A Proper PlayStation Showcase is Much-Needed Needed Now

Despite fans’ frequent anticipation, Sony doesn’t seem to host PlayStation Showcases as frequently as some would like, leading to continuous requests for a fresh event. In essence, there’s been a growing clamor for a new PlayStation Showcase.

Let’s rewind a bit, as it seems there hasn’t been a Sony PlayStation event for some time. However, a recent State of Play took place, and while it was hyped up, it left some viewers feeling underwhelmed. The presentation, which lasted over forty minutes as promised, did showcase several interesting titles. From a list perspective, the games featured such as Borderlands 4, Lost Soul Aside, Split Fiction, MindsEye, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Lies of P’s expansion, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Directive 8020, and more might even be considered a strong lineup. Additionally, there were some exciting new announcements, with Housemarque’s third-person roguelite shooter Saros being one of the standouts.

While it’s not entirely accurate to say that this latest State of Play presentation had nothing worth mentioning, it has been widely perceived as unsatisfactory by many, including myself. This is due to the fact that PlayStation enthusiasts have been eagerly anticipating a more significant and grand reveal for quite some time now. However, it’s important to note that the purpose of State of Play events has never been to deliver such major announcements in the same way that a PlayStation Showcase typically does. The latter usually presents more high-profile announcements and reveals, similar to what you might see at events like The Game Awards or E3 (when it was still active). It’s true that this year’s PlayStation Showcase was underwhelming, and hopefully the next one will be better.

It’s high time we revisit our initial discussion, as we truly feel the necessity for another PlayStation Showcase now. For quite some time now, Sony’s first-party lineup has seemed unusually and unusually sparse, especially in terms of their signature premium AAA story-driven games. However, there are signs that this situation is gradually improving. Since PlayStation Showcases typically serve as a platform for Sony to showcase the majority of its first-party titles, many have been eagerly awaiting news of another event given the overdue updates on several titles. The disappointment surrounding the most recent State of Play event becomes more comprehensible in this context. In fact, past State of Play events have often featured major first-party titles (ranging from Ghost of Tsushima to Astro Bot to even Saros), so Sony’s reluctance to announce or update first-party titles seems perplexing.

Death Stranding 2 on the Shore – Anticipation for a Trailer Update

Currently, the sequel to Death Stranding on the Beach is expected to launch this year. Fans had been eagerly waiting for a fresh game trailer, perhaps even with a release date confirmation. Hints from creator Hideo Kojima himself in recent days hinted at the creation of a new trailer for the forthcoming open-world game, leading many to believe that it would be unveiled during the recent State of Play event. However, we now know that a dedicated panel for Death Stranding 2 will take place on March 9, with Kojima himself present to share updates – hopefully, this is where we’ll get our long-awaited trailer and release date announcement.

Additionally, there’s the upcoming game called “Ghost of Yotei,” which Sony plans to launch this year. With its approaching release date, marketing efforts are likely to intensify in the coming months. It’s not unrealistic to anticipate a new trailer soon. On the other hand, “Marvel’s Wolverine” isn’t expected until 2025, but since it was announced nearly four years ago and there hasn’t been any recent updates or trailers, a fresh glimpse is well past due – especially if rumors of a 2026 release are accurate.

Apart from the already revealed first-party PlayStation games, there are several titles that have been conspicuously absent from recent announcements. For instance, $Fairgame$ has been noticeably quiet since its announcement a few years ago, leaving fans puzzled about when (or if) Sony will reintroduce the game following Concord’s unfortunate collapse. Similarly, Bungie’s new project, Marathon, hasn’t made an appearance since its 2023 announcement.

Guerrilla Games has confirmed development of a co-op Horizon game, which seems to be nearing completion and might be the next title they release. However, despite the likelihood, there’s still no official word on when it will be announced. Lastly, Intergalactic was only recently unveiled in December, with no release window set yet, so we may not hear about it again for some time.

Going forward, there’s been chatter about various upcoming games, such as a new God of War installment set in ancient Greece with a younger Kratos, a remastered collection of previous God of War titles, and even a Spider-Man spinoff featuring Venom. This hints at a wealth of video games that Sony could (and arguably should) discuss. These could range from officially announced projects requiring updates and fresh reveals, to titles that seem on the brink of being unveiled (assuming the leaks are reliable). It’s reasonable to assume that Sony is holding onto these announcements for a grand, attention-grabbing PlayStation Showcase, one that would boast numerous first-party game announcements (and hopefully some third-party ones too). Alternatively, it’s possible that Sony remains silent on most of the games rumored to be in development, which would be worrying, to put it mildly.

Remember that Sony’s PlayStation Showcases don’t always follow a set timeline. They had events annually in 2020 and 2021, but skipped 2022 and then returned in 2023. After skipping 2024 as well, it is uncertain whether they will hold another showcase this year or if we might see two consecutive years without a PlayStation Showcase given the company’s unpredictability.

We’re eagerly anticipating a potential new showcase from Sony within the next few months, as it’s typically during summer that these events occur. Fingers crossed that May or June will see the unveiling of the next PlayStation Showcase! We’re also hoping for a comprehensive and satisfying event, one that makes up for the two-year wait (should it materialize). Unfortunately, the 2023 showcase didn’t quite meet our expectations. But if Sony decides to reveal a good selection of their upcoming first-party games, particularly those not live service oriented, we shouldn’t have any concerns. Until an official announcement from the company, though, we’re just crossing our fingers that there will be a PlayStation Showcase 2025.

Please take note that the opinions shared in this article belong solely to the author. They do not reflect or represent the perspectives of GamingBolt as a whole.

2025-02-15 07:12

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