Hey Civ fans! On February 11, 2025, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is coming to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, empowering you to build the greatest empire the world has ever known! Today, I’m delighted to give you a first look at Civilization VII on PS5, with a UI designed for your controller and features specially made for PlayStation platforms. 

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This revolutionary new entry in the critically acclaimed turn-based strategy series lets you embody an illustrious leader as you endeavor to build an empire that can stand the test of time. As you construct cities to expand your territory, improve your civilization with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations, you’ll progress through three Ages: distinct chapters of human history with their own civs and gameplay mechanics. In a first for the series, you’ll choose your leader and civilization separately, letting you mix-and-match their unique strengths to devise new strategies.

Here’s another franchise first: Civilization VII is coming to PlayStation consoles on the same day as its PC launch, with all the same content available on day one, and is cross-play compatible with other platforms in multiplayer. With Civilization VII, we’re planning to deliver new content simultaneously across PC and consoles, and this unified launch date is the first step in that commitment.

Let’s take a closer look at how Civilization VII plays on PS5, and some of the new features we’ve developed specifically for PlayStation players.

Admire every aspect of your civilization

When we’re designing the graphical style of a new Civilization game, we strive to make the game world feel like a playable museum diorama, or a tabletop strategy game come to life. Instead of simple hexes on a map, we want you to feel like your empire is evolving with every turn you take and every decision you make, and the visual representation of your territory is a huge part of that.

For Civilization VII, a guiding principle for our art team was the idea of ‘readable realism’—pushing the visual fidelity even further to make every tile, building, and unit feel that much more lifelike. As you continue to expand your borders and construct additional buildings and historic Wonders, you’ll notice the

Explore a wild and unrelenting new frontier when Monster Hunter Wilds releases on February 28 on PS5. We recently got to play through the main missions of Chapter 1, going up against colossal enemies including the new monster Quematrice and exploring the Scarlet Forest.

Weapons now come with built-in Equipment Skills

In previous series’ entries, various hunt-aiding skills were primarily granted through armor, talismans, and decorations, which you combined to create your build. However, in Monster Hunter Wilds, even weapons available early in the game come with built-in Equipment Skills tailored to the weapon type. For example, the Great Sword Buster Sword I features Critical Draw, while Bone Blade II offers Focus and Attack Boost. Since this game allows you to switch between two weapons during a hunt, it’s easier to leverage different skill combinations if you bring both a melee and a ranged weapon.

Face off against the Brute Wyvern, Quematrice, and its fiery attacks

The hunter, after escorting the siblings, encounters the Brute Wyvern, Quematrice. This monster is a new addition to Monster Hunter Wilds. They take bites at the hunter once provoked, and also spread a flammable substance ignited by dragging their long tail along the ground. Getting hit by this attack leaves the hunter in a Fireblight state, which causes health to gradually deplete over time. As part of the first main mission, the huntert learns to deal with this ailment by utilizing Nulberries or evading tactfully.

Seamlessly transition from the Windward Plains to the Scarlet Forest

Later in the quest, the hunters head to the Scarlet Forest to investigate Doshagumas. I was amazed that I could ride my Seikret all the way from the plains to the forest without traveling back to base. The area transition was seamless with no loading screens, and it shows you how truly vast and connected the ecosystems are in this game.

The Scarlet Forest is characterized by its towering trees and peculiar red-colored water. Its landscape is entirely different from the sandy deserts and rocky formations of the Windward Plains, offering a refreshing change of scenery. Along the way, I came across creatures not found in the Windward Plains, as well as a hideout inhabited by a Lynian tribe called Wudwuds. I’m particularly excited to explore more of the Scarlet Forest when the game launches.

Beware of the Lala Barina with its scarlet silk and dominating attacks

The first large monster you’ll encounter in the Scarlet Forest is the Temnoceran, Lala Barina. This monster stri

Today, December 3, marks PlayStation’s 30th anniversary. To celebrate, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) hosted the 2024 PlayStation Partner Awards in Japan Asia (hereafter PlayStation Partner Awards), honoring all the incredible games and talented developers who released their games on PlayStation within the Japan/Asia region.

