On May 30th, 2024, Sony hosted its State of Play broadcast, a major event for gaming enthusiasts worldwide. It was a thirty-minute showcase of a wide array of upcoming gaming titles and updates for the PlayStation 5, PS-VR, and other platforms. From news about God of War: Ragnarok’s future, to release dates for Concord and the highly anticipated Silent Hill 2 remake, the stream indicated a relatively saturated year for console owners and PC gamers alike. Here are all the highlights and announcements from the event.
Sony’s attempt at 5v5 shooter gets cinematic and gameplay trailer
Concord, a strategic 5v5 pvp shooter announced by Sony’s newly acquired Firewalk Studios, unveiled a short Cinematic trailer, giving each playable character a hint of personality. This was followed by an extended look at gameplay. It showcases the various playable characters with their signature abilities and playstyles, with something in store for every player. The pre-order for the game will be available on June 6th, 2024, with beta testing opening in July.
Concord is set to grace the PlayStation 5 and PC on August 23, 2024.
PlayStation’s Astro returns in new installment promising grander adventures
Reported as Team Asobi’s most ambitious project yet, Astro Bot was announced during the event, alongside an endearing gameplay trailer featuring a glimpse of the promised six galaxies, over 80 levels, and innovative set pieces. The trailer also highlighted robots that looked familiar to characters from other Sony franchises, such as Kratos from God of War. Finally, not unlike its predecessor, Astro’s Playroom, this game is expected to push the PlayStation’s processing power and utilise the controllers’ haptic feedback to deliver newer levels of immersion.
Astro Bot is slated for a September 6, 2024 release, exclusively on the PlayStation 5
Konami announces release date for Silent Hill 2 remake alongside new look at gameplay
Konami opened their segment with a release date for its most anticipated title in development, a remake of ‘Silent Hill 2’. Blooper, the developer for this remake, showcased a new trailer with a fresh look at the game featuring improved fidelity, revamped combat encounters, and a variety of abstract monstrosities players will face during the game. Paired with that, came the thirteen-minute long ‘Silent Hill Transmission’, highlighting gameplay with a brighter art style and modernised camera angle dividing fans of the original.
The horror classic makes its grand reappearance on October 8, 2024, on PlayStation 5 and PC
Sony Santa Monica announces God of War Ragnarok on PC
Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, God of War (2018), Sony Santa Monica’s newest instalment in the franchise, God of War Ragnarok, is making its way to PC this September. This release brings with it the Valhalla DLC, and a swathe of features like unlocked frame rates, super-sampling techniques like DLSS 3 and FSR, and ultra-wide support. The inclusion of DLSS and FSR comes with a promise of increased graphical performance. However, following the event, a blog post on the PlayStation website revealed the requirement of a PlayStation Network account to play the PC port, a move which was widely criticised for other PC releases like Helldivers 2 and Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut.
Kratos makes his reappearance on PC on September 19, 2024
Dynasty Warriors Origins returns to roots in 2025 release
KOEI TECMO and Omega Force announced ‘Dynasty Warriors Origins’, a new return-to-roots take on the classic Musou franchise set to release next year. For the first time in the series, the game will feature a nameless customizable protagonist dropped amidst an era of war and destruction, in the lands of China. Players can expect to face armies of unimaginable scale and will have to strategically deploy allied forces while using a range of stylized combat abilities. It is directed not only as a love letter for fans of the original series but also as an invitation to new players.
The game is set to release in 2025, on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Former Zelda director announces beta test for open-world dress-up RPG
Former Zelda director, Kentaro Tominaga unveiled ‘Infinity Nikki’ which was described as an open-world dress-up adventure with mechanics focussing on exploration and roleplaying. The cinematic gameplay trailer boasted a fantasy aesthetic with many different outfits for the player character to don while going on their grand adventure in ‘Miraland’. The cherry on top of the presentation was her friend Momo, who will accompany our titular character, Nikki throughout her journey. The game comes with a strong focus on fashion and a myriad of magnificent creatures one can encounter.
No release date has been announced for the project, but beta testing starts in Q3 of 2024.
Where Winds Meet makes its way to PlayStation 5
‘Where Winds Meet’ is an open-world RPG that promises to provide players with authentic Chinese Wuxia combat mechanics to weather the chaotic and politically charged Ten Kingdoms era. A PlayStation blog post also informs us that player choices play a crucial role in how the events unfold within the game. Moreover, the open world is completely explorable with a party of up to four players, making this game that co-op connoisseurs should look out for. Originally announced for PC at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023, ‘Where Winds Meet’ is headed to PlayStation devices as per the recent reveal.
