every time you lay down rubber on the track. We can’t wait to see you creating and experiencing those racing moments, come February 25. View the full article

Believe it or not, 20 years have passed since a certain courageous teenager and his plucky ottsel sidekick entered our lives. Naughty Dog’s Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy launched on PlayStation 2 on December 3, 2001. True to the “precursor” moniker, this platforming debut predates the duo’s eventual forays into open-world exploration, desert-bound mayhem, and racing exploits. This first game focuses on satisfying platforming, power cell discovery, and the origins of Jak’s story, told with cinematic flair. Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy inhabits a fascinating place within Naughty Dog’s gameography, fitting between the pure platforming goodness of the Crash Bandicoot trilogy on PlayStation and the blockbuster adventures of Nathan Drake in the Uncharted series starting on PS3. Despite this first title’s focus on platforming, it’s impossible to overlook Naughty Dog’s signatures, including fluid character animations, richly detailed worlds, and engaging cinematics. I personally have fond memories of collecting every last power cell and hovering in the fantastical Zoomer vehicle. To mark the anniversary, we’ve invited friends from PlayStation Studios and other third-party studios to reflect on the milestone and share their first memories of jumping (and double-jumping) into the world of Jak and Daxter. “The biggest thing I learned was the challenge of designing an open world game without using load times! We set out from the start to design a world and not levels like we were used to coming from Crash, and we made it a rule that if you could see it you could walk (or boat or fly!) to it and that when you reached a building or cave that you could go inside and that the inside would have to fit within the space that the exterior could support. It wasn’t easy!” – Evan Wells / Co-President / Naughty Dog “I remember being really excited about the physics that had been added to the rope bridge by the programmers, because we had rope bridges on Crash Bandicoot, but they did not have physics on them. We were just jumping up and down on the bridge and marveling about how it reacted to Jak jumping on it.” – Charlotte Francis / Senior Technical Artist / Naughty Dog Concept art for Jak, the courageous primary hero of the franchise. “When Jak & Daxter first came out, it really broke a lot of ground. The graphics were top-of-the-line at the time and it allowed you to play through very large areas without loading screens. On top of that, it was great fun. Jak had a lot of traversal and combat options, and Daxter was the comic relief. The crazy celebration animations when you found a Power Cell were half the reward.” – Darren Chisum/ Engineering Manager/ Bend Studio “Jak and Daxter was one of the games I would play at my grandmother’s house when I was little. I remember that she specifically owned a console just for us when we came over to visit and Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy was one of the games we would play for hours. I will forever remember how hard it was, as a kid, to cross the Volcanic Crater on the A-Grav Zoomer or how hard it was to catch 200 pounds of fish for that darn fisherman! It was the first game that I truly considered a favorite of mine. I even mentioned Jak and Daxter when I was interviewing for Insomniac because it had such a huge impact on my life and love for games. Never thought I’d get the chance to work alongside such an iconic company but it’s truly a dream come true!” – Heather Finley / Quality Assurance Analyst / Insomniac Games “As a kid, I was amazed by the world Naughty Dog created — the humor, the vibrance, the storytelling. Jak and Daxter is a series about best friends overcoming odds, told through incredible cinematics and gameplay. It opened my eyes to the power of narrative and continuity, while taking huge risks that went from the lightheartedness of The Precursor Legacy to the mettle of Jak II. How Naughty Dog extracted this much heart from a vengeful eco-fueled man and a tutorializing shoulder-weasel (errr… Ottsel) is beyond me. But it’s a series that founded lifelong friendships and brought me closer to the PlayStation community.” – Aaron Jason Espinoza / Senior Community Manager / Insomniac Games “I vividly remember Jak and Daxter playing like a great interactive cartoon. The Disney-like animations, the narrative, the funny relationship between the two main protagonists, it all felt like a new barrier had been smashed. And as always with Naughty Dog productions, it looked stunning and played amazingly well too. Looking at it today, I feel this game sits very naturally between Crash Bandicoot and Uncharted. We could say it was the precursor of a great legacy.” – Nicolas Doucet / Studio Director / Team ASOBI Concept art for Daxter, the lovable, wising-cracking ottsel. “I recall seeing the Jak and Daxter demo at E3 2001 and being blown away by it. It was the first time I’d experienced an open world with such an incredible level of fidelity, seamlessness and personality. Then I was told how Andy Gavin and the team had devised their programming language for the game, so it was pretty clear this was going to be a groundbreaking game in many ways, and it was.” – Thomas Puha / Communications Director / Remedy Entertainment “I was blown away by the freshness of the visuals, the attention to detail on the environments, and the animation on the characters. No loading times was a game changer! Even today, we can see the legacy of Jak and Daxter within the more recent titles from Naughty Dog; the attention to detail, ground breaking technology, superb animation, the storytelling, and character development can be traced back to a game that featured a farm boy and his best friend.” – David McDonald / Artist / Firesprite “What amazed me most about the first Jak and Daxter were the characters — they were so beautifully animated, tightly scripted, and funny. Being a character artist and rigger at the time, I was in awe of the amount of detail the animations had and the liveliness they exuded. When set in such an awesome and strangely believable world, the game just set a totally new benchmark for combining storytelling and gameplay.” – Richard Brazier / Senior Technical Animator / Firesprite What moments from Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy stick with you most? Share with us in the comments below. View the full article

PlayStation®Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia The PlayStation Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia will present awards to hit titles sold for the PlayStation, recognizing the creative work of those who made them. This will be the twenty-seventh time for the event to be held since it started as the PlayStation Awards the year after the platform’s birth in 1994. Awardees will be presented with trophies based on the motif of the PlayStation controller’s trademark button icons (△○×□). GRAND AWARD Awarded to the top three titles developed in the Japan / Asia regions with the highest worldwide sales between October 2020 and September 2021*. ■ Genshin(miHoYo) ■ RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE(CAPCOM Co., Ltd.) ■ eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE(Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.) PARTNER AWARD Awarded to titles developed in the Japan / Asia region with top-ranked worldwide sales between October 2020 and September 2021*, with particularly noteworthy activity results**. ■ Tales of ARISE(BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.) ■ FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE(SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.) ■ FINAL FANTASY XIV(SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.) ■ MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM　BATTLE OPERATION2(BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.) ■ NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…(SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.) Special Award Awarded to the following three types of titles: Titles developed by creators from outside the Japan / Asia region that have amassed the highest sales in the Japan / Asia region from October 2020 to September 2021*. ■ Apex Legends(Electronic Arts Inc | Respawn Entertainment) Independent titles developed in the Japan / Asia region that have amassed the highest worldwide sales from October 2020 to September 2021*. ■ Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin(Edelweiss | Marvelous Inc.) Titles developed in the Japan / Asia region with particularly noteworthy activity results** at the release of the PlayStation®5. ■ Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition(CAPCOM Co., Ltd.) * Physical and digital sales through PlayStation®Store are counted in the calculation (including additional content and digital currency sales). ** SIE indices, which include player numbers, also factor into the determination of nominees. GRAND AWARD Play Video Genshin Impact (miHoYo) Step Into a Vast Magical World of Adventure Genshin is a free-to-play open-world RPG where epic adventures await players in the fantasy world of Teyvat. It gained explosive popularity with its beautiful anime-style graphics, expansive and fully explorable map, adventures with captivating characters, and innovative, richly strategic battles. Play Video RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE (CAPCOM Co., Ltd.) A village awash in evil and insanity RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE is the eighth numbered entry in the popular RESIDENT EVIL “survival horror “series. Set in a village inundated by madness, the game portrays a completely new kind of dramatic “survival horror” using a rich variety of fear and compelling characters. Combined with a satisfying volume of play this newest installment in the RESIDENT EVIL series has been praised by fans. Play Video eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE (Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.) A game for all soccer fans eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE is the twenty-fifth title in the popular Pro Evolution Soccer game series, and as its name implies is an update to eFootball PES 2020, the title preceding it, featuring the latest player and club data. This is the second year in a row that the series has received the PlayStation Partner Awards’ GRAND AWARD*. *Last year, eFootball PES 2020 received the GRAND AWARD. PARTNER AWARD ・ SPECIAL AWARD Play Video PARTNER AWARD Tales of ARISE (BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.) Challenge the Fate That Binds You