Hello Persona fans and fighting game fans!

We’re excited to announce that Persona 4 Arena, which earned the honor of “Best Fighting Game” at the Spike Video Game Awards, is going to be available for digital purchase and download on the PlayStation Network tomorrow.

Some of you may not be familiar with Persona 4 Arena, or the Persona series. You may, however, be aware that ATLUS launched Persona 4 Golden for PS Vita last November to critical acclaim, and this title helped generate a great deal of interest for the Persona series. Yes, Persona 4 Arena is a fighting game — but who says fighting games can’t have a story? Fans that got a taste of the series through Persona 4 Golden can enjoy a whole new story arc in Persona 4 Arena.

The game takes place two months after the protagonist of Persona 4 Golden — given the name Yu Narukami — leaves the rural town of Inaba. Rumor of a fighting tournament TV show called “P-1 Grand Prix” spreads, raising concerns among the former Investigation Team members. Interested to know more about what happens to Yu, Chie, Yosuke, and Yukiko? And how do the characters from Persona 3 get involved in all this? We could say more but, well, we’d rather have you to jump in to Persona 4 Arena to find out for yourself.

We hope you enjoy Persona 4 Arena on PSN!

Persona 4 Arena, the freakishly gifted fighting progeny of ATLUS (makers of Persona and other fine JRPGs) and Arc System Works (makers of Guilty Gear and BlazBlue), is out now in North America for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system.

What exactly do you get when you marry Persona and its rich I-want-to-go-to-there universe of characters and mythology and some masterful fighting game design? Based on the fact that it’s Japan’s top arcade fighting game, Japan’s bestselling conventional console fighting game of the past four years, and one of North America’s most anticipated fighting games in recent memory, it would seem you get one heck of a mix of gaming DNA. It probably has a perfect SAT score and everything.

With a unique fighting engine that deftly incorporates the titular Personas and their breathtaking special powers; a roster of thirteen intricately balanced fighters, a majority of whom hail from the acclaimed Persona 4 (and a few from the equally beloved Persona 3); expertly rendered character sprites and backgrounds; a smorgasbord of features, modes, and content (including a Story mode that offers 30-40 hours of canonical goodness); and smooth-as-butter online play that lets users challenge anyone around the world, Persona 4 Arena is an irresistible fighting package. We even threw in the Japanese dub, which can be easily toggled to in the main menu… Probably because we love you.

Are you a fan of the Persona RPGs but not too keen on fighting games? P4 Arena has been designed with accessibility in mind. It’ll still take a bit of practice and commitment to master the game’s intricacies, but just about anyone can pick it up, play, and feel like a contender. Are you an Arc System Works fan who doesn’t know anything about Persona? You’re in luck, because Persona 3 and 4 offer some of gaming’s most memorable characters. Fully realized and sharply written, the roster of fighters in P4 Arena improve every game mode, bringing personality and humor to what is often a sterile experience in other genre entries.

Oh, and in case you really get into things (or you’re a huge Persona fan already), there’s a slate of launch day DLC waiting for you. The DLC varies from sets of glasses for every character — an iconic aesthetic element from Persona 4 — to additional Navigators for in-game commentary and quick tips. It’s all entirely cosmetic, meaning passionate fans can further customize their characters and play experiences without messing up that oh-so-important balance.

Race out (safely) and pick up a copy from a nearby retailer today. We’re confident you’ll be happy you did. Maybe we’ll fight you online!

