Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2015 is Coming to the PS3 and Vita This Spring

Feature Article

Submitted on: 01/24/2015 by Jayson Young

Last week's issue of Famitsu magazine confirmed that Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2015 will appear on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita during the series' regularly scheduled spring release period. The suggested retail price for this year's game has not been revealed, thus pre-orders are not currently open at popular import shops like Play-Asia and NCSX.

Famitsu's article highlighted two of Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2015's new features:

3D face scans will make players and coaches look more authentic. Facial expressions and mouth movements will also appear more lifelike.
"Live Seasons" mode will create short challenges based on the real-life results of Nippon Professional Baseball games. Users will be able to replay the key turning points from each day's NPB matchups. Winning challenges will reward stamps that can be redeemed for special items at the in-game shop.

Though it wasn't officially announced, one screenshot (shown above) hints that Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2015 might reinstate a roster limit on foreign-born players. In this image, the nameplate of South Korean cleanup hitter, Lee Dae-ho, has an orange bar going through it, likely indicating that he is a foreigner. This restriction was removed from Pro Yakyuu Spirits several years ago, but it returned in the 2014 edition of Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu, which is Konami's anime-inspired take on Nippon Professional Baseball (better known to Americans as Power Pros).

Another screenshot (pictured above) suggests that Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2015 will record the location of each pitch and display that information during at-bats. Pitch history charts could only be accessed after a game's conclusion in Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2014.

Konami have declined to comment on whether or not Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2015 might appear later this year on PlayStation 4. The company's first sports title for the system, Pro Evolution Soccer 2015, was released globally last November. Nippon Professional Baseball, however, is a much more niche product -- one that lacks the international appeal of soccer -- and as such, draws a predominantly Japanese audience each year. In its homeland, Sony's PlayStation 4 just recently topped one million units sold this past January, so the Japanese install base might not be large enough yet to justify a PlayStation 4 release of Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2015. Keep an eye on Operation Sports' baseball section, as we'll post a news story whenever Konami's PS4 publishing decision goes public.

Member Comments

# 61 kingdevin @ 06/19/15 02:31 AM

Can we also choose stances for exhibition mode

# 62 vidgames @ 06/19/15 02:58 PM

Yes ps4 game of pys is something I was looking forward to as well.

# 63 kingdevin @ 06/19/15 05:55 PM

Can stances be altered this yr?

# 64 saintjimbo1885 @ 06/22/15 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingdevin


	Can stances be altered this yr?

Half way down!!

http://www.spiritstranslation.com/fo...t=833&start=10

# 65 kingdevin @ 06/24/15 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saintjimbo1885


	Half way down!! http://www.spiritstranslation.com/fo...t=833&start=10

Thx much.. Only thing is i cant find where to edit on the menu and PYS translation doesn't seem to address it... Ill try again...

# 66 kingdevin @ 06/24/15 12:23 PM

I wish they still made this on psp! I think from a cpu v cpu POV this game is awesome on psp....

# 67 kain611 @ 06/26/15 06:42 PM

Hopefully the Vita version is good....

# 68 Shadak @ 09/04/15 06:53 PM

Finally caved and ordered 2015 used, thought there wouldnt be much of a difference over 2014 but boy is this awesome, stats are now almost perfect (2014 didnt have enough fouls, thats fixed now), the faces and animations spot on. One of the best sports games imo. Dont care about next gen graphics, considering its PS3 it looks amazing.

Wish they would at least translate text but oh well.

# 69 saintjimbo1885 @ 09/04/15 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadak


	Finally caved and ordered 2015 used, thought there wouldnt be much of a difference over 2014 but boy is this awesome, stats are now almost perfect (2014 didnt have enough fouls, thats fixed now), the faces and animations spot on. One of the best sports games imo. Dont care about next gen graphics, considering its PS3 it looks amazing. Wish they would at least translate text but oh well.

The new facial scans they did for this years game really stand out and like you say, for a PS3 game, they graphics really are excellent!!

Not a fan of using the guess pitch feature for myself but it is fun to see the CPU's attempts at guessing correctly if/when they make contact.

I honestly think this is the best and most enjoyable baseball game out there and I suppose the biggest compliment is the fact that so many things have been borrowed from it by The Show!!