No release date has been announced yet
TipsWorks Studios announces free-to-play action RPG, Ballad of Antara
TipsWorks Studio revealed ‘Ballad of Antara’, a free-to-play action RPG headed to the PS5 that focuses on visual fidelity and long-term storytelling with an extended multi-year plan for updates. In the PlayStation blog post head of the studio, Yang Yang, states players will be faced with exotic landscapes and a supernatural counterpart for these very lands called the ‘Para’, each with their own quests, stories, and foes. Players will have access to multiple playable characters termed ‘Emissaries’ with every character having their unique class, gameplay abilities, and ‘their own enticing, mysterious stories’, to be told.
The studio aims for a 2025 release with many post-release updates for players.
Walking Dead game developer announces VR-exclusive, Behemoth
VR players got reason to rejoice with the announcement of ‘Behemoth’, the newest experience from Skydance Games, creators of ‘The Walking Dead Saints and Sinners’. The game drops players into ‘the Forsaken Lands’, where they are promised a sleuth of enemies and dark secrets to unravel. The gameplay trailer features magnanimous bosses and eye-catching animations paired with a landscape of impressive visual design. Players are, however, concerned about frame drops that seemed particularly noticeable even within the trailer.
Scheduled for a Fall 2024 release, Behemoth will be available on the PSVR2, Meta Quest and Steam VR
Alien: Rogue Incursion gets PSVR2 release this holiday season
The Alien franchise reemerged with a new single-player VR experience, ‘Alien: Rogue Incursion’ which focuses widely on dynamic enemy encounters, a brand-new storyline, and a new setting, the ‘inhospitable planet Purdan’. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, the game will boast next-generation graphics, innovative shooter gameplay, and an overalled enemy AI. Coming exclusively to PSVR2, the game will often require creative problem-solving to survive a constant onslaught of the fabled Xenomorphs.
Alien: Rogue Incursion hits the PlayStation store holiday season of 2024.
Marvel Rivals promises PlayStation release with exclusive outfit
‘Marvel Rivals’, a team-based PvP shooter featuring superheroes from all across Marvel Comics, made an appearance at the State of Play with a confirmed release to the PlayStation 5 on release date. NetEase Games has been playtesting the game in closed betas on PC, and PlayStation will start tests sometime in July. The game promises varied loadouts for each character, facilitating multiple playstyles and gear sets. Furthermore, PlayStation players will receive an exclusive outfit for Spiderman called ‘Scarlet Spider’.
With multiple closed betas on the horizon, Marvel Rivals does not have a release date yet.
Until Dawn gets new gameplay trailer and Fall 2024 release
Originally announced in January 2024, the horror classic developed by Supermassive Games, ‘Until Dawn’ is getting a re-release with reworked graphics and improved responsiveness in its mechanics. Ballistic Moon, the studio responsible for the enhancement of this fan-favourite IP showcased the improved visual fidelity and animations during the event through a gameplay trailer.
Fans of the original and newcomers alike can expect a release sometime in the Fall of 2024.
Path of Exile 2 gets showcase alongside late 2024 early access
‘Path of Exile 2’, a much anticipated sequel to the beloved original received a new gameplay trailer from Grinding Gear Games, highlighting many features that left the fans excited for more. The game promises to be an immersive action RPG with couch co-op, cross-play, and cross-progression while boasting vastly superior graphics. The trailer showcased some unique abilities that players will be able to take charge of with a focus on impressive AOE attack animations.
Path of Exile 2 comes into early access in late 2024.
Monster Hunter Wilds: The Hunt Continues with New Challenges
Finally, Capcom steals the night with their trailer for ‘Monster Hunter Wilds’, the newest addition to the wildly successful Monster Hunter series. It teases new gameplay mechanics, bosses to fight, dynamic environments, and weather systems but the crown jewel happens to be the newest pets we can take along on our adventures. An intriguing twist was an overarching plot tucked within the trailer which we are yet to learn more about.
The game was released on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and Microsoft Windows in 2025.
The Sony State of Play event on May 30, 2024, only hammered further at Sony’s never-stopping efforts to bring innovative gaming and fan excitement. With the wide array of upcoming releases and updates across PlayStation platforms and PC, comprising iconic franchises and promising new IPs, Sony continues to push further into story and tech. From God of War: Ragnarok’s electrifying return to the Silent Hill 2 modernized remake, the list of all these announcements is ready to host immersive experiences that speak across boundaries to gamers everywhere, ensuring a firm future for PlayStation and gaming fans at large.
