Yakuza is a storied franchise that keeps on giving. Each installment in the series leading to 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon has offered something new and innovative, along with consistently satisfying expansions to the evergrowing story of main characters Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga.

I’m glad to say that after a hands-on preview of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the trend continues. There is almost too much here for Yakuza fans, both new and old, to sink their teeth in and enjoy. This latest entry features a fusion of the series’ original beat-em-up and current turn-based roleplaying style, an island-building mode, and even more charm than ever. 

With all this present and more, I’ve found that the title Infinite Wealth might just describe everything the game offers and how long it may last. Read on for a few highlights revealed during my gameplay session.

Get your walking shoes (and segways) ready

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the first title in the Yakuza series to take our favorite motley crew out of Japan and into new territory. Kasuga and Kiryu’s missions lead them to this new location: Honolulu, Hawaii, where they decide to team up. 

Not only is this locale full of many new sights, sounds, allies, and enemies, but it is the most extensive map ever featured in the Yakuza series. It was so large that during my hours of playing, I wasn’t even able to explore even half the map. There’s no dead air to be found here. Enemies, missions, activities, and lively characters surround each corner. The only decision you have to make is what to tackle first.

Your friendly neighborhood ex-Yakuza

Personality points are nothing new to Like a Dragon, but Infinite Wealth gives a new way to allow Kasuga to move up the ranks. By being a friendly and outgoing tourist, you can constantly grow friendships with Honolulu’s population and boost your personality levels each time.

All it takes is a simple hello. By pressing square when walking by certain marked NPCs, Kasuga will release a welcoming, Helloooo! and get a good response back. Sometimes, these greetings will even unlock a small task like buying a kid a hot dog, which grants Kasuga a more significant personality increase. These increases unlock extra abilities like more skill slots, enhanced resistance to status ailments, better healing, and more guts. Plus, it’s just charming to make Kasuga into an even nicer guy than he already is.

Tourism buffs 

Being a good tourist isn’t limited to just greeting bystanders. Kasuga and the gang eventually find a tourism company called Alo Happy Tours. Specified for Japanese visitors touring Hawaii, Alo Happy Tours is a place where you can pay to jump into activities like surfing, yoga, and fire dancing. But these vacation sessions aren’t just for fun.

Each new skill learned through Happy Tours leads the party to unlock a new job and fighting style. For example, learning to fire dance unlocks an attacking mage style, learning to host gives access to a buffing support job, and learning to be a pop idol lets characters heal and cure allies. And there are so many activities and styles to learn that it felt nearly endless. Not to mention the amount of party combos you can come up with. 

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Happy new year, PlayStation Stars members! We’ve got a fresh array of challenges, campaigns, and collectibles to kickstart your 2024 gaming journey. Let’s dive straight into what’s new this month.

PlayStation & You: Access controller
Available January 2

Available only to active Access controller owners. Create new ways to play with this highly customizable controller kit for PS5 consoles, designed to help those with disabilities play games more comfortably, for longer. To unlock your Access Controller Digital Collectible, play any game on your PS4 or PS5 console.

Campaign Name: Your PlayStation Monthly Games Await | Reward: 50 PlayStation Stars Points
Available January 2

New month, new PlayStation Plus monthly games. Try any one of this month’s games for 50 points.

Campaign Name: Vintage Lineage | Digital Collectible: Retro Lunch Box, First Edition
Available December January 4

Take it back to the days of pixel art gaming. Play any of one of the games listed below to unlock a retro lunch box Digital Collectible.

• The Messenger [PS4]
• Sea of Stars [PS5/PS4]
• Enter the Gungeon [PS4]
• Celeste [PS4]
• Undertale [PS4]
• Shovel Knight Treasure Trove [PS4]

Campaign Name: Wind Down with PlayStation | Digital Collectible: New Year, New Nest
Available January 17

Relax and unwind with some cozy game time. Start any of the games listed below to snag your snow globe Digital Collectible.