PS3 Full Games

Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 ($49.99)

Return to Gamindustri and help Nepgear free the captive Console Patron Units from the clutches of ASIC! Meet the other CPU Candidates from around the world and put a stop to Arfoire’s designs!
ESRB: M-Mature // File Size: 3.8 GB

The King of Fighters XIII ($29.99)

With the triumphant return of fan favorite characters like Mai, K’, and Vice, extensive refinement of the core fighting engine based on community feedback, and vastly improved network functionality, The King of Fighters XIII represents the HD entry in the series that fans have been waiting for.
ESRB: T-Teen // File Size: 2.18 GB

PSN Games

Sound Shapes ($14.99)

Equal parts instrument and game, Sound Shapes gives everyone the ability to make music. Play through a unique campaign that fuses music and artwork into a classic 2D platformer. Create your own unique musical levels with all of the campaign content and share with the world. Sound Shapes creates an ever-changing musical community for everyone to enjoy at home or on the go. Purchase the PS3 version of Sound Shapes and receive the PS Vita version at no additional cost!
ESRB: E-Everyone // File Size: 969 MB

PS Vita Games

Sound Shapes ($14.99)

Equal parts instrument and game, Sound Shapes gives everyone the ability to make music. Play through a unique campaign that fuses music and artwork into a classic 2D platformer. Create your own unique musical levels with all of the campaign content and share with the world. Sound Shapes creates an ever-changing musical community for everyone to enjoy at home or on the go. Purchase the PS3 version of Sound Shapes and receive the PS Vita version at no additional cost!
ESRB: E-Everyone // File Size: 969 MB

PS Minis

Farm Frenzy 3 Minis ($4.99)

Manage five farms around the world and try your hand at penguin breeding and jewelry making in Farm Frenzy 3! Features 95 outrageously fun levels, 30 wacky animals and more upgrades than there are ears in a field of corn!
ESRB: E-Everyone // File Size: 32 MB

Bundles

Payday: The Heist Wolfpack Bundle (Game And Wolfpack DLC Bundle) ($19.99)

PAYDAY The Heist is an action filled FPS game for the PlayStation Network that lets players take on the role of a hardened career criminal executing intense, dynamic heists in constant pursuit of the next “big score”. Load out with an array of weaponry and equipment. Navigate six high-stake heists with three other live or A.I. Co-Op partners in crime. Time for a PAYDAY – Cash in Before you Cash Out!
ESRB: M-Mature // File Size: 2.37 GB

PlayStation Store Highlights

After blasting off with the launch of Expendables 2, PSN PLAY continues to bring the heat with the PlayStation exclusive Sound Shapes! Coming bundled with both PS3 and PS Vita versions for one price, you won’t want to miss out on this unique platformer that combines awesome beats with clean 2D visuals. It’s available now and is 20% off for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

Also a part of PSN PLAY, this week marks the window to pre-order Papo & Yo! Plus members receive an exclusive theme as well as a 20% discount.

This week PlayStation Plus delivers an update to the Instant Game Collection with the first two episodes of Telltale’s The Walking Dead free for Plus members! This acclaimed series delivers breakthrough storytelling and engaging choices that really matter. If you’re already a Walking Dead Season Pass holder, your purchase is still well worth it as you’ll be among the first to experience the later episodes as they release.

For those of you who never got the chance to play PAYDAY: The Heist, now is an excellent time to jump in — a great bundle is now available, which includes the newly released Wolfpack Add-On. The core game is all about planning and executing the perfect heist across a handful of campaigns, and Wolfpack adds a ton more content, skill tree expansions, and also raises the level cap.

If you caught EVO 2012 this year, you know that The King of Fighters XIII made quite an impression in the fighting game community. If you’ve yet to get your hands on a KOF game, KOFXIII is a great place to start and is available now in the PS3 Full Game section. Download it today and see how refined a fighting game can be.

Lastly, don’t forget to hop back into UNCHARTED 3 to check out Version 1.13 of the legendary game. It’s Naughty Dog‘s biggest patch ever and features a new tournament mode, tons of new items, and more. You can find the tournament tickets in the Add-Ons section of the PlayStation Store which grant you special in-game weapons or items based on how well you’ve played in tournaments.

There’s more great content to review below including getting set for next week’s retail release of Darksiders II by grabbing the Darksiders II Season Pass. Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and we’ll see you next week.