Developed around the theme of “inheritance and evolution,” Tales of Arise, the latest Tales of title, celebrates the series’ 25th anniversary. Created for RPG fans everywhere, the game incorporates evolved visuals that integrate picturesque backgrounds with anime-style characters, lighting and atmosphere, and features a story focused on freedom and diversity, engaging characters and scenarios, together with a unique battle system. FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE (SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.) The world had become so clear, yet they could not hear her cries. FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE is a remake of the seventh installment in the FINAL FANTASY series, FINAL FANTASY VII,which was released for the PlayStation in 1997. FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE is the PlayStation 5 version of REMAKE with newly added elements that include a brand-new story arc featuring Yuffie as the main character, enhanced graphics and Photo Mode. FINAL FANTASY XIV (SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.) Adventure awaits you beyond the horizon FINAL FANTASY XIV is the fourteenth title in the FINAL FANTASY series and the second MMORPG since FINAL FANTASY XI. Enjoy an epic and massive story and assorted content with players from around the world. A title loved for nearly a decade by numerous fans, it also received a PARTNER AWARD last year at PlayStation Partner Awards 2020. MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM BATTLE OPERATION 2 (BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.) Become an ace Gundam pilot! Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2 is a free-to-play battle action game. This sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation and Gundam Battle Operation NEXT, lets players enjoy battling it out on new space maps in addition to the highly popular ground maps of the two previous titles. The highlight of the game is the more than 270 Mobile Suits available for play that has been reproduced in stunning detail. NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… (SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.) A thousand-year lie that would live on for eternity… NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… is an updated version of NieR Replicant, which was released in April 2010. With new elements, such as full voice acting and new scenarios, it tells the story of a young man whose sister is afflicted with an untreatable disease. The game leads into the world of NieR:Automata, which was released in February 2017. SPECIAL AWARD Apex Legends (Electronic Arts Inc | Respawn Entertainment) BEYOND BATTLE ROYALE Apex Legends is a free-to-play battle-royale first person shooter that takes place eighteen years after Titanfall 2. It portrays the popular Apex Games, which take place on the outer edges of the Frontier. Participants search for and recover weapons and supplies on a gradually shrinking battlefield as they defeat opposing teams to become the last one standing and claim victory. Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin (Edelweiss | Marvelous Inc.) Rice is Power! A Japanese-style action RPG where the goddess Sakuna, daughter of a warrior god and harvest goddess, faces off against the demons of Hinoe Island. The game is a brilliant fusion of exhilarating and satisfying side-scrolling battles with the island’s demons and a realistic simulation incorporating Japanese traditions that allows players to try their hand at rice farming. It drew significant interest in both the video game and rice industries and became a massive hit, something that is unusual for an indie game. Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition (CAPCOM Co., Ltd.) Flashier visuals, crazier action Devil May Cry 5 is the fifth title in the series. Received well by many, its innovative and exhilarating gameplay helped it to win numerous awards in 2019. Reborn on the Playstation®5, not only does the Special Edition add support for ray tracing, 3D audio, high resolutions and high framerates, but Vergil, one of the more popular characters in the game, is now playable, allowing players to enjoy this masterpiece of stylish action to the full. Message from Jim I would love to express my respect and gratitude towards all of the partners’ efforts in bringing great games into the world even under these unusual circumstances, and your enthusiasm and love towards games. I would like to ask for your continued support and cooperation as PlayStation® continues to strive to be “The Best Place to Play” that connects all of our creators and players together. Jim Ryan President and CEO, Sony Interactive Entertainment ※ The release date of games and contents may vary by country/region. ※ The contents are subject to change without prior notice. Copyright © 2020 miHoYo All Rights Reserved All copyrights or trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used under license. ©Konami Digital Entertainment. Tales of Arise™ & ©BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. © 1997, 2021 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. CHARACTER DESIGN: TETSUYA NOMURA/ROBERTO FERRARI LOGO ILLUSTRATION: © 1997 YOSHITAKA AMANO © 2010 – 2021 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. LOGO ILLUSTRATION: © 2010 YOSHITAKA AMANO ©創通・サンライズ © 2010, 2021 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. Developed by Toylogic Inc. © 2021 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, the EA logo, Respawn, the Respawn logo, and Apex Legends are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. ©2020 Edelweiss. Licensed to and published by XSEED Games / Marvelous USA, Inc. and Marvelous, Inc. ©CAPCOM CO., LTD. 2019, 2020 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View the full article

