Sony Launches The Playerbase to Feature Real Fans in PlayStation Games
Sony Interactive Entertainment has launched a community initiative called “The Playerbase,” a program designed to scan the likenesses of PlayStation fans and integrate them into PlayStation Studios games.
The inaugural project for the initiative is Gran Turismo 7, developed by Polyphony Digital. According to Isabelle Tomatis, Vice President of Global Marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, the program aims to bring devoted fans closer to the titles they support. While Gran Turismo 7 is the first game recruited for the program, Sony has indicated that additional PlayStation Studios titles will be announced in the future.
Application and Selection Process
Fans in eligible regions can apply via a dedicated portal at playstation.com/the-playerbase. Applicants are required to sign in with their PlayStation account and submit a written entry of 1,000 characters or less detailing how PlayStation has impacted their lives. The window for submissions closes on April 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT, with entries limited to one per person.
Following the submission deadline, judges will narrow the applicant pool to between 50 and 150 finalists. These individuals will be invited to record video interviews at the end of April. From that group, three candidates will advance to a final round of selection.
Winner Benefits and Technical Integration
The grand prize winner, along with one guest, will be flown to the PlayStation Studios Visual Arts studio in Los Angeles. At the studio, the winner will undergo a 3D capture process using state-of-the-art technology to scan their facial geometry.
In Gran Turismo 7, the winner’s digital likeness will appear for a limited time as an in-game character portrait, mirroring the existing character art found within the game’s menus. The winner will collaborate with a designer to create a custom Fantasy Logo and a unique vehicle livery. While the character portrait is temporary, the logo and livery will be added permanently to the game’s Showcase menu.
Sony will cover the costs of travel and accommodation for the winner and their guest for the duration of the scanning process in Los Angeles.
The winner of the competition is expected to be announced around November 2026.