In addition to celebrating the success of the 2024 PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 titles (October 2023 through September 2024), this year’s awards also recognized exceptional games created by Japanese and other Asian developers released on legacy PlayStation platforms over the past 30 years – the original PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation 4. Read on for a rundown of all the games that received awards at this event.

Games are listed in alphabetical order.

Excellence Award

Awarded to the title developed in the Japan/Asia region that have had a consistent and significant impact along with commercial success over the past three years*.

Genshin Impact (HoYoverse)

Grand Award

Awarded to the top three titles developed in the Japan and Asia regions with the highest worldwide sales between October 2023 and September 2024*.

Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science Interactive Technology)
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (FromSoftware, Inc / Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.)
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix Co. Ltd)

Partner Award

Awarded to titles developed in the Japan/Asia region with top-ranked worldwide sales between October 2023 and September 2024*, with particularly noteworthy accomplishments.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 (Capcom Co., Ltd.)
Honkai: Star Rail (HoYoverse)
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Sega)
Persona 3 Reload (Atlus Co., Ltd)
Tekken 8 (Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.)
The First Descendant（Nexon）
Zenless Zone Zero（HoYoverse）

Special Award

Awarded to PS5 titles developed in collaboration with SIE outside the Japan/Asia region that achieved outstanding success within Japan/Asia between October 2023 and September 2024*.

Rise of the Ronin (SIE, developed by Koei Tecmo)
Stellar Blade (SIE, developed by Shift Up)

Users’ Choice Award

Awarded to the top five titles released in the Japan/Asia region between October 2023 and September 2024, selected by user votes in the Japan/Asia region, out of the top 30 titles with the longest total gameplay time.

Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science Interactive Technology)
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix Co. Ltd)
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Sega)
Rise of the Ronin (SIE, developed by Koei Tecmo)
Stellar Blade (SIE, developed by Shift Up)

PlayStation Generations Awards

Awarded to titles chosen by users in the Japan and Asia regions from each PlayStation generation – the original PlayStation, PS2, PSP, PS3, PS Vita, and PS

Gather round, Rivals, and get ready to unleash the thunderous might of Thor, sling around the battlefield as Spider-Man, shoot down your foes with the Punisher and so much more. With 33 heroes and villains to choose from, picking your favorite might prove to be a challenge but fret not as all heroes in Marvel Rivals will be free when it launches on December 6! Explore the many superpowers of this iconic cast and elevate your fighting tactics with their unique team-up abilities. There is precious little time left for you to wishlist Marvel Rivals and get notified when the game launches as it brings its bold cast of heroes and villains to PS5!

Feeling the power of your every battle with the DualSense Wireless Controller

Marvel Rivals brings an immersive superhero combat experience to players, by utilizing the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback technology of the PS5 DualSense wireless controller to deliver immersive sensations. Players will feel the changes in trigger tension and dynamic vibration when different heroes release skills, like the satisfying gunfire of the Punisher’s machine gun, the tension of Hawkeye’s bowstring, and the powerful punches of Hulk. 

Maximized visuals and performance with PS5, and elevated more with PS5 Pro

As a high-intensity multiplayer competitive game, smoothest performance has always been a top priority during development. Marvel Rivals maintains a stable 60 FPS at 1440p resolutions by utilizing Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen Global Illumination and Chaos Destruction technology. The combination of visuals and performance in Marvel Rivals is sure to deliver dynamic visual effects while you engage in epic superhero battles. For players with higher demands for a competitive experience, Marvel Rivals provides High Frame Rate Mode running at up to 120 FPS. It delivers an ultra-smooth gameplay experience with reduced input latency, enhancing responsiveness and control precision.

Thanks to the powerful GPU capabilities and the new PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technology, Marvel Rivals introduces a new Pro Mode on the PS5 Pro. This mode targets a stable 60 FPS and deliver higher 4K resolutions. In addition to Lumen Global Illumination, it also features support Lumen Reflections, offering more immersive and dynamic lighting effects for an enhanced visual experience. PS5 Pro also offers higher resolutions in 120 FPS High Frame Rate Mode. 

