Was it a rich event or a letdown? As discussions heat up on social media about a State of Play that felt lacklustre and was anticipated by practically everyone, it might be helpful to line up the various announcements made during the evening. About 30 minutes to showcase 20 games, including new titles, never-before-seen trailers, additional content, remastered classics, and sequels. This all happened while also giving a nod to the PlayStation 5 Pro, which was officially revealed a couple of weeks ago and remains a sensitive topic in online discussions.
Before diving into the content showcased — which you can find in the order they appeared during the State of Play — let’s take a moment to note what was missing. No Hideo Kojima! Death Stranding 2 is still expected in 2025, but he might prefer to unveil new information during the Tokyo Game Show. No release date for Metal Gear Solid Delta. Konami will also be at TGS; will they wait for us there? Capcom made an appearance, but we saw no Resident Evil 9, which remains — for now — just a rumour. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s focus on the good stuff. Here’s what was announced!
Sony’s mascot has recently taken centre stage again. The sequel to PlayRoom has received great acclaim from both audiences and critics. So, Asobi has dressed to impress and thanked the fans by bringing a gift idea. Starting this fall, a free DLC is planned that will introduce a speed-run mode for those who enjoy challenges and new special Bots from various other PlayStation games. In the trailer, you can distinctly recognize the troops from Helldivers 2 and Eve from Stellar Blade.
The Midnight Walk
Original? Yes, but not too much. Moon Hood (the same studio behind Lost in Random) presents the first true game of the night. The Midnight Walk is an adventure video game with creepy undertones where you play as the Burnt: a deceased soul that has risen from the grave, seeking its place in the world. The uniqueness of The Midnight Walk is that it uses clay models for animations captured via stop-motion. An admirable effort, but it’s being announced in the same year as Harold Halibut, and it’s set to arrive in 2025 when South of Midnight is expected on Xbox.
At this point, we still lack precise details: a vague 2025 release is set for PS5, PC, and PSVR2.
Hell is Us
Names of potential significance are starting to emerge. After nearly two years of absence — since its reveal — Rogue Factor chose the State of Play to showcase the first gameplay trailer for Hell is Us. An action game blending the paranormal, fantasy, and technological elements, this title is a Nacon production featuring Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, known for his role as art director on Deus Ex: Humankind Divided and Deus Ex: Revolution.
No firm release date has been disclosed yet. The title is expected to launch in 2025, but it shouldn’t be exclusive to PlayStation users. Owners of PC, Xbox Series X, or Series S will also be able to play it.
Metro Awakening VR
A little while after the official announcement, Deep Silver finally revealed when we can play Metro Awakening, the prequel to Metro 2033 designed for Virtual Reality. The release date is set for November 7, 2024, which is very soon. Vertigo Games intends to immerse us in a post-apocalyptic world where horror rules.
The guarantee of quality comes from a notable name. The story has been penned by Dmitrij Gluchovskij, the author of the novels that inspired the video games in the series. Gluchovskij initially laid the groundwork and later supervised the development of plot, setting, and characters by the development team.
ArcheAge Chronicles
Over a decade ago, ArcheAge ventured into the MMO world. XLGames and Kakao Games now present at Sony’s State of Play to showcase the action RPG that has spun off from that narrative universe. However, there are no crossovers with that world, as ArcheAge Chronicles takes place 50 years after the original. The developers seem to have aimed to create a video game where multiple activities await: solo and co-op combat and crafting personalized items, creating your home, and more.
Currently, there are no news on the release date, which remains set for a vague January 2025. The arrival is not limited to PlayStation 5 but will also extend to Xbox consoles and PC.
Palworld
It couldn’t get more surprising than this. We thought it would be postponed indefinitely, but instead, the PlayStation 5 edition of Palworld made a shadow drop during the State of Play. The astonishment arises from the fact that PocketPair has just faced a little drama. Nintendo decided to sue the studio. The subsequent disappearance of Palworld from the PlayStation announcement list for the upcoming Tokyo Game Show had led to fears of the worst.
Apparently, it was just a last-minute change of plans. Better that way.
Fantasian Neo Dimensions
From the mind of Hironobu Sakaguchi — the same creator behind Final Fantasy — Fantasian Neo Dimension was born. Originally released exclusively on Apple Arcade, this game developed by Mistwalker Studio (a Hawaiian studio) is getting ready to (re)debut on all other gaming platforms.
During the State of Play, in addition to a quick recap for those who missed the JRPG news that utilizes the diorama concept, there was also the reveal of the release date: December 5, 2024. You will find it on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
Dragon Age The Veilguard
BioWare is facing the heat. During the State of Play, an extended gameplay footage for Dragon Age The Veilguard was showcased. This fantasy RPG, representing the fourth iteration of the series, is one of the most anticipated games of 2024. It will arrive on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series on October 31.
Initially known as Dreadwolf, The Veilguard picks up exactly from the conclusion of the Inquisition DLC: Trespasser. The same team reflects that integrating that conclusion into optional extra content could pose problems today. Whether that will truly be the case remains to be seen. For now, we can enjoy the battle against an ice-breathing dragon and the arrival of a formidable and powerful new foe.
Hitman World of Assassination
Are you ready to play Agent 47, but this time for real? This time, 101 has worked to take content already created for the original Hitman World of Assassination and adapt it for first-person view and thus for virtual reality. In other words, by purchasing this bundle — assuming you own a PSVR2 — you will experience the World of Assassination missions like never before.
