PlayStation’s first half of 2024 has been quietly profitable with out essentially setting the world alight. Helldivers 2 proved a shock megahit in each a crucial and business sense, Closing Fantasy 7 Rebirth is one in every of the greatest RPGs of the 12 months to this point – even when it hasn’t fairly bought the variety of copies each Sq. Enix and Sony could have been hoping for – and, as not too long ago as a couple of weeks in the past, each Rise of the Ronin and Stellar Blade launched, bringing with them thrilling manufacturers of sharp motion.
These exclusives have been shiny spots in an trade in any other case tormented by layoffs and studio closures (of which Sony has performed no small half in), however in terms of what else to anticipate to play in your PS5 in the again half of 2024, there’s a worrying lack of introduced video games and dates – particularly in comparison with the sturdy first-party choices Xbox presently has lined up. After all, this might all change quickly as we quickly method the summer season showcase season the place thrilling new reveals will undoubtedly steal the headlines. Sony will, presumably, need one thing shiny to point out alongside a possible unveiling of the closely rumored PS5 Professional. However what number of of these recent bulletins will truly be playable inside the subsequent six months is one other query, although. My guess could be very few.
Past this 12 months’s upcoming Silent Hill 2 Remake, Loss of life Stranding 2 in 2025, Bungie’s Marathon, and a few different first-party releases we’ll cowl shortly, PlayStation’s cabinet is wanting comparatively naked, particularly in terms of video games from these keystone PlayStation Studios. It begs the query of what every of those groups – people who helped construct the PlayStation library into the sturdy place to play it’s at present – are to date, and the way lengthy earlier than we get to each see and play them. So let’s check out what every of these builders (not together with assist studios) are doing, and after we can realistically anticipate to see new video games from them.
Naughty Canine
Arguably the jewel in the PlayStations Studios crown, Naughty Canine’s final full launch was 2020’s The Final of Us Half 2. The Uncharted developer hasn’t been fully quiet since then, releasing each remastered variations of The Final of Us Half 1 (in collaboration with Iron Galaxy) and Half 2 as not too long ago as this January. However Naughty Canine’s most notable latest announcement wasn’t a brand new launch, however the cancellation of a multiplayer entry in the collection that the studio had spent a few years on earlier than deciding to show its consideration again to the place its confirmed abilities lie: single-player adventures.
In March 2023, co-studio head Neil Druckmann acknowledged the developer had chosen its subsequent challenge however didn’t verify if it was The Final of Us Half 3 or one thing else. In the 14 months since we’ve heard little or no, except for a small tease in The Final of Us Half 2 making-of documentary the place Druckmann acknowledged he has a “idea” in thoughts and that there is “in all probability yet another chapter to this story.”
May we see a reveal of this new challenge quickly? Whether or not it’s a continuation of Ellie’s story, a return to Nathan Drake’s adventures, or one thing fully new fully, I wouldn’t be too stunned to see an announcement this 12 months, even when enjoying it’s nonetheless a approach off. The comparatively brief two-to-three-year gaps between Uncharted and The Final of Us video games are lengthy gone, sadly, with 4 already having handed since Naughty Canine’s final.
Santa Monica Studio
Santa Monica Studio launched God of Conflict Ragnarok to large success in late 2022 and adopted up with the surprisingly prolonged free Valhalla DLC in December of final 12 months. Nevertheless, what’s subsequent for the studio is a thriller, though we do know Cory Barlog – recreation director of 2018’s God of Conflict – moved on to helm a brand new challenge in 2021 after leaving Eric Williams to fill Ragnarok’s director seat. Little to nothing is thought about that new challenge, however given it’s been in growth for a variety of years already it wouldn’t be past perception to see it revealed this 12 months.