PlayStation Plus players, we’ve got something special for you

There’s even more in store for PlayStation Plus users. Ever dreamed of rocking the symbiote’s style on a massive mech? Now you can with a full pack of Venom inspired cosmetics for Peni Parker in her VEN#M suit straight from the com

It’s been a big year for new releases, and today we’re celebrating the best of PlayStation gaming by asking you to cast your vote for your favorites of the year: the PS Blog Game of the Year Awards 2024 polls are now open!

We’re highlighting the exemplary work from studio powerhouses the world over across 19 categories. All help shine a light on the creatives whose hard work and exceptional craft has made this year’s gaming experiences so vibrant: amazing gameplay, memorable characters, exceptional art direction, unforgettable soundtracks, and much more.

The selections in each category are extensive, and you’ve further choice via the write-in option in each to add a title that, for you, best represents that category this year. As ever, the only votes counted in these awards are those cast by you, the players. Those games earning the majority votes by polls close will be recognised with Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum PS Blog trophies when we reveal the results in a few weeks.  

As ever, there are some guidelines regards the categories and their nominees:

• Best PS5 Game category is defined as games that have been newly released this calendar year, rather than previously released titles with new updates.

• As with the majority of the other categories, Best Multiplayer Experience focuses on titles released in 2024. Best Ongoing Game focuses on titles that have seen new, large-scale content or game-changing updates launch over this past year.

• Best Rerelease refers to games that have been upgraded, ported, or remastered but are otherwise similar to their original game.  This category does not include full-scale remakes of older titles, which are eligible in other categories.

• Cut off for inclusion in this year’s nominees list was November 30. Titles releasing after this date aren’t eligible for inclusion, but will be eligible for nomination and voting in next year’s Awards.

• If a title won a Platinum Trophy in the Most Anticipated category any previous year, it won’t be eligible for inclusion this year to allow other titles a chance to shine. As such, Grand Theft Auto VI in The Most Anticipated Game of 2025 and Beyond category – as it earned a Platinum in that category in the 2023’s Awards.

So, cast your vote in the polls below to support your favorite games and developers. Don’t delay though: voting closes next Friday, December 13 at 23.59pm PT. So scroll below and get clicking.

Good luck to all the nominees!

Best New Character

Best Story

Hi everyone! We are happy to announce the Holiday Sale in the Philippines and it will feature discounts on PlayStation 5 (save PHP 4,400), PS VR2 (save PHP 11,800), DualSense wireless controllers (save PHP 800) and select PS5 titles (save up to PHP 2,000). 

Holiday Sale 2024 promotion starts from December 6^th till December 19^th, just in time for holiday gifting season, in participating retailers in the Philippines: https://www.playstation.com/en-ph/local/retailers/. 

Please see below for full details of Holiday Sale 2024 in the Philippines. 

Celebrate three decades of play with PlayStation Store’s 30th Anniversary Sale starting December 2! Race for first place in Gran Turismo 7, endure and survive in The Last of Us Part II, and join everybody’s favorite marsupial in Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. These must-play games join many more, as well as add-ons, in this huge sale*.

We can’t fit every offering in the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Sale here, so browse a selection of titles below, then head to PlayStation Store starting December 2 to find out your regional discount.

30th Anniversary promotions direct from PlayStation

The PlayStation 30th Anniversary promotion extends to hardware and peripherals discounts direct from PlayStation! Be sure to check direct.playstation.com (available in select markets) as offers and promotion dates may vary by region**.