PlayStation Plus

Click here to learn more and purchase online or go to the PlayStation Store to activate instantly.

Free Content	The Walking Dead: Episode 1 – A New Day The Walking Dead: Episode 2 – Starved for Help
Discounts	PSN Play – Week 3 – Papo & Yo – Pre-Order (20% Off) – PS Plus Price: $11.99 Sound Shapes – PS3 Game w/ Vita copy (20% off) – PS Plus Price $11.99 Sound Shapes- Vita Game w/ PS3 Copy (20% off) – PS Plus Price $11.99
Last Chance (Leaving Plus This Week)	Mad Riders (10% Discount) – PS Plus Price $8.99 Mad Riders Game The Daredevil Map Pack (Free) Just Cause 2 (Free PS3 Full Game) Lara Croft Guardian of Light (Free PSN Game) Papo & Yo – Pre-Order (20% off) – PS Plus Price $11.99 Sound Shapes – PS3 Game w/ Vita copy (20% off) – PS Plus Price $11.99 Sound Shapes- Vita Game w/ PS3 Copy (20% off) – PS Plus Price $11.99 International Track and Field (Free PS one Classic) Hot Shots Golf 2 (Free PS one Classic)

Preorders

Papo & Yo Preorder Offer (Static Theme Gift With Purchase) ($14.99)

Pre-Order Papo & Yo Today and receive a Free Theme! Papo & Yo is a Puzzle-Platforming Adventure that follows the tale of a young boy named Quico and his best friend Monster, a huge beast with razor-sharp teeth and an addiction to poisonous frogs. When the minute Monster eats a frog, he goes into a violent rage that’s bad news for everyone around. And yet, Quico isn’t afraid to make a dangerous journey through a magical, constantly-changing world to find a cure for his best friend. This is their story…

ESRB: E10+

Sales

Normaltanks – PS mini (now $0.99, original price $3.99)
Payday: The Heist – PSN Game (now $13.99, original price $19.99)
Super Stardust HD Game Bundle (now: $7.99 old price: $14.99)
Super Stardust HD Solo Add-on Pack (now: $3.19 old price: $4.99)
Super Stardust HD Team Add-on Pack (now: $3.19 old price: $4.99)
Super Stardust HD Solo Pack (In Game Purchase version) (now: $3.19 (old price: $4.99)
Super Stardust HD Team Pack (In Game Purchase) (now: $3.19 old price: $4.99)
Two Worlds II Velvet Game Of The Year Edition – PS3 Full Game (now $9.99, original price $34.99)

Price Change

LittleBigPlanet 2 – PS3 Full Game (now $19.99, original price $39.99)

PS3 Add-ons

UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception

• Tournament Tickets (10 for $4.49, 20 for $7.49, 50 for $15.99, 200 for $50.99) – The brand new UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception multiplayer Tournament System ushers in a points-based competition that has three reward tiers which grant you special in-game weapons or items based on how well you’ve played. Once you unlock a weapon or item it’s yours to use until the next tournament period. You can buy into a tournament using tournament tickets. You’ll always carry a balance of ten tickets per tournament period but you will be able to purchase more via the PS Store. A tournament leaderboard will be added to the leaderboards section so you can track your skill level among your friends!

Inversion

• Map “VERGE” ($1.99) – VERGE features two distinct bases as players jump between vectors, and sneak through multiple paths to gain the upper hand. Battle and master the multiple planes in this intense and frantic map.
• Map “RIOT” ($1.99) – RIOT features a dark deserted urban landscape. Fight in multiple buildings, several levels, and an intense sniper’s paradise. Master your Gravlink to pull campers from their cover, throw objects, and gain the upper ground for control of the map.

