That is the most recent visitor column from Push Square, the voice of the PlayStation group, providing passionate, in-depth protection and perception into the world of Sony. Its purpose is easy: to maintain you knowledgeable, engaged, and a part of the dialog surrounding all issues PlayStation.
Sony sparked discontent among the many PlayStation fandom in February this 12 months when it stated throughout an earnings name there’ll be no sequels or updates to “main current franchise titles” on the PS5 earlier than March 2025. With the platform holder preserving its content material roadmaps near its chest, the feedback had been largely taken out of context and many assumed this would be a lean year for the corporate’s new-gen console.
Whereas it’s true this has been a reasonably quiet 12 months for PS Studios, it’s been something however mild on the video games entrance. On the time of writing, my three Game of the Year frontrunners are Astro Bot, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio and the PS5 is the solely platform the place you’ll be able to play all three. Different potential contenders for awards embrace Silent Hill 2, Helldivers 2, and Black Myth: Wukong – all console exclusives.
There appears to be a sentiment on social media {that a} sport doesn’t depend until it comes from an entirely owned first-party studio, however PlayStation has completed a very good job of working with companions to maintain its portfolio packed this 12 months.
Stellar Blade is a good instance. It collaborated with Korean developer Shift As much as assist convey the NIKKE: Goddess of Victory creator’s console debut to market and in my view is another game in contention for an finish of 12 months gong. Rise of the Ronin, the same partnership with legendary studio Staff Ninja, might have obtained a cooler critical reception however it’s presently ranked seventeenth in IGN’s ongoing Recreation of the Yr consumer ballot, proving it was a success with followers.
The nauseating variety of remakes and remasters will not be to everybody’s style, however it’s simple to overlook The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered launched this 12 months and tagged a 90 important common on aggregators Metacritic and Open Critic. And whereas many rolled their eyes on the rumours round Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, a $10 improve charge and re-recorded dialogue and motion capture imply it’ll virtually definitely appeal to optimistic critiques as nicely.
In fact, not everything PlayStation has touched this year has turned to gold. Its full misreading of the market with first-person shooter Concord – a competent albeit uninspiring affair – will go down in historical past after getting axed after two weeks. And but for all of the discuss of its reside service initiative stumbling, it launched the fastest-selling game in PS Studios history with Helldivers 2, an internet co-op smash that, regardless of benefitting from a simultaneous PC launch, has outpaced juggernauts like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarok.
It’s been a quietly colossal 12 months for PS5 then, and also you get the sense the perfect is but to come back. The firm’s largely saved its blockbusters near its chest however 2025 ought to see the discharge of Ghost of Yotei and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, with Marvel’s Wolverine ready within the wings. These are the “main current franchise titles” the Japanese big was referring to in that aforementioned investor name.
Many should argue this has been a lightweight 12 months for PS5 however the catalogue of content material Sony has amassed paints a really totally different image. The most enjoyable factor is that it’s efficiently crammed the time whereas its first-party groups proceed to cook dinner. An enormous second-half to the technology now awaits.
Sammy Barker is the Editor of Push Square. He’s been residing and respiratory the fantastic world of PlayStation for many years now – and has the tattoos to show it. Yow will discover him on @_get2sammyb.