Just as we usually do here on Push Square, let’s kick off the new year (slightly over a week past its start) by presenting a series of predictions related to PlayStation. Our talented editorial team has come together to discuss their expectations and aspirations for the upcoming year.
It’s not surprising that our predictions can vary from informed assumptions to outright foolishness, so don’t hesitate to raise an eyebrow or chuckle as you go over them.
Now then, let’s get started…
Aaron Bayne, Video Producer
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet gameplay is revealed, plus a 2026 release window
There’s a sense of anticipation that suggests we might catch a glimpse of the gameplay for Naughty Dog’s upcoming title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, possibly as early as this year. A potential release date could be set for 2026.
In contrast to the two-year gap between its initial announcement and release for The Last of Us Part 2’s gameplay reveal back in 2016, it seems that development on the sequel has been ongoing since 2020. With the cancellation of The Last of Us Multiplayer, resources have likely been redirected to this project. Furthermore, some speculate that the final moments of the recent trailer bear a striking resemblance to actual gameplay footage. In other words, it appears as though progress on the game may be expedited compared to the previous title.
It’s quite possible that Sony will unveil gameplay for their upcoming titles after the release of Ghost of Yotei, which is expected towards the end of this year. One of the initial games Sony plans to release in 2026 could be Intergalactic.
PS Portal will get an OLED version
As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got a feeling that Sony might unveil an OLED version of the PlayStation Portable (PSP). The original PSP has been quite a hit for Sony, with the 30th Anniversary edition, cloud streaming capabilities, and the recent announcement of the Midnight Black edition. Given these exciting updates, it’s not hard to imagine that they might consider an upgrade for the device, especially since the LCD screen could benefit significantly from an OLED upgrade, despite being a pretty good screen as it stands.
It’s clear how significantly a high-quality OLED screen can elevate your user experience, as demonstrated by devices such as the Nintendo Switch OLED and Steam Deck OLED today, and even the PS Vita in the past. The problem is that if the Portal were to get an OLED upgrade, it would likely retail for around £300 or more, which could be a high price point given its current cost. It’s worth noting that Sony has not shied away from releasing premium devices, such as the PS5 Pro.
Opinion on the PS5 Pro will shift as more games benefit from it
Upon its release, one of the main criticisms leveled at the PS5 Pro was that it was enhancing games that had already been released. A 60fps upgrade or higher resolution for a game you’ve already experienced isn’t as exciting as upgrading new releases.
In 2025, it’s likely that we’ll witness the true power of the Pro, as most games will be updated with patches specifically for the Pro version, significantly improving frame rates and resolution, thus making the Pro a much more attractive purchase option.
As a gamer, I’m anticipating that towards the end of this gaming generation, the PS5 will be really tested. Already, major titles like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds are confirmed to have day-one patches for the Pro version, enhancing their gameplay experiences. I predict we’ll see more big releases struggling with graphical or performance power on the standard PS5 compared to the Pro. This gradual shift might change the general consensus from “unnecessary upgrade” to a “must-buy” for those who desire an optimal experience for the latest console games.
Should Grand Theft Auto 6 release this year, it might push many individuals beyond their limits.
Khayl Adam, News Reporter
PlayStation enters an unprecedented new golden age
Sony is currently thriving financially, even with what appears to be a disadvantage: this generation’s outstanding exclusive first-party games. There are numerous factors contributing to this success, one of the key ones being its major console competitor seemingly dropping out of the race. Microsoft’s decision to allow its most prized intellectual properties to move to PlayStation may have signaled the end of the console wars, in my opinion, and it seems many gamers are finding themselves without a clear allegiance.
Social media abounds with big accounts switching sides and purchasing a PS5. I believe this trend will gather momentum by 2025 as more games move over and Xbox fans who feel abandoned continue to surrender their loyalty.
Upcoming games like Ghost of Yotei and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach promise greatness, potentially selling a good number of consoles. However, as of now, there’s no news on GTA 6, so it’s unlikely that people will rush to buy an Xbox specifically for it in 2025.
