PlayStation.Blog

Share of the Week: Glowing
Grid Legends launches February 25, new features detailed
Jak and Daxter turns 20 – Reflections from PlayStation Studios and friends
(For Southeast Asia) PlayStation®Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia Winners Announced!
(For Southeast Asia) Genshin Impact Receives PlayStation®Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia GRAND AWARD!
(For Southeast Asia) RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE Receives PlayStation®Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia GRAND AWARD
(For Southeast Asia) eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE Receives PlayStation®Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia GRAND AWARD!
(For Southeast Asia) PlayStation®Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia PARTNER AWARD & SPECIAL AWARD Winners Announced!
After the Fall: the PS VR co-op shooter’s PvP Tundradome detailed
Tribes of Midgard Season 2: Serpent Saga

Posted: 03 Dec 2021 09:00 AM PST

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.

Grid Legends launches February 25, new features detailed

Posted: 03 Dec 2021 08:00 AM PST

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.

Jak and Daxter turns 20 – Reflections from PlayStation Studios and friends

Posted: 03 Dec 2021 07:00 AM PST

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.

(For Southeast Asia) PlayStation®Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia Winners Announced!

Posted: 03 Dec 2021 01:01 AM PST

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

(For Southeast Asia) PlayStation®Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia Winners Announced!

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.

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.

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

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.

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

©創通・サンライズ

(For Southeast Asia) Genshin Impact Receives PlayStation®Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia GRAND AWARD!

Posted: 03 Dec 2021 12:40 AM PST

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.

(For Southeast Asia) RESIDENT EVIL VILLAGE Receives PlayStation®Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia GRAND AWARD

Posted: 03 Dec 2021 12:36 AM PST

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.

(For Southeast Asia) eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE Receives PlayStation®Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia GRAND AWARD!

Posted: 03 Dec 2021 12:31 AM PST

Congratulatory message from former professional soccer player Hisato Sato

eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE

(Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.)

The well established series and its new ambitions

eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE is, as its name suggests, a season update to eFootball PES 2020. Internationally acclaimed and with its popularity not limited to Japan and Asia, this ambitious title that bears eFootball's name is the culmination of the series' accumulated history, which started in 1995, and taking on new challenges.

eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE 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).

Buy eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE from the PlayStation Store

eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE

Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Platform: PlayStation®4
Genre: Soccer
Release date: Thursday, September 17, 2020
Players: 1-4 (up to 22 online players)

eFootball PES 2021 SEASON UPDATE official website

eFootball™ series official Twitter account

※ The release date of games and contents may vary by country/region.
※ The contents are subject to change without prior notice.

All copyrights or trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used under license. ©Konami Digital Entertainment.

(For Southeast Asia) PlayStation®Partner Awards 2021 Japan Asia PARTNER AWARD & SPECIAL AWARD Winners Announced!

Posted: 02 Dec 2021 07:03 PM PST

PARTNER AWARD

■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

■Apex Legends(Electronic Arts Inc | Respawn Entertainment)
■Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin(Edelweiss | Marvelous Inc.)
■Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition(CAPCOM 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.)

A Traditional and Innovative JRPG Masterpiece

Tales of Arise is the latest installment of the popular Tales of action RPG series that has portrayed the adventures and growth of unique and engaging characters in an anime-like style. Tales of Arise, which celebrates the series' 25th anniversary, was developed around the theme of "inheritance and evolution." It was the first title in the series to sell one million copies worldwide almost immediately after its release.

Message from the Recipient

Yusuke Tomizawa
『Tales of』series Brand Manager
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.

Thank you so much for this prestigious award. Tales of Arise marks the 25th anniversary of the series, and as part of its development we took on a variety of challenges to draw new fans and, of course, meet the expectations of current fans. I wish to express my appreciation to not only the staff at BANDAI NAMCO Studios, but the many others who took part in the title's development. It is thanks to you that the result was such an outstanding game. I hope fans will look forward to the new things we plan to try out with the series in the future.

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE

(SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.)

The ultimate remake made even better

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE has created value above and beyond that of a long-awaited remake by taking a new approach and making a game that will delight both long-time fans and newcomers. Notable enhancements to the original remake include Yuffie's new, exciting adventure, improved visual effects that leverage the performance of the PlayStation®5 and better performance.

Message from the Recipient

Yoshinori Kitase
Producer
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE
SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.