Darksiders II

• Season Pass ($19.99) – Season Pass provides a discount on the Maker Armor Set (available now), The Abyssal Forge (available soon), and The Demon Lord Belial (available soon). Please note Season Pass does not include any content other than the three items listed above. Season Pass content should be accessed and downloaded in-game, or you may be charged twice. Visit darksiders.com for more details.

Adidas miCoach

• Rugby Pack ($4.99) – A full rugby training programme to add to your miCoach living room experience – train with the best! Train in the comfort of your own home with an all-star rugby training team – Ma’a Nonu and Will Genia. It’s your exercise world, perfectly synced from your PlayStation 3 system, via the web or via your smartphone.

PAYDAY The Heist

• Wolfpack ($9.99) – PAYDAY The Heist Wolfpack is the first DLC for this action filled FPS. Features: New Weapons: STRYK full auto pistol, AK Automatic Rifle, Grenade Launcher and deployable sentry gun. 2 New Heists: Undercover (transfer money to your account from the IRS) and Counterfeit (secret operation in Florida). Hosting Ability: Invite friends to play in the new DLC maps even if they do not own the DLC themselves. New Skilltree: Raise your level cap to 192.

Mass Effect 3

• Firefight Pack ($1.99) – Unleash hell with the Firefight Pack! Firefight adds seven weapons for use in the single-player campaign: the Indra and Krysae sniper rifles, Reegar Carbine, Harrier battle rifle, Geth SMG, plus the all-new Blood Pack Punisher SMG and Adas Anti-Synthetic rifle!

Dragon’s Dogma

• Notice Board Quests – The Savvy ($2.99) – After completing “Reward and Responsibility,” an extra 8 exclusive quests become available at notice boards everywhere.
• From a Different Sky – Bundle Pack ($6.99) – All of the ‘From a Different Sky’ quests in one handy bundle. Can you complete all 100? Check the Pawn Guild to begin!

Record of Agarest War 2

• Right to the Blacksmith Pack 9 ($0.00) – Here is some good news for those too spineless or too lethargic to Convert! Take the following items and get your bad self to Gordon’s place! Shining Blade x 1, Ring of Light x 1, Mysterious Jewel x 1, Genbu’s Bowl x 1, Seiryuu’s Eye x 1, Byakko’s Crest x 1, Suzaku’s Wing x 1, Generation Crystal x 2, Whispered Dream x 2.
• Bonus Point Pack 7 ($5.99) – Thank you once again for your profligate spending habits. Today we have prepared a heaping helping of party points just for you. Included points: 3,000PP. These points can be shared amongst your entire party. Spread the wealth, create a single superhero, or shower them upon a beloved character; it’s entirely up to you.
• Frensberge Specialty Pack 5 ($1.99) – At these prices, you might as well be stealing all of this stuff! Now, the fifth set of Fresnberge-themed goods for your buying pleasure! Keep spending; the town needs the cash! Langguth Sword x 1, S. V. Rouge x 1, Injector Maximus x 1, Lollipop Stick x 1, DESHIMARU x 1, Training Wear x 1.
• Right to the Blacksmith Pack 10 ($0.00) Listen up, all you lazy, cowardly oatmeal warts who can’t be bothered to Convert things on your own! Take the following stuff to Gordon and let him work his magic. ATK Element Ω x2, DEF Element Ω x2, MAG Element Ω x2, RST Element Ω x2, STR Element Ω x2, VIT. Element Ω x2, INT Element Ω x2, MND Element Ω x2, AGI Element Ω x2, DEX Element Ω x2.
• Bonus Point Pack 8 ($6.99) – Thank you once again for your profligate spending habits. Today we have prepared a heaping helping of party points just for you. Included points: 6,500PP. These points can be shared amongst your entire party. Spread the wealth, create a single superhero, or shower them upon a beloved character; it’s entirely up to you.
• Extra Costumes 2 ($2.99) – Here is something for one of the lovely ladies in your life to bathe in! Why not get one of them to put it on now?!
• 3rd Extra Character ($2.49) – Hark! Allies that will share in your joys and sorrows have come in droves! Now, it is time to overcome adversity together!

