Sony just aired a State of Play stream that focused on upcoming PlayStation games, largely from Japanese developers and publishers. Many games were announced, including Exoprimal, a co-op dinosaur shooter by Capcom, and new trailers were shown for games like Ghostwire: Tokyo, but the publisher that stole the show was Square Enix.
Square Enix is best known for its massive JRPG franchises, like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, and this knack for the genre was definitely apparent in today's broadcast. New trailers and information were given for some of Square Enix's previously announced games, but they had some surprises in store as well.
Square Enix's Previously Announced Titles
Right off the bat, a new demo was announced for Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin ahead of the game's release on March 15th. The demo for Final Fantasy Origin, which was leaked ahead of the State of Play Broadcast, follows suit from the game's first demo and gives players a chance to try the game before its release. This is definitely recommended, as some have been comparing the gameplay style to the likes of Dark Souls.
A brand new trailer was also shown for the upcoming Forspoken, which has been delayed until October 11. Forspoken is a PS5 exclusive, and the game's visuals definitely demonstrate why. The trailer depicts the protagonist, Frey, fighting all sorts of dragons and monsters in the new, mysterious world she has been transported to. The delay to October is unfortunate, but Forspoken is definitely a title that PS5 owners should look out for.
Square Enix's New Announcements
On top of info about the two previously known games, Square Enix capped off the State of Play broadcast with the announcement of two new ones. First up is the new strategy RPG, The DioField Chronicle. Square Enix's website describes the game as having real-time tactical combat, as opposed to its previous strategy RPGs with turn-based combat, like Final Fantasy Tactics. The game has an impressive, stylized aesthetic, as well as a soundtrack composed by Ramin Djawadi of Game of Thrones and Westworld fame. All of this together results in a strategy RPG that fans of the genre should keep an eye out for when it releases later this year for all modern consoles.
Finally, ending the broadcast, was the announcement of Valkyrie Elysium. The game, which was strongly suspected after the title was recently trademarked, is the newest installment in the Valkyrie Profile series. The game's trailer sets the scene for a dark, moody story that directly draws from Norse mythology. Interestingly, the game also shifts genres to a third-person action RPG from the tactical, turn-based combat the series is known for. This is a trend with modern JRPGs like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the upcoming Dragon Quest 12, so it will be interesting to see how fans receive these changes. Valkyrie Elysium is also set to release later this year for PS4, PS5, and Steam.
That wraps up all the announcements Square Enix made during today's State of Play broadcast. These four games dominated the majority of the 20-minute stream, showing just what a powerhouse Square Enix is as a developer and publisher. That's not even mentioning the other massive games they have on the horizon, like Final Fantasy 16, Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 2, and Dragon Quest 12. Fans of Square Enix, and even fans of RPGs or 3D action games as a whole, will definitely have a lot to look forward to over the next year.