PlayStation’s latest showcase gave fans a look at what is to come in this third year for the PlayStation 5, along with a look at some titles heading to PSVR2.
All’s fair in heists and hijinks.
Opening the showcase was Fairgame$, the first title to come from former Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs producer Jade Raymond’s Haven Studios. Set in the near future, this high-action game looks to be all about robbing the super-rich of the world, with teams competing for the best scores.
Fairgame$ is currently in development for PlayStation 5 and PC.
Coming Soon
It wouldn’t be a showcase without a bunch of teasers coming thick and fast. The first batch included looks at:
- Helldivers 2 was confirmed to be releasing this year in a new in-universe TV advert,
- Immortals of Aveum showed off some more gameplay ahead of the game’s July release,
- GhostRunner II was unveiled, with a look at some of the new combat features and vehicles,
Phantom Blade 0
Next up in the showcase was a look at the beautifully brutal world of Phantom Blade 0, which is coming to PlayStation 5. This semi-open world adventure centres around Soul, an elite assassin who has been framed for the murder of his Order’s patriarch. After being severely wounded in his escape, Soul turns to a healer for help. Only there Is a catch – the cure for Soul’s injuries will only last for 66 days. With time working against him, Soul must figure out the truth before it is too late.
Phantom Blade 0 is currently in development.
More Previews
The next batch of trailers included previews of a host of games including:
- Sword of the Sea is the latest project from Abzu developer Giant Squid set in an abandoned world,
- The Talos Principle 2 will be coming to console and PC later this year,
- Neva is a new title from Gris creators Nomada Studio about a young woman and her wolf companion, coming in 2024,
- Cat Quest: Pirates of the Purribean will be setting sail in 2024,
- Foamstars is a Splatoon-esque 4v4 shooter from Square Enix that will be coming to console,
- A new trailer for The Plucky Squire showed how Jot’s storybook world and the outside world would blend together,
- Teardown is all about taking down buildings in the most effective ways possible and is releasing later this year,
- A Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater remake, renamed Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is in development for PC and console, with the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol 1 coming this fall,
- Towers of Aghasba is an open-world builder all about the balance between nature and civilisation.
Final Fantasy XVI
With not long to go until its release, there was another taste of what is to come in Final Fantasy XVI, as we followed Clive interacting with new characters on his travels around Valisthea along with a look at some of the battles to face and some of the creatures who inhabit this world.
Final Fantasy XVI will be released on June 22 on PlayStation 5 as a timed exclusive.
Alan Wake 2
After a little hint was dropped by voice actor Matthew Porretta about the game’s release date, it was confirmed during the showcase that Alan Wake 2 will be released on October 17 this year. The sequel’s latest trailer appeared to show Alan trapped in the Dark Place while also introducing us to the new playable character, Sage Anderson.
Alan Wake 2 will be available via a digital-only release on console and PC on October 17, 2023.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
Also getting a release date announcement was Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Following the story of Basim, the latest trailer revealed the Assassin’s Focus feature – which allows players to mark and assassinate multiple targets in a row – along with some of the locations players will be visiting once the game launches this October.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be available on console and PC from October 12.
Previews and more
The selection of trailers that came next includes more announcements and sneak peeks of what is to come:
- Revenant Hill is a new adventure featuring beautiful hand-drawn landscapes and a curious cat,
- Granblue Fantasy: Relink will be releasing this winter on console and PC,
- A new story trailer for Street Fighter 6 teases quite the journey ahead for players when it releases in June,
- Ultros is a vividly colourful side-scrolling platformer coming in 2024 for console and PC,
- Tower of Fantasy’s latest trailer had fast-paced action scenes and a wider look at the game’s world setting,
- Dragon’s Dogma 2 was officially unveiled, marking the franchise’s first mainline game in over a decade.
PSVR 2
For VR fans, there were a few special announcements during the showcase featuring titles which will be coming to the platform:
- Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 will be coming later this year,
- Capcom is developing a VR mode for the Resident Evil 4 Remake,
- Zombie caper Arizona Sunshine 2 will be available later this year,
- Crossfire: Sierra Squad is currently in development,
- Beat Saber’s latest music pack, featuring the works of Queen, is available now,
- Synapse is a telekinetic shooter from nDreams coming on July 4.
Final peeks and new hardware
While the final group of teasers may not have been the longest, it may have contained one of the biggest surprises of the showcase – the return of Cayde-6. The new trailer for Destiny 2: The Final Shape features the fan-favourite character talking to Ikora Ray, who is filling him in on what he’s missed since his death in Forsaken.
Bungie also announced a new entry in the Marathon franchise. Set in the same universe as the original games from the 1990s, this new edition will be more PvP focused and won’t include a single-player campaign. Last up was Concord, a sci-fi PvP multiplayer game and the first AAA project from Firewalk Studios which will be coming to console and PC in 2024.
Before the closing segment, SIE President and CEO Jim Ryan made a final appearance to not only thank fans for supporting PlayStation but to also announce two new pieces of hardware. The device currently known as ‘Project Q’ is a handheld device with an 8-in screen and all buttons and features of a DualSense controller. This will allow players to stream any game from their PlayStation 5 via Remote Play on WiFi. There was also the announcement of the first official PlayStation 5 earbuds, but no other information was shared about pricing or a release window.
Marvel’s Spider-Man swings into action
Closing out the showcase was the long-awaited first look at gameplay from Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Opening with the reveal of Kraven the Hunter, there was a lot to take in during this extended presentation, with a look at some of the different gameplay styles, locations and combat mechanics.
There was also a little more information about the story. Playing as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, players will be trying to stop Kraven the Hunter from racking up the body count in New York on his Great Hunt. While facing off with some of Kraven’s men while tracking down Lizard, it was revealed that Peter will be rocking the Symbiote Suit, having seemingly merged with Venom for some reason. While Miles will using a combination of stealth and a little bit of tech support on his missions with a little help from his friend, and drone pilot, Ganke.
The presentation ended with an action-packed chase involving Lizard, Kraven, Kraven’s Hunters and the two heroes across the East River in Queens before the two Spideys part ways as they continue on their missions.
No release date has been confirmed, only a release window of Fall 2023.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is currently in development for a Fall 2023 release on PlayStation 5.
Full details about all the titles featured in the presentation can be found on the PlayStation Blog.
Watch the showcase in full below.
Words by Megan Roxburgh
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