Thank you for this wonderful award. FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE was developed as our team's first attempt at a game for the PlayStation®5. I'd like to thank our fans, whose passionate support enabled us to win this award.

FINAL FANTASY XIV

(SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.)

A constantly fresh MMORPG

Since FINAL FANTASY XIVstarted service in 2010, it has received regular updates that add to the world of adventure. Designed to be exciting whenever you start playing, the game has exceeded 22 million players*. It is a constantly evolving MMORPG with a worldwide following.

*Total number of accounts in the five regions of Japan, North America, Europe, China and South Korea. Includes free trial accounts.

Message from the Recipient

Naoki Yoshida
Producer and Director
FINAL FANTASY XIV ONLINE
SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD

It is thanks to our players, the Warriors of Light, that we have received this fantastic award. The latest expansion pack set, Endwalker, brings FINAL FANTASY XIV's saga of Hydaelyn and Zodiark to a conclusion. Of course, this is not the end of the adventure, but a new start for the next ten years. I ask all of you to join us as we move forward one step at a time.

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM BATTLE OPERATION２

(BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.)

A game that will hit the spot with Gundam fans

Mobile Suit GundamBattle Operation２ is a free-to-play battle action game. Players can fight in realistic battlefields with more than 270 mobile suits reproduced in outstanding detail. The game also received the Partner Award last year and boasts strong popularity, having exceeded three million downloads in February 2021.

Message from the Recipients

Koshiro Kasahara
Producer
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.
Masatake Ohta
Director
B.B.STUDIO CO.,LTD.

We are sincerely grateful for this Partner Award. It is because of players around the world, the development staff and everyone else involved with the game that we were able to receive this wonderful award two years in a row. From December 9, 2021, we will be holding the "GBO Winter Festival" event, so we hope both new and old players alike will take advantage of this opportunity to play GBO2. We ask for your continued support as we continue to work to deliver an even better Mobile Suit piloting experience.

NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…

(SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.)

A "version upgrade" that is neither a remake nor a remaster

NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… is an updated version of NieR Replicantwhich was released in April 2010. With newly added elements, such as full voice acting and original scenarios, the game has been designed so both new and current fans can enjoy the game once again.

Message from the Recipients

Yosuke Saito
Producer
SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
Yoko Taro
Creative Director
BUKKORO CO., LTD.
Saki Ito
Director
Toylogic Inc.

We thank everyone who continues to show their support for NieR. We are delighted that what we started as a way to share the series' origin story with those who aren't familiar with it has taken shape in this manner. Following the release of NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… the NieR games fed off of one another, resulting in extremely positive reactions from both fans and newcomers.

SPECIAL AWARD

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)

One of the hottest battle royale games right now

Apex Legends is a free-to-play battle royale first person shooter where "Legends," characters with special abilities, team up for battle and draw on their skills and equipment to be the last squad standing. It was announced in April 2021 that the game had exceeded 100 million players, making it one of the hottest battle royale games right now.

Message from the Recipient

Steven Ferreira
Team Director
Respawn Entertainment

On behalf of the entire Apex Legends team we’re extremely honored
to be accepting the PlayStation Special Award 2021.
To be recognized for this award two years running is a testament to
the incredible support we’ve had from all our amazing fans in Japan.
For that we can’t thank you all enough, your support drives us every season and we couldn’t make the game without it.
So again a big Thank you from the entire Apex Legends team.
We hope you’re all enjoying the latest Season: Escape
and we can’t wait to see your reaction to what’s coming next.
Thanks everyone, we’ll see you all in the game.

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.)

A remarkable fusion of two game genres

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a traditional Japanese-style action RPG that successfully blends exciting action battles with demons and rice farming simulation. After its release it drew the attention of both the video game and rice industries, and has shipped more than one million units*** so far.

Message from the Recipient

Nal
Edelweiss Representative

Thank you for this SPECIAL AWARD. In all honesty, we feel that the reaction to Sakuna is more than we deserve. We believe the response shown is in part thanks to the light-hearted and funny ways in which players spread the word about the game. We are truly grateful for all you have done. We hope you will look forward to the many things we have planned for the future, including collaborative projects involving Sakuna.

Titles developed in the Japan / Asia region with particularly noteworthy activity results** at the release of the PlayStation5.

Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition

(CAPCOM Co., Ltd.)