• Mail Time [PS5]
• Roki [PS5/PS4]
• OMNO  [PS4]
• Lake [PS5/PS4]

Campaign Name: Brain Games | Digital Collectible: Synaptic Feedback
Available December January 18

Sharpen your mind with these beautiful puzzle games. Each one offers a unique blend of brain-bending puzzles and eye-catching artwork to put your problem-solving skills to the test.

Play any one of these titles to unlock the Synaptic Feedback Digital Collectible.

• Viewfinder [PS5]
• Superliminal [PS5/PS4]
• The Witness [PS4]
• The Talos Principle 2 [PS5]
• Puzzling Places [PS5/PS4]

Stay tuned to PlayStation App for all the latest updates throughout the month. Not a PlayStation Stars member yet? Learn more about PlayStation Stars and join for free here.

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but inside it’s so delightful…” As much as these words are commonly associated with winter snowstorms, inclement weather and the general harshness of the great outdoors are year-long concerns. Be you gripped in the icy embrace of winter or hit with the heat of a summer’s sun, there’s one tried and true method to keep warm or stay cool, and that’s settling in at home with video games by yourself or with friends. And when things outdoors are getting nasty, it’s the comfy games that hit that sweet spot the strongest. Whether you’re curled up on the sofa or bed, with DualSense controller or PlayStation Portal in hand, here’s some suggestions of games to boot up when you need some soothing experiences to battle the dreariness of the outside.

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Stardew Valley

The benchmark for farming and life-sim style games, Stardew Valley is an indie megahit that’s won over the hearts and minds of millions of players across the globe. You’ve inherited a small plot in Pelican Town, part of the titular Stardew Valley, and you’re on a personal quest to turn this scrap of land into a fancy farm. Build, harvest, explore, gather, craft, and maybe even strike up a little bit of romance with your neighbors–it’s a great way to feel the fun and invigoration of a warm spring day any time of the year.

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2023’s coming to a close… but even as we shut the book on an incredible 12 months of gaming, we can look forward to even more delights coming in the year ahead. 2024 promises a generous helping of returning icons and new delights, opening the year with the salvo of The Last of Us II Remastered (Jan 19), Tekken 8 (Jan 26) and Helldivers II (Feb 8).

Between those – and after – even more titles (as well as PS5 accessories) will be there to look forward to. Here are some of the great additions waiting for you on PlayStation beyond 2023’s end.

Note: This is a top-level article highlighting specific launches and is not meant to be comprehensive.

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Tekken 8

It’s time for the world’s strongest to prove themselves once more. 32 characters – returning faces, new favorites – enter the ring of the King of Iron Fist Tournament for the latest entry in the renowned 3D fighting game series. The new Heat mechanic, which lets your roster cancel attacks, extends their offensive options, while the game’s Store mode will delve into the mysteries of fresh competitors such as Reina. The new year promises to pack a punch when Tekken 8 launches January 26.

Release Date: January 26, 2024 | Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment | PS5

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Deep Earth Collection for

Today, we’re happy to reveal the inaugural PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup of 2024. January’s titles of A Plague Tale: Requiem, Evil West and Nobody Saves the World will be available to PlayStation Plus members on Tuesday, January 2 until Monday, February 5. Let’s take a closer look at each game. 

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 A Plague Tale: Requiem | PS5

In this sequel to award-winning adventure, A Plague Tale: Innocence, Amicia and Hugo travel far south to new regions and vibrant cities after escaping their devastated homeland. There, they attempt to start a new life and control Hugo’s curse. But, when Hugo’s powers reawaken, death and destruction return in a flood of devouring rats. Forced to flee once more, the siblings place their hopes in a prophesized island that may hold the key to saving Hugo. Discover the cost of saving those you love in a desperate struggle for survival, overcoming foes and challenges with a variety of weapons, tools and unearthly powers.

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If you recently brought a PlayStation 5 console into your home, you’re in the right place. We know you’re itching to dive straight into PS5’s library of cutting-edge, critically acclaimed titles. There’s a ton of quality titles to recommend, but before you dig in, let’s take a moment to check some of the unique features that make your new PS5 console so special.

This guide is intended as a shortcut to some of the best gaming experiences PS5 has to offer. If you’re looking for a more step-by-step technical guide, head to PlayStation.com.