Judas is released in Q1 2025, and it’s the true successor to BioShock
As a dedicated fan, I’ve been eagerly waiting for Ken Levine and the talented team at Ghost Story Games to unveil Judas. While my anticipation is already sky-high, I confidently believe that this game will surpass even my lofty expectations. I sense they’ve been meticulously crafting something extraordinary, and when Judas finally releases, it will undoubtedly outshine even BioShock’s iconic “Would you kindly” moment. It’s destined to take its place on the highest pedestal in gaming history.
Additionally, I believe the release might be closer than anticipated. Although 2025 seems plausible, Take-Two Interactive is aiming for some financial gain from the game before April 1st, which means time is running out, but I am optimistic that we may witness a reveal and launch in the upcoming months.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is a breakout success for the series
Since its inception in 1991, the esteemed Civilization series hasn’t been a blockbuster seller, but it has garnered great respect and acclaim. Generally speaking, strategy games, whether grand or small-scale, have faced difficulties achieving significant sales success. However, this trend seems to be shifting with recent editions; Civilization V (released in 2010) moved 8 million units, while Civilization VI (launched in 2016) has racked up an impressive 11 million in lifetime sales, indicating a very positive trajectory.
It appears that with Civilization VII, the circumstances seem ripe for a genuine blockbuster hit. The Civilization franchise has long been a stepping stone for strategy enthusiasts diving into history, and with its simultaneous release on PlayStation 5, coupled with a significant buildup of anticipation surrounding this new installment, leaves me confident that it will elevate the series to unprecedented heights.
Liam Croft, Assistant Editor
Resident Evil 9 is announced for a 2026 launch
As an ardent fan of the Resident Evil series, I’ve got a bold prediction I feel quite certain about – one that I’d risk a pretty penny on. Unlike my predictions for new installments, this one revolves around upcoming remakes, and here’s what I foresee happening in 2025:
In the coming years, we can expect Capcom to announce a highly anticipated remake of Resident Evil Code: Veronica. This remake is going to be a significant leap forward, surpassing even the stunning visuals and gameplay of the recent Resident Evil 2 remake. With the advancements in technology, we can expect an even more immersive experience that will bring the terrifying island of Rockfort Island to life like never before. So, get ready, fellow fans, for what promises to be an unforgettable journey back to a classic Resident Evil title!
Capcom is planning to unveil Resident Evil 9, but the game won’t hit the shelves until the early part of 2026. Like its predecessor, it will likely sport a subtitle and I’m eager to see how the developers incorporate “IX” into it creatively. They might choose a title that starts with “Ix” or includes the letters “IX” somewhere within. How about Resident Evil Blend for a possible name?
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach earns the highest Metacritic rating of any PS5 game released this year
Over time, Death Stranding, initially misinterpreted by several upon its PS4 debut, has garnered greater understanding. Its original version holds a Metacritic rating of 82, climbing to 85 with the PS5’s Director’s Cut release. Six years down the line, I believe we now appreciate more what Hideo Kojima intended for the series. Consequently, Death Stranding 2 is expected to be warmly received compared to its predecessor.
This game is going to be exceptional, possibly reaching the top spot as the PS5’s highest-rated game on Metacritic by the end of 2025. In a way, I’m implying that Grand Theft Auto 6 might get postponed until 2026.
Hollow Knight: Silksong releases
Wrapping things up, that’s the predicted outcome. After a long wait spanning numerous years, Team Cherry is back with the follow-up to Hollow Knight, initially teased in February 2019. Despite the high expectations built over six years, it’s unlikely to meet them completely, but rest assured, it’ll still be an outstanding game.
Robert Ramsey, Assistant Editor
Starfield comes to PS5 as some kind of complete edition later in the year
2024 seemed a tad exploratory for Microsoft regarding Xbox games on PlayStation. Therefore, I anticipate that the year 2025 will be bustling with announcements of ports.
Among them, one game likely stands out: Starfield, the highly anticipated yet controversial sci-fi RPG from Bethesda. While there’s no confirmation about a second expansion for Starfield, I believe that at some point, a ‘completed’ or ‘definitive’ version will be released on multiple platforms, including the PlayStation 5.