Persona 4 Arena

• Additional Colors Pack #1 ($1.99) – Additional colors for Yu, Yukiko, Teddie, and their Personas. Each character will have 8 new colors, 2 of which can only be used offline.
• Additional Colors Pack #2 ($1.99) – Additional colors for Chie, Naoto, Akihiko, and their Personas. Each character will have 8 new colors, 2 of which can only be used offline.
• Additional Colors Pack #3 ($1.99) – Additional colors for Yosuke, Aigis, Labrys, and their Personas. Each character will have 8 new colors, 2 of which can only be used offline.
• Additional Colors Pack #4 ($1.99) – Additional colors for Kanji, Mitsuru, Elizabeth, Shadow Labrys, and their Personas. Each character will have 8 new colors, 2 of which can only be used offline.
• Additional Colors Full Pack ($5.99) – Additional colors for all the characters. Each character will have 8 new colors, 2 of which can only be used offline.
• Glasses Pack #1 ($1.99) – Glasses for Yu, Yukiko and Teddie. When selected, the corresponding character will wear glasses during battle. NOTE: Additional glasses colors will be available if you also purchased the corresponding characters’ additional colors.
• Glasses Pack #2 ($1.99) – Glasses for Chie, Naoto and Akihiko. When selected, the corresponding character will wear glasses during battle. NOTE: Additional glasses colors will be available if you also purchased the corresponding characters’ additional colors.
• Glasses Pack #3 ($1.99) – Glasses for Yosuke, Aigis and Labrys. When selected, the corresponding character will wear glasses during battle. NOTE: Additional glasses colors will be available if you also purchased the corresponding characters’ additional colors.
• Glasses Pack #4 ($1.99) – Glasses for Kanji, Mitsuru, Elizabeth and Shadow Labrys. When selected, the corresponding character will wear glasses during battle. NOTE: Additional glasses colors will be available if you also purchased the corresponding characters’ additional colors.
• Glasses Full Pack ($5.99) – Glasses for all the characters. When selected, the corresponding character will wear glasses during battle. NOTE: Additional glasses colors will be available if you also purchased the corresponding characters’ additional colors.
• Navigation #1 (Teddie) ($2.99) – Battle navigation voice for Teddie (selectable in Versus Mode and Network Mode). NOTE: Skilled players can unlock this content by playing the game.
• Navigation #2 (Yosuke) ($2.99) – Battle navigation voice for Yosuke (selectable in Versus Mode and Network Mode). NOTE: Skilled players can unlock this content by playing the game.
• Navigation #3 (Mitsuru) ($2.99) – Battle navigation voice for Mitsuru (selectable in Versus Mode and Network Mode). NOTE: Skilled players can unlock this content by playing the game.
• Navigation #4 (Aigis) ($2.99) – Battle navigation voice for Aigis (selectable in Versus Mode and Network Mode). NOTE: Skilled players can unlock this content by playing the game.
• Navigation #5 (Fuuka) ($2.99) – Battle navigation voice for Fuuka (selectable in Versus Mode and Network Mode). NOTE: Skilled players can unlock this content by playing the game.
• Navigation #6 (Nanako) ($2.99) – Battle navigation voice for Nanako (selectable in Versus Mode and Network Mode). NOTE: Skilled players can unlock this content by playing the game.

