It's been another strange, difficult, and yet somehow also brilliant year for video games in 2025. Triple-A releases have been sparse again, compared to the boom times of old, with a great big GTA 6-shaped hole left in the final few months of the year. And yet once again, every gap left by the established order has been filled twice over with something brilliantly new.
For console players, Microsoft Flight Simulator was something to be admired instead of deciphered, a technical curio for hardcore simmers. Then, after 2021’s arrival on Xbox, the series’ first voyage beyond PC – its broader, more casual potential emerged. Now, 12-months after 2024 took flight, MSFS is diverting to Sony’s airspace, introducing its meticulous demands to a new school of aspiring aviators on PS5.
But look, despite Xbox establishing the shift to couch aeronautics, Microsoft Flight Simulator on PlayStation still feels unusual. It’s a living, breathing simulation built for flightsticks and multi-monitor rigs, not sofas and TVs. So, as I taxied toward my first take-off, DualSense in hand, questions hung in the air: can the feel of flight genuinely translate through a television? Will a controller give any real sense of being airborne? Might my living room, even briefly, pass as a cockpit?
"Starting your career, you’ll choose which of the game’s regional airports to use as headquarters."
I admit, at first it felt too novel. Then, lifting off with the ground shrinking beneath me, MSFS’s methodical simulation became unexpectedly transformative. I realised that its casual appeal is not in reading navigation charts or understanding what each switch and gizmo does, it’s in staring at the world beneath you.
Starting your career, you’ll choose which of the game’s regional airports to use as headquarters. I chose an airfield near Gotemba, Japan, in the shadow of Mt. Fuji, figuring the iconic mountain will make an impressive backdrop. Once missions became available, I was directed to Tokyo to shuttle flightseeing passengers over the surrounding scenery. An optional flight plan crossed over Koganei, and I chose it immediately. See, my friend lives there, I don’t know which house, nor have I visited, but it was a sense of wondering which drew me in.
Soaring overhead, I hoped this transcendence would encourage me to study the cockpit, the function of its switches still a mystery. Back at base, awaiting were copious certifications which, as a casual pilot, I initially found overwhelming.
Yet, you don’t make it to Top Gun by flying as a maverick, so I hunker down for more training. MSFS 2024 had already done a decent job of orienteering around the Cessna 172 Skyhawk, walking me through the starter plane’s pre-flight checks, and teaching me the fundamentals – airspeed management, executing pitch, rolling, following traffic patterns, and more. Even before my trip over Koganai, I could already take-off and land with conviction.
"Once I became proficient enough to keep the aircraft consistently stable and on-route, the sky opened up."
Passing the next certification ensures I now get paid for ferrying passengers, with lessons covering trim adjustment, a system enabling stable altitude without constant thumbstick pressure – engine RPM monitoring, and landmark navigation.
By this point I’d already noticed a handful of gameplay imperfections, which I’ll leave in holding pattern for now, but during these lessons I found engaging the engine RPM unintuitive. I pinpointed missing HUD info as the origin of my stagnation. See, beyond the cockpit’s diegetic display, the default on-screen HUD’s icons – detailing airspeed, fuel load, altitude, et cetera – don’t include RPM. To correctly follow my instructor’s command of maintaining 1,700 RPM, I zeroed-in on the top-left corner of my cockpit’s display. The number is too small to read from the sofa without switching camera view, steepening my learning curve while highlighting an accessibility oversight.
I abandoned my gaze on the horizon to check the throttle lever, instantly faltering my altitude. So, as a workaround, I started listening to the engine, developing intuition, perhaps; but almost-certainly against the game’s intention. And, a deeper problem: I could only hear the engine at top revs – an issue I’ll get to later.
Yet, despite this, I reached a critical turning point. Once I became proficient enough to keep the aircraft consistently stable and on-route, the sky opened up. Cruising over the Arizonian expanse became meditative; I was now able to absorb the game’s gorgeous scenery and lighting. Rolling my Cessna toward Sedona, sunset cascaded through the cockpit with canyons below decorated by sparkling lens flares.
Later activities saw me passing over German forests as needlesharp rain beat the Cessna’s wind-shield. I streamed over the Great Barrier Reef’s azure blue, hovered beside the Pyramids during golden hour, and searched for wolves at daybreak over Northern Spain – each excursion visually engrossing. Now the shaky flying of my early career is behind me, the game’s promise of flying anywhere became a tangible, transportive reality.