As for a brand new God of Conflict recreation, nicely, we possible can’t anticipate that as shortly. Regardless of the hole between Ragnarok and its predecessor being solely 4 years, the finish of Kratos’ Norse saga alerts a brand new course for the collection which, naturally, means it’ll require much more work from the floor up. We will hope, in fact, however don’t anticipate to see everybody’s favorite offended dad any time quickly. That stated, we wouldn’t say no to a remake of the unique trilogy…
Insomniac Video games
Insomniac is arguably Sony’s most prolific studio, releasing both a Spider-Man or Ratchet and Clank recreation each couple of years for nearly a decade now, most not too long ago final 12 months with the vastly profitable Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. However in a worrying signal of the fragile state of the video games trade, even a recreation of that magnitude couldn’t forestall layoffs from occurring this 12 months in what turned out to be a doubly damaging couple of months for the developer, following an enormous knowledge breach and subsequent theft.
The information theft revealed that the extremely anticipated Wolverine recreation isn’t anticipated till 2026 at the earliest, but in addition {that a} Venom recreation could arrive earlier than it in 2025. Both approach, it’s extremely unlikely Insomniac can be springing any shock video games this 12 months, and in any case the studio has gone via not too long ago I feel it is truthful to permit it as a lot of a break as anybody.
Sucker Punch Productions
Sucker Punch has been very quiet since 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima. Work is presumably underway on its subsequent recreation however, reality be advised, we have now little concept what precisely that’s. Widespread knowledge would counsel a direct sequel could be the most reasonable transfer as a consequence of the success of the first recreation, and a 2022 job itemizing is likely to be a small clue in the direction of this notion.
A posting on the studio’s profession web page on the lookout for an Encounter Designer famous that tasks would come with delivering “attention-grabbing and assorted encounters in an open-world recreation, with a specific concentrate on melee fight and stealth”. This definitely suggests a return to Japan, however may simply additionally counsel (to an admittedly lesser extent) a brand new Notorious or Sly Cooper recreation, or one thing altogether completely different. The reality is we have now no actual concept, however let’s simply hope that silence is damaged quickly.
Guerrilla Video games
Guerrilla adopted up 2022’s Horizon: Forbidden West with final 12 months’s Burning Shores DLC because it continued to construct out Aloy’s story. With the West Coast-set sequel ending on a cliffhanger, it’s not a stretch to anticipate the Amsterdam-based studio to be engaged on the third a part of the trilogy subsequent. We wouldn’t anticipate any information on that one quickly nevertheless – the growth time between Zero Daybreak and Forbidden West was 5 years so we’re possible a short time away from seeing Aloy and her metallic dinosaur pals once more quickly.
We do know {that a} multiplayer Horizon recreation is presently in the works, although, starring “a brand new solid of characters and a novel stylized look”. Maybe that is one thing we will hope to see extra of sooner moderately than later, though this 12 months could also be a stretch.
Housemarque
Returnal introduced Housemarque a degree of mainstream enchantment that had beforehand evaded the Finnish studio, so I wouldn’t be stunned if it returned to that world. Nevertheless, that seemingly received’t be the developer’s subsequent recreation as again in 2022 it confirmed it had began work on a brand new challenge that was in the “early days with us beginning a brand new recreation, a brand new IP.” It’s presently unclear how the departure of Returnal director Harry Krueger – who had been at Housemarque for 14 years – has affected the growth although. For now, this new recreation stays a thriller however perhaps we’ll hear one thing quickly.
Firewalk Studios
Firewalk is the first studio listed right here to really have a recreation (albeit tentatively) listed for a 2024 launch. Revealed final Could, Harmony is a PvP multiplayer shooter with a retro-futuristic sci-fi aesthetic that may be gleaned from its CGI announcement trailer. However, we’ve heard virtually nothing since. We’re hoping to see some gameplay quickly, in any other case that 2024 date may begin to look a little bit shaky.
Haven Studios
Fairgame$ is ready to be the first recreation from Jade Raymond’s Haven Studios and is a aggressive heist recreation we’ve seen little of past a classy CGI trailer. With no launch window as but, we’d be stunned to see it drop later this 12 months – final November, Sony president Hiroki Totoki stated it was decreasing the variety of reside service video games due for launch earlier than March 2026 from 12 to 6.