Street Fighter X Tekken

• Color Palette Add-On 6 ($0.00) – The 6th color pack (4-color set) for character color customization. Note: This add-on is exclusive content for STREET FIGHTER X TEKKEN.
• SF Boost Gem Pack 9 ($0.99) – 10 Boost Gems exclusively for Street Fighter characters. Perform a technical action to activate the effects for these Gems. Note: If you would like to see the effects of the Gems individually before purchase, please use the Store from the game’s Main Menu. The effects of the Gems may be subject to change.
• SF Boost Gem Pack 10 ($0.99) – 10 Boost Gems exclusively for Street Fighter characters. Includes Gems for fighting against Pandora as well as Gems for instantaneous vitality recovery. Note: If you would like to see the effects of the Gems individually before purchase, please use the Store from the game’s Main Menu. The effects of the Gems may be subject to change.
• TK Boost Gem Pack 9 ($0.99) – 10 Boost Gems exclusively for Tekken characters. Perform a technical action to activate the effects for these Gems. Note: If you would like to see the effects of the Gems individually before purchase, please use the Store from the game’s Main Menu. The effects of the Gems may be subject to change.
• TK Boost Gem Pack 10 ($0.99) – 10 Boost Gems exclusively for Tekken characters. These Harmonize Gems activate upon various differing conditions. Note: If you would like to see the effects of the Gems individually before purchase, please use the Store from the game’s Main Menu. The effects of the Gems may be subject to change.
• Boost Gem Trial Pack 4 ($0.00) – A total of 3 Boost Gems that all characters can use. Note: If you would like to see the effects of the Gems individually before purchase, please use the Store from the game’s Main Menu. The effects of the Gems may be subject to change.

Rock Band 3

Build your Rock Band library by purchasing song game tracks. For music credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• (I Just) Died in Your Arms ($1.99) – Cutting Crew
• Crawling in the Dark ($1.99) – Hoobastank
• Still of the Night ($1.99) – Whitesnake

Rock Band Network – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing song game tracks made available through Rock Band Network

• Anything ($0.99) – An Endless Sporadic. Compatible with Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Blitz.
• (I’m the One That’s) Cool ($0.99) – The Guild feat. Felicia Day. Compatible with Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Blitz.
• From the Blue/Point of No Return ($0.99) – An Endless Sporadic. Compatible with Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Blitz.
• Romancing the Ordinary ($0.99) – Rose of Jericho. Compatible with Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Blitz.
• The Ravenous ($1.99) – I, Omega. Compatible with Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Blitz.

Avatars

Magic 2013 Avatar Pack ($1.99)
Rainbow Moon Avatar – Demon Warrior ($0.49)
Rainbow Moon Avatar – Living Gun ($0.49)
Rainbow Moon Avatar – Savant ($0.49)
Rainbow Moon Zelorus Avatar ($0.49)
Rainbow Moon Avatar – Zombie ($0.49)
Rainbow Moon Dazed Stare Avatar ($0.49)
Rainbow Moon Demon Mage Avatar ($0.49)
Rainbow Moon Merchant Avatar ($0.49)
Rainbow Moon Serena Avatar ($0.49)
Rainbow Moon Lofi Guard Avatar ($0.49)

Game Videos (Free)

Battlefield 3 Armored Kill Gameplay Premiere Trailer
Dyad Launch Trailer
Sound Shapes Introduces Beck & Pyramid Attack

PS3 Themes

Anne-Dynamic Pirate Theme 3 ($2.99)
Dynamic America City NYC Skyline Theme ($2.99)
Vampires – Bloodletting Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Vampires – Eternal Blood Spell Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Vampires – The Deadly Departed Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Vampires – The Turning Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Vampires – What Lies Beneath Dynamic Theme ($2.99)

Wallpapers

Papo & Yo – Wallpaper 1 ($0.00)
Payday: The Heist Masked Man Wallpaper ($0.00)
Payday: The Heist New Features Wallpaper ($0.00)
Payday: The Heist New Heist Wallpaper ($0.00)
Test Drive Ferrari Racing Legends Wallpaper ($0.00)

Available In-Game Only (Not on PlayStation Store)

Adidas miCoach

• Manuel Neuer ($4.99) – Add soccer superstar Manuel Neuer to your miCoach football training team – train with the best!Train in the comfort of your own home with an additional soccer star for your all-star soccer training team. It’s your exercise world, perfectly synced from your PlayStation 3 system, via the web or via your smartphone.