A breakthrough in stylish action

The stylish action game Devil May Cry 5 is the latest numbered title in the series in eleven years, and has been brought back as a Special Edition　powered-up for the PlayStation5. It breaks new ground in stylish action with evolved graphics, outstanding background music, compelling characters and a story that culminates the series. Earning numerous awards, this game became another hit for the Devil May Cry series, which continues to win the support of players around the world.

Message from the Recipient

Hideaki Itsuno
Director
CAPCOM Co., Ltd.

We are truly honored to have received this SPECIAL AWARD. Everyone involved with the Special Edition worked hard so it could be played from the day the PlayStation®5 was released despite the serious state of the world at the time, and we are gratified that effort has been rewarded in this way. As this year just happens to be the 20th anniversary of the Devil May Cry series, we are preparing several events in celebration, and ask for your continued support.

©創通・サンライズ

After the Fall: the PS VR co-op shooter’s PvP Tundradome detailed

Posted: 02 Dec 2021 09:02 AM PST

Hi everyone! TamTu from the Community team at Vertigo Games here! For After the Fall, we're so close to launch, SO CLOSE! Being able to tell you more about the game is very exciting and we can't wait to see you in the game when it comes out next week on December 9, so let's jump into what this means for PlayStation VR players.

PvP deep dive

Besides the 4-player co-op PvE content that is at the core of After the Fall, we recently unveiled the "Tundradome" arena as an extra activity where players can duke it out in 4v4 Team Deathmatch PVP! We know from experience that playing with friends isn't always peachy (I'm a pretty try-hard casual raider), so having the option to vent out any lingering frustrations is exactly what the Tundradome offers.

Welcome to the Tundradome

Previously part of combat training, the discovery of humans being able to get revived via boosters and prolong their lives has led to a darker form of entertainment.

Whether it's to take out frustration or relieve tensions between Harvest Runners, they are invited to keep their skills sharp against opponents that aren't as predictable as the Snowbreed. If they dare, Runners can settle debates with live ammo in the Tundradome. Harvest Runners from all over Los Angeles gather here to test their skill and for the survivors, combatants and non-combatants alike, these neo-gladiatorial battles are the contact sport of this era.

Broadcast to the different hubs, it is flavored with spectacle, and it is a chance for Harvest Runners to become legends of the arena.

How it works

At launch, After the Fall will launch with 2 Tundradome arenas for fast-paced player-vs-player combat in Team Deathmatch. You can jump into a lobby via the social hub's enlisting machines either solo, where you'll be matchmade with other players, or go in with a pre-made squad of 4 to slay against another team.

Players have full agency on how they want to fill up an 8-player lobby, be it friends-only or random players running around in our 32-player social hub. You will also be able to matchmake against Harvest Runners on other supported platforms via crossplay!

Combat

Players are stripped from their equipment and spawn each match with the basic Service Pistol. It's then up to you to find other weapons around the map before your opponent does, to gain the advantage. Whichever team reaches the elimination target (or has the most eliminations before time runs out) wins the match!

Harvest Runners won't be the only thing you'll run into; Snowbreed will occasionally spawn into the maps as well, so keep your head on a swivel.

The Tundradome will be expanded upon with more modes and maps post-launch, and we hope you'll enjoy jumping into this mode for a change of pace in After the Fall. Your feedback will be incredibly valuable to us to shape up the future of PVP in this game.

So enough about taking out other players, let's check out how After the Fall controls on PlayStation VR to take out your enemies of both the alive and undead kind!

On PlayStation we support the PS VR Aim controller, DualShock 4 controller, and dual PlayStation Move controllers! We wanted to make sure the game is accessible as possible and support anyone's preferred playstyle. Have a look at the control schemes:

Post-launch, we will be tweaking the controls further based on your feedback

Looking to the future

Future updates of After the Fall will certainly involve PlayStation 5 in some form but it's too early for us to share anything about that at this time. As we're preparing for the December 9 launch, we are still all hands on deck to get the current release to go as smoothly as possible. We see your excitement for the title and we're eager to face the frozen apocalypse with you next week.

Until then… stay frosty!

Tribes of Midgard Season 2: Serpent Saga

Posted: 02 Dec 2021 08:00 AM PST

Hello Vikings! Tribes of Midgard Community Manager Sydnee here once again to welcome you to Tribes of Midgard Season 2: the Serpent Saga. The Serpent Saga is the next chapter in our adventure in Midgard, and adds another level of exploration and excitement for players to sink their fangs into.

Oceans and boating and swimming – Oh my!