My only disappointment is that now you can't see the apartment block at the Kleenex Miyagi Stadium due to the new scoreboard!!

Btw as well as the excellent Spirits Translation site there is also this for some translations:

http://thagreatmuta.wix.com/pystrans...#!others/c1svx

# 70 Shadak @ 09/05/15 03:45 AM

Thanks for the link thats really well done!

Thats a very reasonable disappointment hah

I always turn off guess pitch but may give it a go for CPU.

# 71 Will I Am @ 09/14/15 03:38 PM

Forums down for me at spirtistranlation.com. It's been pretty quiet over there this summer but now won't even load, I get the site ok though.

# 72 Shadak @ 09/14/15 06:05 PM

Yeah its been down for some time. Im a bit sad english speaking PYS community isnt very active, I know its a niche area but its one of my favorite games if not the most.

# 73 spike83 @ 09/19/15 12:06 AM

If Konami's decision is true, I guess this is the end. Best baseball game made; so glad she leaves me the last four years of the series...

# 74 Lap_Down @ 09/19/15 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spike83


	If Konami's decision is true, I guess this is the end. Best baseball game made; so glad she leaves me the last four years of the series...

Yah, it's sad... would have liked at least one PYS game on the PS4 before they went full on mobile. It would have probably taken at least 2 or 3 years on the PS4 before they perfected things though.

I still have PYS10 and 12 on the PS3... already played through 2 seasons as the Softbank Hawks on 12. I kinda switched to MLB15 on the PS4 now since the graphics are so good now though, but IMO PYS still has the best pitching and fielding gameplay I have ever played in a baseball game.

# 75 C.J.S. @ 09/20/15 08:54 PM

I doubt this is the end of a Nippon Baseball game, lots of fans and the pro league probably wants a game made.
Konami hasn't changed anything sports game titles wise yet.

Be shocked if there isn't a PYS 16

# 76 Therion7 @ 09/29/15 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.J.S.


	I doubt this is the end of a Nippon Baseball game, lots of fans and the pro league probably wants a game made. Konami hasn't changed anything sports game titles wise yet. Be shocked if there isn't a PYS 16

Konami didn't bother renewing the J-League license for their football games, so NPB might be happy enough with the mobile title and Power Pros on PS4.

There was no console representation of J-League last year and looks like being none this year. Winning Eleven / Pro Evolution Soccer still does very well overseas though, so Japanese fans feeling aggrieved about the domestic situation ( and they are! ) isn't a huge concern for Konami.

I think it's 40 / 60 as far as PS4 goes for PYS. Seriously not expecting it, sadly.

# 77 C.J.S. @ 09/30/15 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therion7


	Konami didn't bother renewing the J-League license for their football games, so NPB might be happy enough with the mobile title and Power Pros on PS4. There was no console representation of J-League last year and looks like being none this year. Winning Eleven / Pro Evolution Soccer still does very well overseas though, so Japanese fans feeling aggrieved about the domestic situation ( and they are! ) isn't a huge concern for Konami. I think it's 40 / 60 as far as PS4 goes for PYS. Seriously not expecting it, sadly.

Will see man, I think it looks better for a PYS on PS4 by showing PP for PS4.
Fox engine will only bring better sales for PYS it did for PES.

# 78 Shadak @ 10/02/15 03:43 AM

If it ever happens this will be my reason to finally buy a PS4

# 79 C.J.S. @ 10/03/15 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadak


	If it ever happens this will be my reason to finally buy a PS4

I was looking at PYS sales for 2015 and they did good considering it was only a PS3 version.
#39 on the sales chart.
http://www.vgchartz.com/yearly/2015/Japan/

So it's a money maker for Konami. Fox engine on PS4 should really bring sales. Again i see a PYS 2016 on console happening.

Konami said mobile was there main focus but never said they were done with consoles.

# 80 Shadak @ 10/04/15 05:42 AM

Fingers crossed!

I suppose as long as they have the Nippon license it would be a shame only using it on a mobile game.

On the topic of PYS15, i had some trouble hitting on higher pitch speeds. Instead of practicing all day, I tried switching from TV to my 27 PC screen and wow what a difference in reactions. My TV is 30ms slower on input and suddenly I could hit plenty of strikes on my PC screen.

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