• #BLUD
• A Hat in Time
• A Little to the Left
• A Plague Tale Bundle
• A Way Out
• ABZÛ
• ACE COMBAT™7: SKIES UNKNOWN – TOP GUN: Maverick Edition
• Alaskan Road Truckers: Highway Edition
• Alien: Isolation
• Among The Sleep – Enhanced Edition
• Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
• ANIMAL WELL
• Anno 1800™ Console Edition – Deluxe
• Anthem™: Legion of Dawn Edition
• Ape Escape
• Arcade Paradise VR
• Assassin’s Creed III: Remastered
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Deluxe
• Assassin’s Creed® Freedom Cry
• Assassin’s Creed® IV Black Flag™
• Assassin’s Creed® Mirage Deluxe Edition
• Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey
• Assassin’s Creed® Origins Deluxe Edition
• Assassin’s Creed® Syndicate – Season Pass
• Assassin’s Creed® Unity
• Assetto Corsa
• Assetto Corsa Competizione – 2024 Pack
• Asterix & Obelix XXL3: The Crystal Menhir
• ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission
• Atelier Dusk Trilogy Deluxe Pack
• Atelier Mysterious Trilogy Deluxe Pack
• ATOM RPG
• Attack on Titan
• Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora™ Gold Edition
• Back 4 Blood: Deluxe Edition
• Batman: The Enemy Within – Season Pass
• Batman: The Telltale Series – Season Pass
• Battlefield 4™
• Battlefield™ 1 Revolution
• Battlefield™ Hardline Standard Edition
• Bayonetta
• Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions
• BioShock 2 Remastered
• BioShock Remastered
• Black Desert: Traveler Edition
• Blair Witch Deluxe Edition
• Blair Witch VR Deluxe Edition
• Blasphemous 2
• Bloodborne™: Game of the Year Edition
• Bloons TD 5
• BLUE REFLECTION
• Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus
• Borderlands Legendary Collection
• Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition
• Borderlands: The Handsome Collection
• Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged
• Broken Sword 5 – the Serpent’s Curse
• Bugsnax
• Builder Simulator
• Bulletstorm VR
• Bum Simulator
• Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop
• C-Smash VRS New Dimension
• Call of Cthulhu®
• Call of Duty®: Black Ops 4
• Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War – Cross-Gen Bundle
• Call of Duty®: Black Ops III – Zombies Chronicles Edition
• Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II – Cross-Gen B

November brought cool weather and cool new games. What did you enjoy most about last month’s title lineup? 

How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. 

What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake.

How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. 

Last week, we asked you to gather together your favorite characters and share them bonding using #PSshare #PSblog. Here are this week’s highlights:

SlashingShadow shares a gaggle of bots gathering at the Crash Site in Astro Bot.

call_me_xavii shares the characters of God of War Ragnarök gathering for a meal.

secondcapture shares three masked figures gathering to dance in Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess.

jdbolzan shares the characters of Dave the Diver gathering for a toast.

GabeGSalvatore shares the characters of Death Stranding gathering for a huddle.

Beat_Minerz shares the characters of Red Dead Redemption 2 gathering around a fire. 

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: Stellar Blade x Nier: Automata

SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on December 4, 2024 

Next week, we’re headed back to the world of Stellar Blade to celebrate the newly released Nier: Automata DLC and photo mode! Share moments with Eve donning 2B’s outfit using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Hi everyone. Thank you so much for all of the brilliant reactions to LEGO Horizon Adventures’ launch this past week. We’ve been enjoying all of your comments and content, and on behalf of Guerrilla and Studio Gobo: we really appreciate you!

Of course, we’ve also seen the plethora of comments since the game’s announce back in June asking for a new LEGO set… and some of our eagle-eyed fans already spotted a tease in our recent Building Aloy’s World – Brick by Brick behind-the-scenes video. Surely we couldn’t create a LEGO game without also working together with our friends over at the LEGO Group on something extra special:

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We’re excited to announce the new LEGO Horizon Adventures Aloy & Varl vs. Shell-Walker & Sawtooth playset.

This 768-piece set allows LEGO fans to recreate the iconic adventures of Aloy and her loyal ally Varl. Armed with their trusty bow and spear capable of producing fire, shock or chill attacks, join the duo’s battle in jungle surroundings against two fully jointed machines, Shell-Walker and Sawtooth.

The Shell-Walker has posable legs and arms, opening claws and a detachable cargo pod and energy shield, while the fully articulated Sawtooth has opening jaws, a swivelling torso and a posable neck, head and legs.

The set will be available from March 1, 2025, but you can already pre-order from today via LEGO.com and selected retailers in Singapore and Malaysia. In the meantime, we hope you continue to enjoy LEGO Horizon Adventures — out now across PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.