The year that was: 2011 with PlayStation

Take a trip down memory lane as eu.playstation.com relives the highlights of 2011 on PlayStation.

January

• 2011 started in spectacular fashion as several big titles launched on PlayStation 3. Dead Space 2, Mass Effect 2, LittleBigPlanet 2 and DC Universe Online all took acclaim for their slick gameplay and stunning presentation.

• PSP owners weren't left out either, with Buzz!: The Ultimate Music Quiz offering some quizzical entertainment for all.

• The next generation in portable entertainment was on everyone's lips as PlayStation Vita (then only known as Next Generation Portable) was revealed at PlayStation Meeting 2011 in Tokyo, Japan. Promising to change the face of portable entertainment, the big unveiling was just a taste of the excitement to come...

February

• The brutal battle between the Helghast and the ISA was taken to a new dimension in Killzone 3, as the PlayStation 3 sci-fi epic launched with brilliant stereoscopic 3D compatibility and support for PlayStation Move.  

• Were you part of the gaming revolution? Gamocracy gave power to the players as Swedish developer The Bearded Ladies Consulting launched an eight-week project to create an original video game with the help of the PlayStation Community.

March

• The merry month of March saw six charismatic characters join forces for the first time in PlayStation Move Heroes, on PS3.

• PixelJunk Shooter 2 blasted its way into the hearts of PS3 shoot 'em up fans everywhere with its retro feel and innovative gameplay.

• PS3 racer MotorStorm Apocalypse drove speedsters through the crumbling landscape of a city-wide earthquake for an original racing game experience.

April

• Portal 2 claimed a few April fools on PS3 with its mind-bending puzzles that challenged you to a battle of wits against super intelligent computer system, GLaDOS.  

• PSP owners gathered their loyal Patapon troops and drummed to the beat in the addictive rhythm-based adventure, Patapon 3.

May

• The adventure genre took a fresh new angle on PS3 in the incredible L.A. Noire, which saw budding detectives exploring the seedy underbelly of 1940s Los Angeles.

• That wasn't the only treat in store for PS3 owners, as the futuristic gun-slinging Starhawk was announced.

June

• E3 2011 was the big talking point as a stunning selection of PS3 games were shown off to an impressed audience, while PlayStation Vita stole the headlines with a triumphant unveiling of the system, games and services.

• June was also a big month for eagerly anticipated returns on PS3, as cheeky monkeys ran rampant in Ape Escape, reluctant superhero Cole MacGrath dropped back in via the electrifying action adventure, inFAMOUS 2, and the king of quips made his comeback in Duke Nukem Forever. Meanwhile, the White Knight legend continued in White Knight Chronicles II on PlayStation 3 and White Knight Chronicles: Origins on PSP.

• Following the PlayStation Network service outage, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe launched the Welcome Back programme on PlayStation 3 and PSP.

July

• Happy birthday PlayStation Plus! The popular PlayStation Network service celebrated its first anniversary with lots of special offers and a competition to win big prizes.

• The fruits of the Gamocracy project ripened and Gamocracy One: Legend of Robot was released on PlayStation Store, offering tasty retro platform action as reward for the unique project.

August

• PlayStation took the plaudits once more at gamescom 2011, giving the public the first chance to play on PS Vita - leaving many breathless for more. 

• While gamescom 2011 gave a glimpse of the future, Deus Ex: Human Revolution on PS3 took us there - the stylish stealth shooter was one of the big hits of the year.

September

• As the embers of summer faded, some big titles came out to play on PS3. Resistance 3 and God of War Collection Volume II offered satisfaction for action fans, while ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Classics HD provided a different type of action adventure.

• Football supporters could stop holding their breath as the new season of EA SPORTS FIFA 12 kicked off on PS3 and PSP.

October

• Video games took a dark and gritty turn with the acclaimed likes of RAGE, Dark Souls, Battlefield 3, Batman: Arkham City and inFAMOUS: Festival of Blood swooping down on PS3. 

• It wasn't all shadowy gameplay, however - DanceStar Party and Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One offered some light-hearted fun for all ages to brighten up the October nights.

• The newest member of the PSP family was launched - the PSP-E1000 offered amazing portable entertainment at an affordable price.

• Keeping with the theme of fun, eu.playstation.com launched its new monthly quiz, Level Up, testing your PlayStation knowledge. How many answers did you get right? 

November

• A bumper month of releases gave PS3 owners a heavy dose of excitement of all kinds, with over a dozen big titles to enjoy. Assassin's Creed Revelations, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and  Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception all led the line for action-hungry thrill-seekers.

• Great games such as Move Fitness, Start the Party! Save the World, Carnival Island and Medieval Moves made sure your PlayStation Move motion controller was busy for the party season.

• Grand Theft Auto V was revealed by Rockstar Games with a stunning trailer which left fans gasping for its future launch on PS3.

• For PSP owners, the delights of EyePet Adventures, Invizimals: The Lost Tribes and Geronimo Stilton in the Kingdom of Fantasy The Videogame were available to enjoy.

• VidZone relaunched bigger than ever before, with new features and functions to make your music video experience even better.

• PlayStation Home also gained an amazing makeover, with four districts available to hang out in with your PlayStation Network friends.

December

• With a final flicker of 2011, December made sure the year went off as brilliantly as it arrived, with GoldenEye 007: Reloaded locking James Bond in its sights on PS3, and The Mystery Team giving budding sleuths everywhere a chance to shine on PSP. 

• Naughty Dog stunned the video games world with the unveiling of a terrifying new survival horror title on PS3, The Last of Us. 

• PlayStation Vita arrived in Japan signalling a new era of portable entertainment. Take a look at all the excitement surrounding the system on PlayStation.Blog at blog.eu.playstation.com.

That's it for 2011 - and if you think it was exciting, just wait until you see what's in store for 2012. See you there...