Rock Band 3

• (I Just) Died in Your Arms ($1.99) – Pro Guitar (In Game Only) ($0.99) – Cutting Crew

Since nobody wants to be the jerk that steps on that poor, innocent snail, we (the fine people at Atlus) are dropping prices on our PlayStation Store library of PSP system titles, not unlike the PS Vita’s undocumented ability to drop smaller articles of sub-clothing. We’re calling it…

Want to own the complete PSP Persona collection, including Persona 3 Portable, which is tied for the second-best-reviewed PSP game of ALL TIME, according to Gamerankings.com? It is now far more affordable to do so. Also getting a drop in price is the very recent Persona 2: Innocent Sin, a stunning handheld remake of one our company’s most highly anticipated games!

Always been a fan of Sting’s series of Dept Heaven RPG and SRPG genre-benders? Perhaps you’ve always been curious to see how Knights in the Nightmare, with its incredibly novel blend of tactical roleplaying and bullet-hell action, looks and plays? Well, for less than half the price of a new console game, you can own every PSP Dept Heaven game we’ve ever released (which should set you up nicely for the upcoming June release of Gungnir for PSP, the next entry in the acclaimed series).

Besides the aforementioned two collections, there’s a terrific mix of other RPGs and even an action game—Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble—that are sure to offer something for every type of gamer.

Whether you’re a PSP system owner who has watched Atlus RPGs from afar, your eyes glued to your pervy game-watching binoculars but your wallet unable to open itself for the cause… Or perhaps you like to spend your evenings making sexy time with the two nubs on your new PS Vita… Now you can dive into a library of critically acclaimed Atlus PSP games that delivers hundreds of hours of deep, compelling RPG adventures and promises to thoroughly satisfy your hardcore gamer cravings.

Here, let us move that snail out of the way for you. Step freely, friends… Step freely.

One of the most successful, highest-rated RPG franchises of the last few years is our very own Persona series. The two most recent games, Persona 3 and Persona 4, were hailed for their memorable casts of characters, plots that defied many established clichés, and mechanics and visual designs that stood apart from their competitors.

Collaborating with fighting genre masters Arc System Works (the folks who made a little series called BlazBlue), ATLUS is taking the Persona universe, complete with its added “summon your inner power” wrinkle, and transforming it into one of the most unique, visually stunning fighting games you’ve ever laid your eyes on. Or whatever part of your body you lay on things.

Persona 4 was all about a world inside the TV; those who were thrown in were featured on the mysterious Midnight Channel, with only days to live. Persona 4 Arena takes place just a short while after the Midnight Channel went off the air, only to find that a new program featuring a bizarre fighting tournament with deadly stakes has started up. You guessed it: that’s where you (and your friends) come in.

It’s not just the visuals that make Persona 4 Arena worth your time. Every one of the game’s 10 fighters (don’t react to that number yet, read on) can summon their Personas for special attacks. So… Not only do they each have their own highly specialized move set, but when you throw the fact that their Persona do as well, it’s like you’ll multiplying something to the power of something. Or something. Perhaps the most compelling part of all is WHO these ten fighters are: beloved characters like Chie Satonaka, Aigis, Mitsuru Kirijo, and Teddie. That’s right: Teddie.

Now, we’re only just announcing Persona 4 Arena today so we’re not quite ready to talk about EVERYTHING you can expect when the game releases in August, but we CAN confirm new console-exclusive Story and Online modes. For the Story mode—before you bombard us with questions— YES, we’re doing everything possible to retain the full English voice cast from Persona 3 and 4, and no, we’re not yet able to confirm or deny whether the original Japanese voice track will be included as well.

Ok, go back to playing on your shiny new PS Vitas, PS Blog friends. We’ll hit you up later with more details, screens, video(s), etc. STAY TUNED!