If this turns out to be true, it would certainly be intriguing to observe the response from PlayStation enthusiasts. However, I suspect there may also be other game port announcements accompanying this one, which might somewhat soften the excitement.
Jin Sakai will be playable in Ghost of Yotei (through a flashback sequence)
Absolutely, it seems likely that Jin Sakai will appear again in Ghost of Yotei. However, since the subsequent story unfolds over 300 years after the Tsushima events, our protagonist would sadly have passed away by then.
Keeping this thought in mind, I’m inclined to believe that Yotei’s tale will intertwine with the occurrences of the initial game. Jin’s metamorphosis into the Ghost will be hinted at as a mysterious folk tale, and new character Atsu may find motivation from this legend as he searches for inspiration.
Through an expansion of events, we can expect a scene reminiscent of the past during which you’ll assume command over a powerful, almost mythical figure resembling Jin. It’s possible that this sequence may culminate with Atsu embracing the ‘Ghost’ name and heritage to support her ambitions.
And here’s an extra prediction for you: Atsu will, at some point, come to inherit the Sakai katana.
The Final Fantasy 9 remake is revealed, built on Unreal Engine
As an ardent enthusiast, I must confess that speculating the scale of this long-whispered remake is no easy feat. However, given its development has been ongoing for at least several years – fueled by that Nvidia leak from the past – I am optimistic that we’ll finally hear the official announcement echoing in 2025.
One aspect of my thinking is that Square Enix’s schedule for this year appears rather sparse. While 2024 was primarily focused on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the third part of the trilogy won’t be released until at least 2026. From a Final Fantasy standpoint, there doesn’t seem to be much else planned for the near future, aside perhaps from Kingdom Hearts 4, but I’m considering this primarily in terms of Final Fantasy series.
It seems reasonable to believe that there will indeed be a remake of Final Fantasy 9 – at least from my perspective. While it appears to be in development, I can’t quite imagine it as a massive-scale, high-budget remake like the one for Final Fantasy 7. Instead, my guess is that it’ll be a comprehensive reimagining using Unreal Engine, much like a revamped version of the original PlayStation game. This new take would likely include some tweaks to modernize the gameplay mechanics.
Sammy Barker, Editor
Sony will announce a game playable on PS5, PC, and mobile
I’m leaning more towards the belief that the future of gaming lies in being able to play all your games on any device, anywhere. However, I suspect PlayStation might approach this goal in a slightly less direct manner compared to Microsoft. My guess is that by around 2025, PlayStation could unveil (not necessarily launch) a game that’s compatible with PS5, PC, and mobile platforms.
In simpler terms, the game you’re playing will be a live service title, meaning it’s managed by the platform provider. You can effortlessly continue your progress across all three devices by signing into your PlayStation Network (PSN) account. All your gameplay data is saved in the cloud for easy access.
GTA 6 will have a modular multiplayer map allowing Rockstar to change parts of the city
It seems likely that Grand Theft Auto 6 might be postponed, but I’m certainly looking forward to discovering more details about the game in the coming year.
I’m anticipating that the multiplayer aspect of the game could offer a flexible playground, or sandbox, which Rockstar can adapt and adjust according to seasonal occurrences. Unlike GTA 5, where Los Santos was reused for its online mode, I believe over time it has started to feel somewhat repetitive.
As a devoted fan, I’m speculating that some aspects of GTA 6’s single-player environment will find their way into the multiplayer realm. However, I believe Rockstar Games has something truly extraordinary up their sleeves – the ability to seamlessly introduce entirely new neighborhoods and city sections on demand. This flexibility would enable them to alter the overall ambiance of the open world according to different events and updates, much like Fortnite’s map transformation over the course of a season.
Microsoft becomes the biggest publisher on PS5 by far
Xbox, having acquired Activision and Bethesda, is already a significant publisher for the PS5. However, due to most of its content being console-exclusive, it has been somewhat limited in its reach. I believe this situation will shift by 2025, as I predict the lion’s share of their content will become available on Sony’s platform.
