The PlayStation Showcase is expected to present more information from PlayStation Studio games and third-party developers in its 40-minute presentation. Sony has made it clear that there will be no VR information at this moment. But is this event good? Will there be big games? For comparison, last year’s PS5 Showcase gave us trailers like Final Fantasy XVI, Demon’s Souls first gameplay trailer, Hogwarts Legacy, and God of War: Ragnarok teaser.
As usual, we come to you with our betting chips in hand and faith in our heart with a list of game announcements that we hope this Showcase will provide. After all, even though Brandon Sanderson says expectations are like fine pottery, the harder you hold them, the more likely they are to crack. What’s fun is there into not expecting and dreaming a bit, right? Without further ado, let’s go the list of what to - realistically - expect from PlayStation Showcase.
God of War: Ragnarok
Whenever someone says PlayStation, someone else answers, “boy.” God of War is already one of the flagship exclusives that tip the scales in Sony’s favor when you consider buying a next-gen console. That said, since the teaser of God of War: Ragnarok - name to be confirmed - was announced at last year’s PS5 Showcase, there has been no further news. According to the teaser, God of War: Ragnarok was supposed to be released in 2021. But it was since postponed to 2022. However, along with the game delay news, Sony reported that the new God of War will release both for PS5 and PS4. And if the recent Jim Ryan fiasco has taught us anything - besides never reneging the gaming community on a promise - it is that if you buy a PS4 version, you will need to pay for an upgrade to play the PS5 version. God of War: Ragnarok will carry on the story of Kratos and Atreus, after the final teaser where Thor comes thundering to pay a visit to the father and son. Many rumors say that Atreus will be controllable in Ragnarok, and we expect such information to be confirmed this Thursday.
Gran Turismo 7
The next game in Sony’s magnanimous driving simulator franchise showed a trailer in July last year and has been radio-silent since then. The most recent information we’ve had is that a PS4 version for Gran Turismo 7 has been confirmed, as have most of Sony’s other major franchises. Gran Turismo 7 was supposed to be released in 2021, but a Sony spokesperson said Covid impacted the game’s development. Thus, it was postponed to 2022 as, unfortunately, but understandable, most releases have. With that said, it would be strange if the Showcase didn’t update us on Gran Turismo 7. All the information we have is from the trailer. In it, we can see that the car customization system remains robust, and the graphics are drop-dead gorgeous, ever closer to reality. Unreal Engine will soon change its name to Real Engine - sorry for that.
Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy was one of the delightful surprises of last year’s PS5 Showcase. The Harry Potter phenomenon won a resounding audience worldwide now also wants to make a name in the gaming world with his first Triple AAA game. Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world RPG that, as the name implies, takes place primarily at the United Kingdom’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The game, however, takes place in the late 19th century, decades before the events of the Harry Potter books and movies. However, and sorry to be the bearer of bad news once again, Hogwarts Legacy has also been delayed. Warner Bros Interactive posted on social media that they “are giving the game the time it needs to create the best possible experience.” Considering the infamous release of Cyberpunk, I say Portkey Games can take enough time so we can brew potions and tame magical creatures without having to learn the Defence Against the Dark Arts of the bugs.
The Last of Us 2 Multiplayer
It’s been over a year since The Last of Us 2 was released, and some fans are still eagerly awaiting more information about the multiplayer. Although The Last of Us franchise is known for its masterpiece single-player storytelling, some hardcore fans have kept the first game alive by venturing into the Factions multiplayer. So the question is: will there be a Factions 2 or not? For quite a while we were left in the dark, until recently. Dataminers splashed us with some unconfirmed information. One particular piece of info confirms something suspected, that the multiplayer of Last of Us 2 will be a standalone game and not an addition to the base game. So don’t be surprised if you have to pay extra for it. Another information divulged by the ‘Speclizer,’ which you can read more about in our dedicated article, is that this standalone multiplayer may turn out to be a battle royale. Considering the setting and gameplay of Last of Us 2, it’s easy to see how a battle royale may play out. Therefore, we consider that a trailer about the multiplayer of The Last of Us 2 would come in handy at the PlayStation Showcase and would surely be a revelation that would twist fans’ necks.
Forspoken
Forspoken is a new IP from Square Enix developed by the same team as Final Fantasy XV, so gameplay similarities are expected. Forspoken is apparently an action RPG set in a fantasy world. The protagonist, seemingly contemporary given her clothes, seems to be adapting to the world as she develops her powers. The game was announced as Project Athia at a Sony event in 2020, then announced its official title at a Square Enix event. Forspoken will be released for PS5 and PC. Still, given the intimate relationship that Square Enix and Sony have, it wouldn’t be strange to see more information about Forspoken at the PlayStation Showcase. A more in-depth trailer about the gameplay and a definitive release date would be welcome, given that Forspoken was announced to be released in 2022.
Pragmata
This often-overlooked game from Capcom was also announced at a PS5 event last year. Pragmata hasn’t had much information advertised other than the trailer, and from it, we can assume that it will be an action-adventure game in a sci-fi setting. The trailer is enigmatic and shows a man in an abandoned contemporary city alongside a girl who does not appear to have had an ordinary childhood or even be human. After a satellite comes crashing down and destroys the sky, the man and the girl are sucked up and end up landing on the moon, glimpsing the Earth on the horizon. So far, everything about the game is a mystery, but from the quality of the presentation, there is a good chance that this is a new Triple A IP from Capcom. As for its release, well, this won’t exactly be a news flash. Initially planned for 2022, the game was delayed to 2023 so that the Capcom team would have more time to work on the project. But since the game has been out of the spotlight for one year, I believe Pragmata would be a good choice for the Showcase.
Non-realistic expectations
They can also showcase games that have already appeared or are saturated with announcements, like Horizon Forbidden West and others that, although it would be wonderful if they did show up, the chances are slim. As you know, we have an abundance of news about Horizon Forbidden West. But nothing stops Sony from showing even more details, such as the differences between the PS4 and PS5 versions. Rockstar has already confirmed that GTA V will come with some new generation improvements. The trailer for this version, which many call GTA V E&E (Expanded & Enhanced), may show refinements to the mechanics, new missions, and more features to the online mode. The GTA Remastered Trilogy is also an unlikely possibility. As for games with really unrealistic expectations, we can mention Final Fantasy XVI. Announced at last year’s PlayStation Showcase, its producer, Yoshi-P, said we would have more information by 2021. However, he also said that if it was the case, Final Fantasy XVI would have a new trailer presented at the Tokyo Game Show, an event that will take place between the end of September and the beginning of October. But Yoshi-P reinforces that if they are not prepared, they will not show Final Fantasy XVI. So far, it seems very improbable that the sixteenth game in the franchise will appear at PlayStation Showcase and even at the TGS, but fingers crossed. Another game that many aficionados want to see, but the chances of which are tenuous, is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Miles Morales was released alongside the PS5 and was considered by many to be more like a DLC than a standalone game. That said, some stipulate that Insomniac is ready for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and hopefully awaits at least a teaser during Sony’s conference. But remember expectations and fine pottery. Don’t let them discourage you, so you don’t take your frustration out on the developers.