With the persevering with success of Helldivers 2, PSN/Steam hiccups apart, I’m certain PlayStation will look to be taught the optimistic classes from its growth and apply them to future tasks equivalent to Fairgame$. The following step can be seeing a gameplay reveal, which is one thing we will realistically hope for this 12 months.
Bend Studio
Bend has been fairly quiet since the launch of Days Gone approach again in 2019 however in 2022 a couple of slithers of element have been revealed about what the Oregon studio is presently engaged on. It shared that its new recreation will “construct upon the open-world programs of Days Gone” however received’t be introduced till “the time is correct”. Other than understanding it received’t be a continuation of Deacon St. John’s story, we actually know nothing. Sufficient time has handed, although, that hopefully new data isn’t too distant.
Media Molecule
Media Molecule spent most of the previous decade engaged on Goals, the recreation creation and curation challenge that was launched in 2020. However on account of important layoffs at the studio earlier in 2024, reside assist for the recreation will quickly finish as MM goals to make sure “Goals transitions right into a self-sustaining platform”. There has since been no information on what the developer’s subsequent challenge can be.
Group Asobi
Group Asobi has introduced everybody’s favorite little robotic, Astrobot, to each conventional and VR platformers for the entirety of its 12-year existence. Beforehand a part of Japan Studio, in 2021 it turned a standalone studio following the success of PS5 launch recreation, Astro’s Playroom. What’s subsequent although is but to be revealed, however in 2022 studio director Nicolas Doucet revealed it will be Asobi’s “greatest so far.”
That is one we may theoretically see quickly as loads of time has handed since the developer’s final launch and we all know growth has been in the works for a number of years now. Hopefully, the long-rumored PS5 Professional could be an ideal place for Asobi to duplicate the success of Astro’s Playroom as a technical showcase for a brand new console that was additionally extremely enjoyable. Fingers crossed we get a reveal this 12 months at the very least.
Bluepoint Video games
Following the success of each the Shadow of the Colossus and Demon’s Souls remakes, Sony acquired Bluepoint Video games as a first-party studio in 2021. We don’t know what its first challenge since becoming a member of the PlayStation Studios household is, although, however we do know that the developer has expressed its need to create an unique recreation, moderately than reimagining one other basic. Maybe we may see a reveal this 12 months.
Polyphony Digital
Polyphony has been making Gran Turismo for 25 years now so it will definitely be a shock to see it veer from that path in the close to future. Having solely launched GT7 lower than two years in the past, it’s unrealistic to anticipate something new from the racing masters any time quickly. Let’s come again to this when the PlayStation 6 arrives.
San Diego Studio
Equally, San Diego is nicely established as the MLB The Present studio. This 12 months’s entry solely dropped in March, so we will anticipate to see one other subsequent Spring if historical past is something to go by.
Firesprite
Having not too long ago focussed on VR video games, Firesprite most not too long ago developed Horizon: Name of the Mountain for PSVR 2. What’s subsequent is anybody’s guess, nevertheless. A brand new VR recreation could be the educated guess, however given Sony’s lack of dedication to creating video games for its second headset, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the UK studio pivot to one thing extra conventional.
With latest stories of layoffs and unrest at the developer, a live-service Twisted Steel recreation was reportedly canceled, with the studio supposedly engaged on a brand new PlayStation recreation referred to as Mission Heartbreak. Particulars are skinny on what that is although, and after we can anticipate to see it.
That’s every little thing we find out about upcoming first-party PlayStation video games, and the reality could be very few launch dates look to be developing shortly. After all, this could and certain will change quickly, and with GTA 6 looming on the horizon in 2025, it does make sense that many publishers are ready for Rockstar to make the first transfer when selecting a window. That stated, that doesn’t forestall 2024 from nonetheless wanting comparatively empty in terms of PS5 exclusives. Let’s hope that after a summer season of reveals the outlook will look quite a bit brighter, not just for gamers ready for brand spanking new video games to play, however for the builders who work so laborious to ship them to us.
Simon Cardy would not love nothing greater than one other journey together with his little Astro Bot buddy. Comply with him on Twitter at @CardySimon.