After months of rumors and over a year and a half without an official presentation on the same scale, Sony formally announced yesterday that a PlayStation showcase will be held next Wednesday. Teased to be roughly an hour in length and containing new details on upcoming PS5 and PSVR2 titles from PlayStation's many first party studios, the event has immediately garnered a lot of attention and hype from fans who have been clamoring new information for what feels like an eternity.
With a set date now in mind, players are counting down the days on their calenders leading up to the event. The last time that there was a PlayStation Showcase of the same caliber was in September 2021, nearly two years ago. While there have been State of Play presentations sprinkled throughout the many months in between these two events, they don't quite pack nearly the same punch, nor are they the place where Sony decides to pack in its biggest reveals. Although nothing has been confirmed to appear or even hinted at, a few safe bets and educated guesses can help create a blueprint what could show up during the showcase next week.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
It should be safe that say that it's web swinging time. First shown at the aforementioned PlayStation Showcase in September 2021, the project has mostly gone silent since then aside from the odd rumor or comment from voice actor Tony Todd. With that much time having passed for Insomniac to be working on the game, a good deal of progress has likely been made, especially in the likelihood that it had already begun production long before it was revealed. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is still slated for release in 2023, and with the second half of the year soon approaching, it's time for Sony to begin marketing its flagship exclusive for the holiday season.
The Last of Us Multiplayer Project
Another project that has been in development for a long time has been Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer spin off. Originally planned as an add-on mode for The Last of Us Part 2, the project eventually blossomed into something far greater and exponentially more ambitious that needed its own dedicated production schedule. It has been nearly three years since The Last of Us 2 launched, with Naughty Dog keeping this mysterious multiplayer game in secret, aside from some concept art and brief production updates. With the recent HBO series having sparked interest in the franchise once more, now may be the time to pull back the curtain on this long awaited game.
Death Stranding 2
The original Death Stranding has its dedicated fan base, but it wouldn't be a stretch to say that it was controversial for its unique approach to design and gameplay. It remains to be seen whether Kojima will maintain a similar style or up the ante on the action and spectacle for Death Stranding 2, but a proper reveal for the game may likely be included in the PlayStation showcase. With the initial reveal from the Game Awards out of the way, the stage is set to show off in-game footage and more details about the latest mind-bending adventure from Hideo Kojima.
Final Fantasy 16
Another safe bet would be a final roll-out of marketing content for Final Fantasy 16 before it launches next month. The game has a timed PS5 exclusivity window, so Sony will likely want to capitalize on that and really push it into the minds of gamers, both longtime fans and newcomers to the franchise alike. The graphics look dazzling and with a stronger emphasis on hack and slash combat mechanics similar to Devil May Cry, this latest entry in the long-running RPG series will surely be another hit for the franchise.
Astro's Playroom Sequel
At the launch of the PS5, the main attraction in terms of exclusives was undoubtedly Bluepoint's Demon Souls remake. However, a special treat bundled inside every console carved its own place among the attention of fans, that treat being Astro's Playroom. A wonderful tribute to the past generations of PlayStation gaming and culture, it was also a surprisingly fun platformer with some fun ideas and clever gameplay sequences that took advantage of the haptic feedback and other features in the PS5 controller. Team Asobi (the studio behind the game) has been developing a new 3D adventure game for some time now, which could be a sequel to the PS5's launch sleeper hit.
Konami (Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill)
Rumors have been swirling that Bluepoint studio is taking on the Metal Gear Solid series for its next remake, with initial reports indicating that it would be reimagining Snake's infiltration of Shadow Moses Island in 1998's classic Metal Gear Solid. However, more recently, it has been suggested that its actually Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater being remade from the ground up, so it remains to be seen if there is truth to any of this. Additionally, Bloober Team has already confirmed its Silent HIll 2 remake last Fall, and this would be the opportune time to show off more. As a final note, Konami has even been rumored to be working on a new Castlevania, which Sony locked down as a timed exclusive.
Potential Surprises During the PlayStation Showcase
A showcase from any publisher is nothing without a few surprises, and in terms of the future of PlayStation, any guess is a plausible one considering the portfolio of the platform. Santa Monica Studio has been cooking up a new IP in the background while working on God of War: Ragnarok, and this may finally be the time for it to see the light of day. Sucker Punch has been equally quiet about what it has been up to, with another Ghost of Tsushima game being the most likely endeavor for the team to pursue. Bend Studio could showcase its new IP, as could Deviation Games. Finally, it wouldn't be a stretch for Sony to formally announce a PS5 Pro Model with boosts to performance and features, as it is almost the halfway point of the console's lifecycle.