Congratulatory message from Guerrilla Games Genshin Impact (miHoYo) One of the best free-to-play titles today Genshin Impact is an open-world RPG where epic adventure awaits in the fantasy world of Teyvat. Even before it was available, the game garnered significant attention with its appealing aesthetic and high-level of quality, becoming a world-wide hit almost immediately after its release. Genshin Impact redefines the level of quality possible with free-to-play games. Genshin Impact was one of the three titles chosen that were developed in the Japan / Asia region with top-ranked worldwide sales between October 2020 and September 2021* *Physical and digital sales through PlayStation®Store are counted in the calculation (including additional content and digital currency sales). Download Genshin Impact from the PlayStation Store Message from the Recipient Wei Liu President of miHoYo It’s a great pleasure meeting all of you again thanks to this opportunity given by the PlayStation Partner Awards. Genshin Impact is our first open-world action RPG and our first entry on the PlayStation platform. Since its launch in September 2020, we have received a lot of valuable feedback and suggestions from our players and created many wonderful memories together. It is the support of our players worldwide that allowed us to reach this point and open up more potential for the future of Genshin Impact. We would like to thank Sony Interactive Entertainment for the Grand Award and for their help, support, and recognition throughout the production and release of Genshin Impact. And winning this award would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of each and every one of our team members. In the future, we look forward to carrying on our stories and adventures with every one of you. Genshin Impact Publisher: miHoYo Platform: PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5 Genre: Open-world Role Playing Game Release date: Available now for PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 Price: Free-to-play (in-game purchases optional) Players: 4 (online) PlayStation.Blog posts related to Genshin Impact Genshin Impact official website Genshin Impact official Twitter account Genshin Impact FAQ page (English) ※ The release date of games and contents may vary by country/region. ※ The contents are subject to change without prior notice. Copyright © 2020 miHoYo All Rights Reserved. View the full article

Congratulatory message from Eiko Kano a well-known fan of the RESIDENT EVIL series RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE (CAPCOM Co., Ltd) Experience the next generation of survival horror RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE is truly the next generation of survival horror game, leveraging the full performance of the PlayStation®5 to create a more immersive experience through both sight and sound, using graphics that seem almost real and true-to-life 3D audio that stirs the player’s fears. VILLAGE breaks new ground in the internationally celebrated RESIDENT EVIL series, with more than five million units shipped* at the end of October 2021. RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE was one of the three titles chosen that were developed in the Japan / Asia region with top-ranked worldwide sales between October 2020 and September 2021** *Includes digital sales. ** Physical and digital sales through PlayStation®Store are counted in the calculation (including additional content and digital currency sales). Buy RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE from the PlayStation Store Message from the Recipient Tsuyoshi Kanda Producer CAPCOM Co., Ltd. On behalf of the development staff and everyone else involved with the project, we are honored and extremely pleased that RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE has received the GRAND AWARD. The development team put its heart and soul into producing a game that would deliver a consuming and immersive next-generation experience based on the concept of desperate. Thanks to the immense response you have shown for the game, we are working hard on additional downloadable content, so please keep an eye out for it. It is our desire to contribute to the further growth of the game industry by making games that are worth playing and ask for your continued support. RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE Publisher: CAPCOM Platform: PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5 Genre: Survival Horror Release date: On sale now Players: 1 PlayStation.Blog posts related to RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE official website RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE official Twitter account ※ The release date of games and contents may vary by country/region. ※ The contents are subject to change without prior notice. ©CAPCOM CO., LTD. 2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View the full article