2023 is proving to be a great year already for gaming fans, with titles such as Hogwarts Legacy, WWE 2K23, Spider-Man 2, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor gracing consoles throughout the year. To top it off, PlayStation recently announced in an interview with Sony's Head of Global Marketing, Eric Lampel, that the company will be collaborating with some of the most popular figures in the public eye today.
Starting with NBA mega-star LeBron James, Sony has revealed its "PlayStation Playmakers" initiative, which aims to have something for everyone. From athletes to social media stars, gamers will have an opportunity to get closer to their heroes.
10 Jimmie Allen
Country music's rising star Jimmie Allen has quickly built a strong fan base on the back of his never-say-die attitude and relentless work ethic. After not seeing success on the popular singing talent show AmericanIdol, Allen has gone on to achieve many of the goals he set for himself, from producing chart-topping singles to performing alongside music legend Elton John.
Allen is public in his love for gaming and his PlayStation, primarily spending his console time on either NBA2K or Madden. Given his obsession with gaming, fans can anticipate that his collaboration with PlayStation will incorporate this and his love for music.
9 King Bach
Andrew Bachelor, also known as King Bach, is an actor and comedian that rose to fame through the video-sharing service Vine, attracting an audience exceeding 16 million followers. Since then, Bachelor has gone on to appear in multiple movie and tv show titles and has amassed a following on YouTube and TikTok that dwarfs his Vine fanbase.
Bachelor has already taken part in some advertising for the gaming giant and has featured his love for gaming in many videos, so expectations are high that King Bach will be doing something special with his PlayStation project.
8 Nigel Sylvester
For fans of BMX riding, Nigel Sylvester is a household name. The American professional BMX athlete is famous for his skills on a bike, which is showcased in an online archive of some progressive and daring stunts.
Sylvester is very much his own individual, choosing to steer clear of competition to focus on doing what he loves most, in the way he wants it done. It's this "stand-alone" mentality and his drive to be different from the rest that has made him so relatable and popular with his audience. He is sponsored by a plethora of big-name brands and will look to add PlayStation to his list of accomplishments with an upcoming collaboration.
7 NaLyssa Smith
One of the WNBA's brightest young stars NaLyssa Smith hopes that her dominance at the college level will be mirrored at the top level. After a successful few years at Baylor, Smith was selected 2nd overall in the 2022 draft by the Indiana Fever and had an impressive freshman season, earning herself a spot in the league's All-Rookie team.
As the 2023 season approaches, Smith will be looking to use her size and talent as a solid rebounder to bring success to Indiana in the form of their first WNBA title since 2012.
6 Ja'Marr Chase
Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase may not have completed a fairytale rookie year by winning the SuperBowl, but there is no denying the bright future that lies ahead for the wide receiver. The number 5 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft had a stellar rookie year which saw him propelled to an AFC championship and an opportunity to win it all in his very first year.
Chase is famous for his upbeat persona and oozes confidence, so fans can anticipate that his collaboration with PlayStation will be bold to reflect his personality.
5 CeeDee Lamb
Cedarian DeLeon Lamb, better known as CeeDee Lamb, proudly dons the white and blue of the Dallas Cowboys as one of their talented wide receivers. After a stellar tenure at the college level, Lamb arrived at the professional scene in 2020 as the 17th overall pick in the NFL draft and has since gone on to feature in the Pro Bowl twice, in 2021 and 2022.
While it is not yet certain when his collaboration with PlayStation will be released, fans will be eager for Lamb to bring out something that reflects his laid-back but infectious character.
4 Lisa Zimouche
World champion freestyle footballer and social media influencer Lisa Zimouche is everything you would look for in a role model, packaged up into a hard-working, fiercely determined woman. The French sensation picked up a football at the age of ten in protest of the men who told her that "girls can't play."
An advocate for gender equality, we can expect her collaboration with PlayStation to be a powerful message that women can succeed in whatever they set their minds to, including football and gaming.
3 Romelu Lukaku
Belgian national footballing superstar Romelu Lukaku is currently on loan from English Premier League giants, Chelsea, and is currently part of the Inter Milan squad. The 29-year-old has played in some of football's biggest franchises in Everton and Manchester United, and he has earned a spot in Belgium's FIFA World Cup squad.
Despite his long tenure at the professional level, Lukaku remains one of the game's elite offensive weapons. His big personality and contagious energy will no doubt be on show when he teams up with PlayStation.
2 Julio Cocielo
Brazilian YouTube comedian Julio Cocielo has been making viewers laugh since 2011. Since then, his popularity has soared to see him grow into one of the most popular South American talents on the digital platform, amassing a following of over 20 million people.
Cocielo's content features multiple gaming-related videos, ranging from FIFA to God of War, expressing his love for a variety of game titles and genres. With his background in vlogging and putting light-hearted spins on day-to-day scenarios, fans are hoping to see this flair for humor expressed in his upcoming collaboration.
1 LeBron James
The recently-crowned NBA scoring king, LeBron James, is arguably the greatest basketball player to ever step foot on a court. Throughout his illustrious career, he has amassed multiple NBA titles, countless All-Star appearances, and a plethora of accolades that occupy his overcrowded trophy case.
James is the first cultural icon to have a collaboration with PlayStation, introducing his own design of PlayStation 5 cover and DualSense 5 Controller that showcases his persona as the NBA's "King". From shoe deals and movie appearances to his own PS merchandise, there is little that James can't do.
The first installment of the PlayStation Playmakers series is currently in development.