You can buy it as an upgrade if you already own the original, or as complete standalone content.
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver I and II Remastered
It was supposed to be a surprise. Unfortunately, someone on the PlayStation Blog miscalculated. Embracer, the new owner of Crystal Dynamics, had conducted a survey among users to gauge interest in bringing Raziel back to consoles.
Two years after that survey, someone spotted figurines at San Diego Comic-Con that featured the tag line at the State of Play: Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver I and II Remastered. The announcement from the State of Play treated us to some images of revamped textures, updated models, and improved environments. The release date is set for December 10, 2024, just in time for a holiday gift. It will also be available on PS4, by the way.
Fear the Spotlight
The first of the projects that Blumhouse promised during this June’s Summer Game Fest, Fear the Spotlight is a horror game that seems to draw considerable inspiration — at least, judging by the images and statements from the creators — from horror video games released on PlayStation in the early days of the console. Developed by Cozy Game Pals, Fear the Spotlight is set in an abandoned and haunted high school. Everything spirals out of control when the two protagonists sneak in, hoping to hold a séance. Ah, those delightful ’90s clichés!
Fear the Spotlight is expected on October 22 for PC and all consoles.
Towers of Aghasba
It will arrive in early access on PlayStation 5 and PC this November, but in the meantime, the first gameplay images for Towers of Aghasba have arrived from the State of Play.
Created by the small studio Dreamlit, Towers of Aghasba is an action-adventure set in an open world sandbox. The team has imagined a fantasy world. We are part of a population returning to their homeland after an indefinite absence and are forced to rebuild from scratch while dealing with the mythological creatures that inhabit it.
Dynasty Warriors Origins
A new chapter in an expansive series. Dynasty Warriors Origins marks a new peak for the IP created by Omega Force (based on The Three Kingdoms) and published by Koei Tecmo. In Dynasty Warriors Origins, arriving on January 17, we will embody an unnamed hero.
The synopsis reads: Battlefields filled with tension, where you are challenged by an immense and boundless army. How will you face the onslaught of enemies? Beyond your military skills, you can work in tandem with your allies’ armies in uniquely tactical battles within the franchise, and experience the most exhilarating action in the series’ history.
Monster Hunter Wilds
The only thing missing for this Capcom game was a release date. And just like that, the Japanese studio immediately satisfies us by revealing that Monster Hunter Wilds will be available on PC and console on February 28, kicking off a new hunting year shortly.
During the State of Play, just to keep up the excitement, there was also an extended trailer mixing key plot moments (enough disconnected not to be spoilers) with cinematic gameplay moments. In between, it’s impossible not to enjoy breathtaking environments and uniquely designed monsters.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
The (non) surprise of the evening. Just seven years after the original’s release, Horizon Zero Dawn is getting a fresh look with a “Remastered” version that aligns with the new level of the sequel (Forbidden West), which Sony has chosen to include among various PS5 Pro Enhanced titles.
Anticipated by the announcement of the new ESRB rating, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered will arrive on PS5 and PC on October 31, 2024. Those who already own the original will pay only €9.99 for the upgrade. All others will pay full price.
Ghost of Yotei
We might call it a sequel that isn’t a sequel. The idea was explained by Sucker Punch itself. After the release of Ghost of Tsushima, the studio questioned whether it was appropriate to extend Jin Sakai’s journey. The answer was no; it might be more interesting to tell a different story but with a similar setting. So, we leave the island of Tsushima and land at the foot of Mount Yotai in 1603.
We remain in the environment of feudal Japan, but it couldn’t be any other way in this case. Ghost of Yotei, the team explains, is the first game by Sucker Punch built exclusively for PS5. There’s no release date set yet, but it is slated for a vague 2025.
State of Play: the other announcements from September 2024
Alongside the abundance of content, there were also some lighter moments during the evening. It was announced that pre-orders have opened for Lego Horizon Adventures. Speaking of classic titles, the first two chapters of Lunar have been remastered and will be arriving together in a bundle.
Soon for Stellar Blade, both the highly requested photo mode and a more than appropriate bonus crossover content with NieR Automata will arrive. Speaking of DLC, Remedy is not done with Alan Wake 2, announcingthe Lake House expansion. Also, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder’s Revenge will be enriched with the extra Radical Reptiles content. For Sonic X Shadow Generations, Keanu Reeves lends his voice to Shadows coinciding with the release of Sonic 3 in theaters.
On a more “commercial” note, we can’t fail to mention the upcoming DualSense themed Fortnite that will accompany the new in-game content. For the collaboration with Lego, split-screen multiplayer is set to be introduced. There’s room for new PS5 colors: Teal, Indigo, and Pearl along with matching DualSense controllers.
Lastly, there was also a wrap-up of the various games that will enjoy improved performance on PlayStation 5 Pro. In addition to the already known titles, it appears that a few extras are included. In the trailer, titles such as Snake Eater, F1 24, Stellar Blade, Rise of The Ronin, Star Wars Jedi Survivor were mentioned, which had not been highlighted by Mark Cerny initially.
Now we can close the State of Play that ideally kicks off the upcoming fall/winter gaming season. The floor is yours. Thoughts and opinions?