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Your DualSense controller and you

The first thing you’ll touch after you press the PS5 console’s power button will likely be the DualSense wireless controller. This sleek and ergonomic controller will not only be the way you interact with games, but also has a host of immersive features. Let’s break it down:

Touch pad: In the center of the console is a touchpad. Some games use the touch pad via swiping motions or as a touch-based cursor. More commonly, the touch pad can be pressed the same way you press any other button.

Haptic Feedback: Get absorbed into game worlds with advanced controller sensations. In many games you’ll feel every recoil, bounce, and shake, from subtle to seismic.

Adaptive triggers: The L2 and R2 buttons of the DualSense controller will change tension based on what’s happening in game for unprecedented immersion. Feel the resistance as your character pulls back a bow string or fires a weapon.

Create button: Save your greatest gaming memories, be they epic wins or hilarious fails, with the touch of a button. You can save screenshots, movie clips, and more, and share them online with friends or with the world.

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Hello everyone. The year 2023 has been a standout year for games, as we have been blessed with the release of countless top-notch titles. I hope everyone was able to discover new favorites that blew their minds and engaged them in amazing gaming experiences.

From the array of titles released on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation VR2, I wanted to share 11 indie games that were my personal favorites of 2023.

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A Space for the Unbound

This heartwarming adventure game, born from developers in Indonesia, features vivid graphics that echo the enchanting style of director Makoto Shinkai’s films. It weaves a magical tale about dreams and love surrounding a young boy and girl. Will the two, who were torn apart by an accident, ever find each other again? Play till the end to find out.

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The Legend of Tianding

Set in the early 20th Century during the Japanese rule of Taiwan, there existed a legendary hero known as Tianding, who fought the corrupt elite, took from the wealthy, and saved the common folk. You can enjoy fast-paced, side-scrolling action through beautiful, artistically rendered Taiwanese scenery. The game also features various historical documents of the period, which is very interesting.

On February 2 – Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang will be unleashed into the streets of Metropolis, with the impossible task of defeating the world’s greatest superheroes in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

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In the latest episode of our Suicide Squad Insider video series, we give you an in-depth look at the customization options that allow you to personalize your experience and bring the chaos any way you want.

If Harley Quinn, King Shark, Deadshot, and Captain Boomerang are to have any chance against a corrupted Justice League, they’re going to need a little help from their friends. Although reluctant colleagues might be more accurate, Amanda Waller has forcibly enlisted a whole team of misfits to support, assist, and power up Task Force X, whether they like it or not.

While he is a long way from the mean streets of Gotham, Penguin has still managed to make a name for himself in Metropolis as the authority on anti-Metahuman weaponry. Need a punchier shotgun, a more explosive grenade, a bendier boomerang? Penguin’s got you covered.

Mechanical genius Toyman is a self-confessed Superman super-fan. Which is what makes using his skills to help defeat the Man of Steel even more painful. Still, no time for moral grey areas with a bomb in your neck, which is why Toyman will help the Squad tinker, customize, and optimize their weapons. From bonus critical damage on your sniper rifle, to extra Shield Harvest chances on a tanky build, it’s clear Toyman isn’t playing games.

And the most surprising member of all… Ivy! After Poison Ivy’s demise at the hands of Scarecrow, she has been reborn and captured by Lex Luthor. She then escaped and is now using her knowledge of plants to create elemental weapons for the Squad. Despite having no memories of her past life, she remembers how to make some mean spores, as she can set enemies ablaze, freeze them to the bone, or electrocute an entire horde, guaranteeing critical hits against them.

The polls are closed and your votes counted for the PlayStation Blog Game of the Year 2023. The winners of these awards, spanning 18 categories, have been shaped entirely by player choice. A thank you to everyone who voted and – given the strength of titles released in the past 12 months – were stuck with some difficult decisions to make. And of course, our thanks to all the studios and creatives whose work have helped define PlayStation’s 2023. 

Best New Character 

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Venom | Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

New faces solidified themselves as instant gaming icons in 2023. Baldur’s Gate

You can browse the entire list below, and head to PlayStation Store to find out your regional discount.