Weekend Essentials – Issue 18

Final Fantasy XIII and Yakuza 3 lead a bumper week of releases on PS3 and PSP.

All the biggest releases on PlayStation

There's a Japanese feel to this week's two major releases on PlayStation 3. Final Fantasy XIII is the latest instalment in a role-playing game series that needs little introduction. While that game is set in a futuristic world of magic and eccentric hairstyles, Yakuza 3 takes you to the gritty Japanese underworld for an action-packed tale of honour and violence through the eyes and fists of Kazuma Kiryu.

On PSP there are three brand new games to keep you entertained on the go. The Eye of Judgment: Legends brings the card collecting real time strategy game to PSP, while Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake marks the portable debut of the gluttonous royal that first appeared on PS3 in 2009. Both titles are available on Universal Media Disc and via download from PlayStation Store.

What's in store?

If you're struggling to control your excitement for Kratos' imminent arrival on PlayStation 3, the God of War III demo on PlayStation Store may tip you over the edge. You could keep yourself occupied by downloading Mega Man 10 on PS3 or extra content for Resident Evil 5, Dragon Age: Origins and BioShock 2.

To calm down, why not check out downloadable content for echochrome in PlayStation Store. The Ocean Level pack and the Snow Level pack are available for you to download for free; they both offer even more head-scratching wonderment to fans of the time manipulation puzzler on PSP.

A new way around PlayStation Home

This week sees the launch of the PlayStation Home Navigator, a completely new way of finding your friends and travelling through the world of PS Home, with better performance and reduced loading times. Use it to check out the many spaces, ranging from the SingStar Rooms to the Audi Space, and catch up with old friends or make new ones.

Also new this week is a Final Fantasy XIII apartment and furniture for you and your party of friends to hang out in and chat about the latest blockbuster role playing game.

Note: PlayStation Home supports the following languages: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Stay ahead of the game

On 9 March 2010 the season of games industry events kicked off in San Francisco with the Game Developers Conference. You can catch up on all the breaking news on the PlayStation Blog, including a video of the SCEA keynote speech.

Here at eu.playstation.com, there's still time to enter the Awards Nominated Movies Competition, in which you can win a Bravia LCD TV and a PlayStation 3; the FIFA 10 Ultimate Team competition, where your football knowledge could win you a FIFA World Cup match ball and a PS3; and the minis competition, in which a PSPgo is up for grabs. Head to eu.playstation.com/competitions to get involved.

Be sure to opt in to receive PlayStation emails when you sign up for a PlayStation Network account. If you already have an account, sign in to your PlayStation Network Account Settings at eu.playstation.com/registration or via the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) and opt in. That way, you can keep bang up to date and receive the latest PlayStation news direct to your inbox.