To answer the first of those earlier questions, can the feel of flight genuinely translate through a TV? – I’d say it can. Visually, the game looks remarkably accomplished given it is drawing detail from the cloud, though frequent texture pop-in and distant low-resolution curtail its implementation. It can take a while to get to the point where you’re navigating calmly, long loading times on the base PS5 notwithstanding. But once you’re cruising, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 captivates beyond the code of its simulation.
Now, to answer the next question. Can the DualSense give tangible airborne feeling? I’ll need to go over those imperfections alluded to earlier.
"3D audio exists but isn’t deeply implemented. Worse, headphones expose an uneven sound mix that’s not as perceptible through TV speakers."
I’ve never flown a plane in real-life, but I imagine the nuance required to maintain smooth transit replicates well in MSFS 2024. It’s all thumbstick micro-adjustments and tentative trigger presses; being cautious not to over-correct a wayward trajectory, rolling at 20 degree precision, gently adapting RPM, carefully adjusting trim percentage – as a player now chasing piloting perfection, managing these systems became as crucial to my engagement as scanning the scenery. Yet, the game’s failure to fully embrace the DualSense’s sensory potential leaves my pursuit of flawless flying feeling oddly disjointed
Haptic feedback does give runway tarmac a tactile feel, which is more noticeable if you accidentally veer off the strip onto gravel or grass. Yet, its complete non-existence in-flight, save for subtle flap or landing gear clunks, is jarring. Rudder resistance is felt through the triggers, but its application is limited in scope. You don’t use them much unless your plane naturally sways left or right. Helicopters use the triggers to steer, but their resistance is lighter.
Better implemented are ATC instructions which cut through the DualSense’s on-board speakers, while cockpit warnings flash through the light-ribbon. 3D audio exists but isn’t deeply implemented. Worse, headphones expose an uneven sound mix that’s not as perceptible through TV speakers.
During cruising speed, the engine’s hum becomes a whisper, while robotic passengers perforate my eardrums with their non-plussed musings. Sound levels can be tweaked, of course, but there’re no adjustments which encourage more audible engine noise. Combined with inert haptics, the sensory rush of flight never truly materialises. Whether gliding through clement airstreams or wrestling with turbulence, tactile reactions don’t emerge. MSFS 24 is a simulation which nails the visuals, but forgets the visceral.
You could argue that a controller isn’t the “correct” way to fly. Perhaps the tactility missing in the DualSense will be felt through a peripheral flightstick. Now, the only peripheral currently supported on PlayStation is the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS 4, and despite its modest pricepoint, I’m going to guess that most PS5 players don’t own one. So, MSFS 2024 on PS5 must do more to embrace DualSense’s immersive potential. The experience isn’t killed outright, but its underutilisation undersells the overall experience.
I’ve noticed a handful of other bugs too: my aircraft spawned 3ft above ground, crashing before the instructor finished her briefing; dark shadows surrounded my avatar during a snowy photoshoot; ATC operatives talked over each other, delivering a vocal mashup impossible to decode; a game-ending crash halted my first-ever mission. The most confidence shattering was a black screen appearing mid-way through my first flight, pitch dark for a minute before resuming. I’m unsure if this was by design, but it lingered on my mind.
"During cruising speed, the engine’s hum becomes a whisper, while robotic passengers perforate my eardrums with their non-plussed musings."
Yet, as broad as these irritations are, they’re infrequent enough not to be deal-breakers. On PS5, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is imperfect, occasionally obtuse, and sometimes rough around the edges. It’s also the closest PlayStation players have ever come to the real sensation of flight. Did my living room transform into a metaphorical cockpit? Partially, DualSense’s underwhelming implementation can’t replicate a HOTAS setup, with some readability issues genuinely holding back the experience. Yet, the world, the weather system, and the slowly blossoming sense of mastery make MSFS 2024 utterly absorbing.
It’s more than a technical curio now. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS5 is a journey, one that nudges you persistently, whether you’re casual or veteran, toward your own piloting zenith.
