2023 was a relatively calm year for Sony gaming, especially with the releases of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and a free DLC for God of War: Ragnarök. As we move into 2024, we look forward to the State of Play event where new game releases are expected to be revealed.
Stellar Blade: A New Addition to the Sony Lineup
Stellar Blade, a game that was first announced in 2019 by South Korean studio Shift Up, has recently released its gameplay sequence. The game is set on Earth following an apocalypse and you play as Eve, a fighter against an alien threat. The aesthetic and gameplay are reminiscent of Nier: Automata. Originally, the game was expected to be released in 2023, but it’s now set for release on April 26, 2024, exclusively for PS5.
Team Ninja’s Rise of the Ronin
The development team, Team Ninja, is working on a game exclusively for PS5 set to be released on March 22, called Rise of the Ronin. The game is set in 19th century Japan, where you control a Ronin. This is akin to Ghost of Tsushima, but it’s set in a later historical period. The game features characters with flying devices, firearms, and brick buildings in an open-world action-adventure game setting.
New Games and Remakes
Silent Hill: The Short Message has been announced. In this game, you control Anita as she searches for her friend Maya in an eerie apartment complex. You use a smartphone to navigate through the dangers. It’s available now for free. Additionally, a remake of Silent Hill 2 is in development by Bloober Team. Until Dawn is also set to be re-released. Originally, it was released in 2015 on PS4 by Supermassive Games, but it will now be available on PS5 and PC. No release date is set but it’s expected in 2024. A film adaptation of the game is also in production.
VR Games and Sequels on the Horizon
A VR version of Metro Awakening was announced following Metro Exodus. Developed by 4A Games, this game serves as a prequel to the previous titles. It’s expected to release in 2024, although no set date has been provided. Death Stranding 2 has also been announced by Kojima Productions. Titled ‘On the Beach’, the game is set to release in 2025, with characters Sam, Fragile and reincarnated Higgs set to return. The gameplay centers on travel, delivery, building structures and vehicles to connect the world and combat the Death Stranding with an even more dynamic combat system than the first game.
Kojima Productions’ Upcoming Games
Hideo Kojima has announced that he’s working on a new generation espionage-action game currently codenamed Physint. Apart from this, Kojima is also working on a project with Microsoft called OD. Square Enix, on the other hand, is hosting their own event for the game Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on February 6, as it had no presence during the State of Play.
The Pros and Cons of PS5
Like everything else, the PS5 has its own set of pros and cons. On the positive front, the DualSense can be a gamechanger if utilised well. Furthermore, the interface is efficient and futuristic. The console is quiet and has good cooling. It includes ultra-fast storage and an Ultra HD Blu-ray player.
On the downside, the PlayStation button no longer has a long press function. The console’s size may not appeal to everyone and the usable SSD storage is limited to 670 GB.
