Today, December 3rd, is a special day for PlayStation fans as it marks the 30th anniversary of this iconic gaming brand. To commemorate this milestone, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) hosted the 2024 PlayStation Partner Awards in Japan Asia. This event celebrated the remarkable achievements of games and developers who have launched their creations on PlayStation platforms throughout the Japan and Asia regions.
This year’s awards didn’t just highlight the success of PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 titles released between October 2023 and September 2024. They also paid homage to exceptional games crafted by talented Japanese and Asian developers over the past three decades, spanning legacy platforms like the original PlayStation, PS2, PSP, PS3, PS Vita, and PS4. Here’s a look at the games that earned accolades at this prestigious event.
The games mentioned below are listed in alphabetical order.
Excellence Award
This accolade is awarded to games developed in Japan or Asia that have consistently made a significant impact and achieved commercial success over the last three years.
Genshin Impact by HoYoverse
Grand Award
Recognizing the top three titles from Japan and Asia with the highest global sales from October 2023 to 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
Celebrating titles from Japan/Asia with top worldwide sales between October 2023 and September 2024, showcasing exceptional achievements.
- 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
This category honors PS5 titles developed in collaboration with SIE outside the Japan/Asia region, which achieved impressive success within these areas during the stipulated period.
- Rise of the Ronin (SIE, developed by Koei Tecmo)
- Stellar Blade (SIE, developed by Shift Up)
Users’ Choice Award
This award highlights the top five games released in the Japan/Asia region, chosen by user votes based on total gameplay time from October 2023 to September 2024.
- 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
These honors are given to fan-favorite titles from each generation of PlayStation, as voted by users in the Japan and Asia regions. All these games were former award recipients at the PlayStation Partner Awards.
- Original PlayStation (1994 onward): Final Fantasy VII (Square Enix Co. Ltd.)
- PlayStation 2 (2000 onward): Final Fantasy X (Square Enix Co. Ltd.)
- PlayStation Portable (2004 onward): Monster Hunter Portable 3rd (Capcom Co., Ltd.)
- PlayStation 3 (2006 onward): Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.)
- PlayStation Vita (2011 onward): Persona 4 Golden (Atlus Co., Ltd)
- PlayStation 4 (2013 onward): Elden Ring (FromSoftware, Inc / Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.)
These awards are selected using SIE’s indicators like player numbers, and the mentioned publishers are those of the Japanese PlayStation Store.
Here’s what some of the "Excellence Award" and "Grand Award" winners had to say to their dedicated players:
Genshin Impact by HoYoverse
"We extend our heartfelt thanks to our players and PlayStation! This new award is a testament to the incredible journey we’ve shared over the past four years, built on cherished memories and a steadfast partnership with PlayStation. While the world of Genshin Impact is teeming with possibilities, our adventure hasn’t ended. This year saw us reach Teyvat’s sixth nation, Natlan. Here, players can partner with Natlan warriors, soar the skies, and uncover the world’s mysteries. We’ll continue to bring fresh content to show our gratitude for your ongoing support." – Dai Wei, Game Designer, HoYoverse
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree by FromSoftware, Inc / Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
"To all the gamers immersing themselves in Elden Ring, thank you. Our mission is to keep bringing thrilling, meaningful games to our fans." – FromSoftware, Inc Elden Ring development team
"Receiving this distinguished award is an honor. Despite a longer wait for Shadow of the Erdtree, we’re thrilled players embraced the expansion’s new story in the Realm of Shadow. Our awards, even after nearly three years since the main game launched, are only possible because our loyal players keep the journey alive in the Lands Between. Thank you for supporting the main game and DLC." – Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. Elden Ring development team
Black Myth: Wukong by Game Science Interactive Technology
"It’s a tremendous honor to earn the Grand Award. This is thanks to the incredible efforts of the Game Science team, supportive partners, and enthusiastic players. The game, inspired by China’s timeless classic ‘Journey to the West,’ combines rich cultural heritage with cutting-edge game development tech. We’re committed to player feedback, tech exploration, and delivering exciting narratives and gameplay." – Feng Ji, Founder & CEO, Game Director, Game Science
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth by Square Enix Co. Ltd
"Being granted the Grand Award for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is an immense honor, much like its predecessor, Final Fantasy VII Remake. I’m deeply thankful to the fans for their ongoing support, making this achievement possible. With the remake trilogy set to conclude in the next installment, the team is working tirelessly on a fitting end. We hope for your continued support." – Naoki Hamaguchi, Director, Square Enix Co. Ltd