This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
Out tomorrow at midnight PST sharp, Gran Turismo 7’s Spec 3 update promises to be Polyphony Digital’s biggest to date for the racing sim. Thanks to a new PlayStation Blog post, we’ve finally learned the two new tracks and eight vehicles (if they weren’t obvious enough in the trailer) that are coming alongside new World Circuits, Extra Menus, and more.
First up, the new vehicles, which include the Ferrari 296 GT3 ’23 and 296 GTB ’22, the FIAT Panda 30 CL ’85, the Gran Turismo F3500-B, the Mine’s BNR34 GT-R N1 base, the Mitsubishi FTO GP Version R ’97, the Polestar 5 Performance ’26, and the Renault Espace F1 ’95. You’ll be able to take these for a spin on Yas Marina Circuit and Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
Both have new events to partake in, including:
The Collector Level has been raised from 50 to 75, and as you’ve probably surmised already, that means new Extra Menus in GT Cafe. Check out the full list below, which includes some world-famous brands:
This is all in addition to Weekly Challenges, which include limited-time online events; the Data Logger for checking their racing lines, speed, brake inputs, and more in real-time during Time Trial, Licenses and Circuit Experience; and Dunlop Tires.
As for the paid Power Pack, which goes live on the same day, it will retail for $29.99. Considering it includes five million Credits worth more than $40, you can truly keep the change. Polyphony also confirmed that you can purchase “six unique cars specifically tuned by Gran Turismo” by collecting Stars from DLC races.
Today, December 3 – Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) held the PlayStation Partner Awards Japan/Asia to celebrate some of the best PlayStation 5 titles that debuted through the year, made by creators in Japan and Asia. Read on for a rundown of all the games that received awards at this event.
For the 2025 PlayStation Partner Awards, the traditional Users’ Choice Awards, Partner Awards, and Grand Awards returned, alongside the Accessibility Award and the brand-new PlayStation Indies Award. The Accessibility and PlayStation Indies awards celebrate the commitment to diverse play made by creators, as well as recognizing their creativity, development skill, and appreciation from PlayStation players.
PlayStation Partner winners were honored by long-standing members of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s executive team, including President and CEO of SIE, Hideaki Nishino, alongside the Senior Vice Presidents of Global Partner Development & Relations division, Pete Royea, Kiichiro Urata, and Phil Rosenberg. The PlayStation Partner Awards remains a celebration that honors the creativity of talented developers, and celebrates the amazing variety of hit titles that PlayStation communities in Japan and Asia enjoyed throughout the year.
Awarded to the top five titles developed in the Japan / Asia regions with the highest worldwide sales between October 2024 and September 2025*.
| Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| eFootball | Konami |
| Marvel Rivals | NetEase Games |
| Monster Hunter Wilds | Capcom |
| Zenless Zone Zero | HoYoverse |
Awarded to titles developed in the Japan / Asia region with top-ranked worldwide sales between October 2024 and September 2025**, with particularly noteworthy commercial accomplishments.
| Elden Ring Nightreign | FromSoftware, Inc. / Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater | Konami |
| Path of Exile II | Grinding Gear Games |
| Silent Hill f | Konami |
| Wuthering Waves | Kuro Games |
Awarded to titles developed by Japan / Asia studios that launched in 2025, notable for the high quality and development effort of their accessible gameplay implementations, including alternative control schemes, colorblind modes, audio description, and more.
| Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii | Sega |
| Monster Hunter Wilds | Capcom |
A new PlayStation Partner Awards category, recognizing the variety and creativity of independent game creators and studios working in Japan/Asia. The title list was curated from 12 outstanding indie titles produced in Japan and the broader Asia region, then voted on by PlayStation players. Said John Vega, Global Director of the Indies team: “It is an honor to introduce the inaugural PlayStation Indies Award chosen by you, the players. This award recognizes some of the awesome Indie titles that have released on PlayStation over the past year from our partners across Japan and Asia and celebrates their impressive creativity. PlayStation loves Indies!”
| Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist | Binary Haze Interactive |
| Nine Sols | Red Candle Games |
| Urban Myth Dissolution Center | Shueisha Games |
Awarded to the top five titles released in the Japan / Asia region between October 2024 and September 2025, selected by user votes in the Japan/Asia region, out of the top 30 titles with the longest total game play time.
| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Kepler Interactive |
| Dynasty Warriors: Origins | Koei Tecmo |
| Monster Hunter Wilds | Capcom |
| Silent Hill f | Konami |
| Wuthering Waves | Kuro Games |
* Calculated based on physical sales as well as digital sales made through PlayStation Store (including additional content and in-game currency).
