After skipping E3 2021 and months passing by without a peep regarding its future, Sony has finally announced that a PlayStation event will be taking place next Thursday on September 9. Estimated to clock in at roughly 40 minutes long, the showcase will consist of what Sony plans to release this holiday, as well as a preview of things to come in 2022 and beyond. A presentation like this has been a long time coming, with the last similar scale event taking place exactly a year ago in September 2020. Fans are naturally excited, greatly anticipating what Sony has up its sleeves.
Previously announced games such as Horizon: Forbidden West are sure to have a presence at the show, but there is always the possibility for some surprises as well. The PlayStation brand has become synonymous with top tier first party exclusives, something which seems to be continuing on the PS5. Head of Sony Worldwide Studios Hermen Hulst has stated that over 25 new PS5 first party titles are in development, with at least half of those being new IP's. The PS5 surely has a great few years ahead of it, and while fans should always keep expectations in check, there is a good chance Sony has a special show in store for next week.
Horizon: Forbidden West
As stated above, Horizon: Forbidden West has already been announced, but that doesn't dampen the level of hype leading up to its release. First shown off during the initial reveal event for the PlayStation 5 last June, the title is shaping up to be an even bigger game than its predecessor, featuring larger environments and more gorgeous visuals. With Guerilla Games confirming the release date for Horizon: Forbidden West at Gamescom, Sony will likely want to give the game an extra push, considering that it is the PS5's first big title in early 2022.
God of War: Ragnarok
Like a one-two punch alongside Horizon: Forbidden West, God of War: Ragnarok is neck and neck with that game as the most anticipated PS5 title. While unfortunately delayed to 2022, the last time gamers got a glimpse at the game was in September 2020, so surely Santa Monica Studio has something more tangible ready to be shown off by next week. The prior glimpse wasn't actually much at all, aside from a logo and Kratos' narration, so it feels like the time is right for a proper gameplay reveal or more a cinematic trailer. The hype for this game is palpable, and could easily be used to open the show, just as God of War did at Sony's E3 2016 conference.
Gran Turismo 7
Another title that sadly had to be delayed into 2022 is Gran Turismo 7, but on the positive side, this will likely result in an extra layer of polish. Polyhony Digital has been praised in the past for its insane attention to detail and photo realistic graphical fidelity, and now with the PS5 in its hands, the studio will likely raise the bar to another level. It has been a long time coming, but racing enthusiasts and fans of driving simulators will have a product worth the wait. Hopefully, a gameplay montage is present during the PlayStation showcase, alongside a confirmed release date.
Abandoned
This entry is a bit of a swing for the fences, but many feel like there are far too many coincidences and mysterious surrounding Abandoned for it to not be leading to something substantial. After months of bizarre Twitter posts and strange marketing choices, many gamers are convinced that Abandoned is all a ruse, a misdirection meant to disguise something bigger. Some gamers have come to the conclusion that this is all the work of the best prankster in gaming: Hideo Kojima. The many thematic and visual elements of Abandoned have led some to believe its actually a new Silent Hill or Metal Gear Solid. Whatever the project may be, Sony has promoted it on its official YouTube channel and the game has its own ambitious PS5 app, so a presence at the showcase wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary.
Third Party/Indie Content
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Of course, as good as it is, first party content can only carry a console so far. Not all gamers will be interested in Horizon: Forbidden West or God of War: Ragnarok, as there are countless gamers all with varied and personal tastes. Sony knows this, and will likely spare a few minutes for content outside of its first party portfolio. This can range from third party titles like Call of Duty: Vanguard, games from companies like Ubisoft and EA, or even some promising indie games. This can help the presentation branch out to fans of all genres, and make the PS5 appealing to players of all kinds.
Potential Surprises
Last but not least are the special surprises that make these larger gaming events so exciting to begin with. The increasingly common "one more thing" moments leave a lasting impression and tease what's to come in the future, and one could easily be seen at this showcase. This can of course be literally anything, as it is anyone's guess what out of left field announcement may be made by Sony during the show. A sequel to Death Stranding was teased by Norman Reedus recently, while there are also rumors that a follow up to Marvel's Spider-Man is in active development. Games already released such as Returnal could possibly receive a DLC expansion similar to Ghost of Tsushima's Iki Island content. Though there is the possibility that there are no surprises at all, it's worth keeping in mind that a shocking show closer is possible.
A PlayStation showcase has been confirmed for September 9.