What’s next for PlayStation?

While PlayStation’s latest State of Play did what it promised, showcasing a handful of VR and Third-party games, let’s be honest it was tepid, to say the least.

READ MORE: State of Play – everything announced for PS VR2

Fans are undoubtedly curious as to what’s next from PlayStation’s first party studios, other than Spider-Man 2, Wolverine and a Last of Us multiplayer game, we don’t know much.

Two weeks ago on his Game Mess Podcast, video games journalist Jeff Grubb, accurately predicted the latest State of Play. He also went on to predict “..an actual PlayStation Showcase, that will likely come before E3 time.”

Grubb doubled down on Twitter.

Considering It’s been 18 (!) months since PlayStation’s last big showcase… I think we’re probably due.

But what could they have in store for us?

First Party Studios

Insomniac Games

Insomniac are a lock, with Spider-Man 2 still set for 2023, I expect we’ll see gameplay and possibly even a release date.
They also have a Wolverine game in development but I doubt we’ll see more from that until SM2 is out.

Santa Monica Studio

With Santa Monica Studio recently releasing God of War Ragnarok, I wouldn’t expect anything from them. Though who knows what Cory Barlog has been up to after handing the GOW reins to Eric Williams.

Naughty Dog

Stand-alone multiplayer game, The Last of Us Factions 2, is in development at Naughty Dog.

We’ve seen official artwork a few times now, we don’t know much more than that.

A showcase would be the perfect stage for it to make its debut.

Bluepoint Games

Although Bluepoint is known for its exceptional remakes, President Marco Thrush has stated that their next project would be ‘original content’.

However, they’re also rumored to be working on a ‘remake of a beloved game’, but take that with a grain of salt. I can’t help but wonder what it could be though… Metal Gear? Bloodborne?

Guerrilla Games

Thanks to a job posting, we know that a Horizon multiplayer game is in the works at Guerrilla Games, “Featuring a new cast of characters and a unique stylized look”.

Unlikely it will be shown in the next showcase though.

Sucker Punch Productions

I’ll eat my hat if Ghost of Tsushima 2 isn’t the next game from Sucker Punch, though I don’t expect to see it at the next showcase.

Last year Sucker Punch broke hearts,  “…we have no plans to revisit inFAMOUS or Sly Cooper right now, and no other studio is currently working on projects related to those franchises either.”

So you can take those off your bingo card.

Bungie

After acquiring Bungie last year, PlayStation unveiled plans to release 10 live service games for the PS5 before 2026. Bungie’s live service knowledge and experience will be a big part of that, offering guidance to other PlayStation studios.
As to what we may see from them in a PlayStation Showcase, they have reportedly been working on a new multiplayer action game titled Matter.

Haven Studios

Haven Studios are working on a brand new AAA multiplayer experience, described as a “…systemic and evolving world focused on freedom, thrill, and playfulness that will keep players entertained and engaged for years”.

Assumedly one of the aforementioned live service games, I would be pleasantly surprised if this popped up at the showcase.

London Studio

Since releasing VR game Blood & Truth in 2019, London Studio has been hard at work on an ambitious new IP. Their next project will be for the PS5, not VR, an online co-op combat game set in a modern fantasy London.

Another live service game and another showcase possibility.

Firesprite

Having just released Horizon Call of the Mountain, in collaboration with Guerrilla, we likely won’t see anything from Firesprite.
Though, according to a job listing, Firesprite is working on a “AAA narrative driven horror-adventure”.
They’re also rumored to be working on a Twisted Metal game after development was moved away from Lucid Games (Destruction AllStars).

Twisted Metal could potentially be another of those 10 live service games.

San Diego Studio

For a while now, San Diego Studio has been solely working on MLB games. With MLB The Show 23 out later this month, the only thing I could see appearing would be additional MLB 23 content.

Bend Studios

After some turmoil at the studio and after a rejected Days Gone 2 pitch, Bend Studios are reportedly working on a new IP. Whether it’s brand spanking new, or a new game in an existing franchise, is unknown.
With Days Gone launching back in 2019, it could be time to see what Bend have been working on. Here’s hoping for a Syphon Filter revival.

Team Asobi

After the fantastic Astro’s Playroom, Team Asobi has been pretty quiet.
We know very little about what they’re working on, only that it will be their biggest project to date.
While I would love to see their new game pop up, I won’t be holding my breath.

Housemarque

As of Feb 2022, Housemarque’s next game was still in its conceptual stage.
CEO Ilari Kuittinen saying “…it’s early days with us starting a new game, a new IP, concepting it out.”
Sounds like their next game won’t be a Returnal sequel. Hopefully we find out what it will be at the showcase.

Polyphony Digital

Kazunori Yamauchi has confirmed the next Gran Turismo is in development saying, “Actually, there is a theme. I’m starting to run towards the next one, but I can’t tell you yet.”

Highly unlikely we see anything from Polyphony Digital, so soon after GT7.

PixelOpus

While details are scarce, we do know that PixelOpus is collaborating with Sony Pictures Animation (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) on a new PlayStation 5 title made in Unreal Engine 5.

Media Molecule

Since 2020 and the launch of Dreams, Media Molecule have been steadily producing content within the creative game universe.
With nothing even rumoured to be in development, it would seem like they’re focused on Dreams for the foreseeable future.

Third Party Partners

Square Enix

With Final Fantasy XVI set to launch exclusively on PS5 on June 22nd, I would expect to see a final trailer at the showcase, unless Sony plan to give it its own State of Play instead.

We may see more from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, depending on whether Square Enix has their own show planned for E3.

Kojima Productions

Death Stranding 2 was officially announced last year at The Game Awards, with a chunky first trailer.

It’s hard to say how far along the game is but considering Sony owns the IP, it’s a good bet we’ll see it show up in some form.

Bloober Team

The Silent Hill 2 Remake will be a PlayStation 5 console exclusive so it may very well turn up, dependent on what Konami decide to do around E3 time.

Team Ninja

We got our first look at the breathtaking Rise of the Ronin in the Sept 2022 State of Play. The ambitious open-world action game is targeting a 2024 release date, my gut says it will make an appearance.

SHIFT UP

First appearing in the 2021 PlayStation Showcase and again in the Sept 2022 State of Play, Stellar Blade is set for release this year.

It’s likely we’ll get a final ‘release date’ trailer for this Sci-Fi Action game. 

We’re also bound to see some non-exclusive, third party games pop up.
Kingdom Hearts 4, Armored Core 6, Mortal Kombat 12 and Grandblue Fantasy: Relink are at the top of my wishlist.

Of course we can’t forget the indies! Pacific Drive, Animal Well and Eternights are all likely.

And I’ll thank whichever Gods will listen, if Little Devil Inside FINALLY gets a release date.

Personally, I think it’s about damn time for a new Buzz! quiz game!

Quest Daily will bring you the latest PlayStation news as it happens.