** SIE’s own indicators, such as player numbers, are also factored into the selection of nominees. Listed publishers are that of the Japanese PlayStation Store.
Here are messages from the recipients of the “Grand Award” to all the players.
(Bandai Namco Entertainment)
“We are truly honored to receive this distinguished award.
As the first new installment in the series in 17 years, this title was made possible thanks to the incredible support of our many fans. This award is the result of the passion and enthusiasm everyone has continued to bring to the game, even after its release. We would like to take this opportunity to once again extend our sincere gratitude. Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue working on future developments.”
– DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Team
(Konami)
“We are deeply honored to receive the prestigious GRAND AWARD. From the release of the very first Winning Eleven on PlayStation to its rebranding as eFootball, the series is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. We would like to extend our gratitude to all the players around the world who have continued to support us. With the world’s biggest football event approaching next year, we expect an even more exciting season ahead. Our development and operations teams will continue to work together to deliver an even more passionate and enjoyable football experience. Thank you for your continued support of eFootball.”
– Konami
General Producer
Junichi Taya
(NetEase Games）
“We are truly honored that Marvel Rivals has received this recognition. Our heartfelt thanks go to PlayStation for their tremendous support, to our team and Marvel Games for their ongoing efforts, to our partners for their hard work, and to the millions of players who have continued to support our game and show us love.
In the past year, we have introduced over 40 superheroes to players through Marvel Rivals. Moving forward, we will strive to deliver even richer content. We look forward to players continuing to explore this diverse Marvel universe, stepping into the roles of superheroes who save the world, and enjoying the fast-paced battles.
Once again, we express our gratitude to PlayStation and our players for their unwavering support! We will closely monitor player feedback and are committed to providing even more exciting content in the future!”
– NetEase Games
Lead Producer
Weicong Wu
(CAPCOM)
“Our entire team is truly honored to receive both the GRAND AWARD and the ACCESSIBILITY AWARD, as well as a nomination for the USERS’ CHOICE AWARD.
This game was developed with the goal of creating a deeply immersive hunting-action experience that could be enjoyed by both longtime fans of the series and newcomers. Based on player feedback, we are continually refining and updating the game to deliver an even more comfortable and exciting hunting experience.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has played Monster Hunter Wilds, and we look forward to your continued support.”
– CAPCOM
Producer
Ryozo Tsujimoto
Director
Yuya Tokuda
(HoYoverse)
“We are deeply honored that Zenless Zone Zero has received the GRAND AWARD for the PlayStation® Partner Awards 2025, and we would like to sincerely thank players worldwide and PlayStation for their support of Zenless Zone Zero, who have witnessed the growth and evolution of Zenless Zone Zero over the course of a little over a year. This award is both a testament to and recognition of the journey we’ve shared together, and it will continue to inspire us to create even better gaming experiences with passion, dedication, and sincerity.
The adventure in New Eridu continues onwards, and we will continue to be driven by your support and feedback to work harder to shape the unique charm of Zenless Zone Zero — pursuing a distinctive artistic style, creating exhilarating combat experiences, and delivering richer and quality content through continuous updates and optimizations. We look forward to exploring the secrets of New Eridu together with our Proxies as we head towards a future full of endless possibilities for Zenless Zone Zero.”
– HoYoverse
Producer
Zhenyu Li
It’s been a year of big new releases, long-awaited sequels, must play indies, and some surprises along the way. Today, we start the celebration of PlayStation gaming by asking you, the players, to cast your vote for your favorites of the year: the PS Blog Game of the Year Awards 2025 polls are now open!
We’re highlighting exemplary work from passionate studios worldwide across 19 categories. So help us celebrate the creatives whose hard work and exceptional craft have made this year’s gaming experiences memorable, with fantastic gameplay, great characters, outstanding 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 of votes by the time polls close will be recognized 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:
So, cast your vote in the polls below to support your favorite games and developers. Don’t delay though: voting closes next Monday, December 8 at 23.59pm PT. So scroll below and get clicking.
Good luck to all the nominees!