It’s likely that bandwidth challenges were a significant hurdle for Xbox in 2024, as many of their studios were not yet equipped to create games for multiple platforms. However, I anticipate that they have addressed this issue internally. As a result, we can expect not only the release of ported versions of popular titles such as Forza Horizon 5 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 this year, but also day one releases for the majority of their upcoming lineup.
It seems plausible that certain games could gain significant popularity on the PlayStation 5’s extensive user base, similar to Sea of Thieves, and when you factor in the traditional annual Call of Duty release, I predict that Microsoft will be the largest publisher for the PlayStation 5 by 2025.
Stephen Tailby, Assistant Editor
We’ll spy our first glimpse of Project 007 this year
IO Interactive, creators of Hitman, revealed their plans for a James Bond game back in 2020, and I have a strong hunch that we might catch a glimpse of this project as early as 2025. While it’s not guaranteed that the game will launch this year, the team has been diligently working on it for almost five years now. Given this lengthy development period, it seems fitting to me that we could see something like a teaser, the final title reveal, or even a sneak peek of the secret agent’s appearance in this new, original story.
In a similar fashion to when the game was first announced, this prediction is largely speculative and lacks concrete evidence. However, after five years have passed, I strongly believe it’s high time for the secretive mission of this game to be concluded, IO Interactive. It’s been long enough; it’s time to bring your stealth gaming mastery out of the shadows!
Team Asobi isn’t quite done with Astro Bot just yet
Last year saw the release of an exceptional platformer, which subsequently received multiple free upgrades, enriching it with fresh levels featuring Special Bots for collection. Incorporating these new stages, the vast majority of copyright notices in the game’s credits now hold coherence; however, a few may subtly suggest there could be more to anticipate in the future.
From what I gather, among the series credited in Astro Bot, only Assassin’s Creed and Beyond Good & Evil aren’t presently featured in the game. It’s plausible that these were planned but didn’t make it, but another possibility is that characters from these franchises might show up in a future game update.
It’s perplexing, however, that Gex, a character featured in the holiday-themed DLC stage, is absent from the credits at this time. This could possibly be an oversight, but it does keep open the possibility that other games and publishers not yet acknowledged are still eligible. Of course, we’re all aware that a popular RPG series from a Japanese publisher is yet to make its appearance.
It seems that Astro Bot may gain an additional one or two special levels to accommodate any missing Final Fantasy characters, and possibly include representatives from Ubisoft as well.
EA will announce an arcade racing game, and it’s either a Burnout revival or a Need for Speed remaster
Takedown – if they managed that, I’d be more than willing to overlook any issues that might arise.
It has been speculated for approximately a year now that Stellar Entertainment might be developing something (their website hints at a triple-A, Unreal Engine 5 arcade racer). If this rumor turns out to be true, it would certainly be exciting – maybe 2025 will mark the release of this project.
Even if it didn’t meet expectations recently, Need for Speed remains quite prominent. Despite the underperformance of Need for Speed Unbound, the franchise hasn’t been written off just yet. There seems to be a distinct trend emerging that might give us a hint about its future.
Criterion Games has alternated between releasing remakes and fresh titles since the debut of Burnout Paradise Remastered. Given their latest release, Unbound, which is essentially a remake of Need for Speed Most Wanted (2012), it seems plausible that they might be planning another remaster next.
1. The only options left seem to be delving deeper into the past for the franchise, either by releasing a remastered or remade version of NFS Underground 2 from 2005, or Most Wanted, considering that’s what they might do this year, given how it appears they’ll unveil an arcade racer.
2. It seems the franchise will either explore its past more, possibly by bringing back a remastered or remade version of NFS Underground 2 from 2005, or Most Wanted. This year, they might be planning to reveal some kind of arcade racer.
How do you feel about the forecasts we’ve made for the year 2025? Do they seem far-fetched, or do you think some of them might actually happen? If you have any outlandish predictions of your own, please share them in the comments section below.
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2025-01-11 00:07