At launch, many people found out the uncomfortable truth about Vikings in Tribes of Midgard – they weren't exactly strong swimmers. Whether it was a misaimed dodge roll or a jump off a ledge…Tribes of Midgard's Vikings couldn't swim… until now! We heard your drowning cries loud and clear, and have worked hard to implement aquatic exploration for Season 2.

At the launch of Season 2, we're introducing swimming, boating, and an ocean biome full of danger and opportunity. How's it work? Good question! Let's get into the details:

Swimming: You can now explore our ocean biomes, but I wouldn't get overconfident with your swimming ability, as it is limited by your Viking's stamina bar. Make sure you're back on a boat or on the shore (or do like we all do and use a last-ditch teleport to your Village) when your stamina runs out or it's a trip straight to Rán's watery halls. So now your fate is in your hands.
Shipyard: First, you'll have to rebuild your Shipyard, just like you would for the Quarry, Farm, Lumberyard, etc. From there, you'll gain access to boat kits, and be faced with a decision. As you upgrade the Shipyard, you'll gain access to new and sturdier boat kits, all of which will allow you to use your construction screen to build your boat.
Boating: Do you go with Drakkars that will require more materials, but hold more players, have a higher HP, and move faster when every moment is a race against Ragnarök? Or smaller, more nimble Færings… that are flimsier and carry fewer Tribe-mates? The choice is yours!.
Streams are for Streamers, Not For Boating: Not all water is equal in Tribes of Midgard – so take note so that you can only build boats in the ocean, not rivers or ponds (not sure where you'd really go anyway).

However, being on a boat doesn't mean you are invincible either (don't let your Viking pride fool you)!

Beachside Enemies & Combat: The shores of Midgard are full of hazards and creatures that can churn your sturdy ship to splinters before you even make landfall! You can explore the oceans free of fear, but be wary of which shore you wash up on, because not all inhabitants will be waiting with a warm welcome.
Seafarers: If sea exploration doesn't seem like your thing, then you better have someone in your Tribe who can, as the world of Midgard will now be split into the Main Continent and a swath of smaller islands in the Midgardian sea. Vikings and their Village will still spawn on the main continent, with merchants, points of interest, and Saga Boss unlock requirements scattered across these islands.

Don't rune It

To aid in your exploration and impending battles, we've added in five Runes – each of which will randomly drop in-game. We want to have some surprises left after this post, so we'll reveal these Runes closer to launch. I will say this: as with the Runes added for Mid-Saga 1, these will be available during future Sagas. Along with the Runes from launch and Season 1, you'll now have 40 of Runes at your disposal to adapt the game to whatever playstyle best suits you.

SSSSSay my name…

As many of you experienced with Fenrir, the vibrant and luscious world of Midgard is also home to some rather formidable foes that make even the Jötnar look tame. Although we're not ready to reveal all the details surrounding our Serpent Saga boss just yet, you'll find this mythical creature of legend on a desolate island out at sea. For all the Fenrir fans out there, fear not. Fenrir will remain in the game alongside the Saga 2 boss, and you can even attempt to defeat both in one world!

Before you can even set foot in their den (or cave, or, tree house? Who knows), you'll need to unlock the Lair. I won't just tell you how to do it, but I would advise you to get comfortable with your boat!

Yule of Yggdrasil

We're not done piling on the content just yet! Along with the launch of Season 2, we're giving you the gift that keeps on giving – our seasonal Yulidays. For three weeks straight, we'll be dropping festive seasonal content, including a pet, cosmetics, and festive changes to your main menu and village – so make sure you're jumping in each week to collect those Yulidays rewards!

Phew, that was a lot. Along with the content we shared above, Season 2 will also implement a boatload of additional balancing and quality of life updates I'm sure you're bound to appreciate. I don't want to spoil it all for you yet, so keep your eyes peeled for more updates over the coming weeks leading up to Season 2.

A saga for the road

And this is just the beginning for Tribes of Midgard. We've shared our updated roadmap outlining our future content plans – with lots more coming in 2022 as you can see above. So, yes, you're stuck with us for quite some time. :)

Tribes of Midgard Season 2: The Serpent Saga, along with Yulidays, will launch December 14 on PlayStation, and is free to all players. You can purchase Tribes of Midgard from PlayStation Store for $19.99 USD / £15.99, or the Digital Deluxe edition, which includes platform-exclusive cosmetics and pets, for $29.99 USD / £24.99 – both versions come with free seasonal content and seasonal updates.

Friday, December 3, 2021