Emphasis on PlayStation VR
Unless you’re one to believe unsubstantiated claims floating around on Internet forums or take the word of industry analysts who are trying to guess the next big moves for each of the Big 3, there’s no reason to believe that Sony will be unveiling a PlayStation 5 at E3 this year. The PlayStation 4 is still performing entirely too well with a host of highly anticipated titles coming down the pipeline. Shifting focus from the PS4 to a new generation would just seem like a poor move for Sony.
Instead, the hardware side of their E3 presentation will likely have far more to do with showcasing PlayStation VR. Sony’s virtual reality headset has been off to a strong start but if Sony wants PlayStation VR to dominate the space, there is still quite a bit of work ahead of them. New titles are a must but not just any new title. PlayStation VR needs to maintain a collection of VR games that actually feel like complete gaming experiences rather than interactive demos of what VR can do. We know that Arizona Sunshine is coming to PlayStation VR this June so it’s likely that, at the very least, Sony will have demos set up for guests to try out on the exhibit floor.
Either way, this will be Sony’s opportunity to prove that they deserve a claim in the VR business and convince other gamers that the new technology is truly a bridge to a new era of gaming and not just some novelty that will fade away in a few years.
More God of War
God of War captivated audiences at E3 last year and while an official release date hasn’t been announced, it’s likely that more details will come at E3 this year. While there hasn’t been much talk from Sony regarding the upcoming addition to one of its most popular franchises, the hype has refused to die down. The undying anticipation for the game despite Sony’s silence is all the more reason why God of War will likely make another appearance at this year’s E3—it’s a reminder of just how popular and profitable this franchise is.
We don’t know too much about what the next God of War title will bring to the table but its E3 2016 appearance showed Kratos doing his best to teach his son Atreus everything a true warrior needs to know. While we were blessed with a few minutes of gameplay footage last year, it seems likely that Sony will show off even more gameplay and hopefully provide even more details about the game’s actual narrative. At this point, everyone knows the game itself is complete so we’re hoping this year’s presentation at E3 will give us more content to ogle and an official release date to look forward to. We’re ready to kick start our official countdown to when all the god-smashing fun can begin.
Let’s not forget that since Sony isn’t likely to announce any new hardware, they will probably want to focus on highlighting what the PS4 Pro can really do. Revealing more gameplay from God of War might serve as the perfect opportunity to do just that.
Release Date for Detroit: Become Human
Quite frankly, it would be pretty surprising to see Detroit: Become Human actually hit shelves this year (a 2018 release date just seems far more likely) but we do expect to see Sony giving more details about the upcoming action-adventure title. The anticipation for the game’s release has been building since 2015 and it seems like Sony will need to at least show off some new gameplay in order to appease zealous fans.
Our first look at Detroit: Become Human’s gameplay was at last year’s E3 where the audience was teased with an absolutely gorgeous looking game. Much like God of War, Detroit: Become Human could mark another great opportunity for Sony to show off what the PS4 Pro can do. After all, it certainly has a lot to prove after players received the disappointing news that the new console can’t run Destiny 2 at 60 fps.
Another Look At the Upcoming Spider-Man Game
The upcoming Spider-Man title is yet another game we saw at E3 last year that will likely make another appearance this year. Insomniac has remained incredibly tight-lipped about the game but all that silence has only allowed the anticipation to build. The trailer released during E3 2016 was absolutely stunning and it certainly set some high expectations. Since then, a few bits and pieces of information have been dished out—mainly through the use of social media.
Perhaps one of the most exciting tidbits is the fact that Spider-Man will NOT be an origin story title. Why is that exciting news? It means the game is less likely to have a slow start. It also means the game is far more likely to be able to focus on diving into Spider-Man’s complexities rather than building up his origin story in a way that feels fresh but remains canon. Many superhero titles focus on a hero’s origins but Batman: Arkham Knight reminded us all of just how delightful it is to have a more developed version of our heroes at a game’s lead.
Release Windows for The Last of Us: Part II and Death Stranding
The Last of Us: Part II and Death Stranding are two highly anticipated games that are coming to PlayStation soon. What we expect to see of both of these titles is actually quite similar—trailers and an official window for when the games will release. Both titles were last showcased at last year’s PlayStation Experience and the amount of anticipation surrounding both titles certainly has them feeling overdue for some updates. We’re hoping Sony will rectify that come June.
Both games have been teased through cinematic trailers but we have yet to see actual gameplay from either one. While we haven’t seen any gameplay for The Last of Us: Part II, however, we have received an impressive glimpse at some of the technology behind the game. Naughty Dog is one developer that has a track record of gifting all of their titles with some impressive tech on the backend. The Last of Us: Part II seems no different. The game will likely uses its very own in-house engine, like Uncharted 4, and video showing off the facial motion capture technology being used for the game is rather impressive.
Death Stranding, on the other hand, likely won’t be focusing on flaunting new tech and we likely won’t see any gameplay reveal either. The game’s hype train will have to continue leaning on Hideo Kojima’s involvement with the game as its main source of fuel for now. The game is very early in development and it could still be quite some time before we see anything that’s ready for the E3 stage.
Some Clarity Regarding Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
The announcement of another Uncharted game is news that would typically be met with nothing but sheer excitement. In the case of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, however, all the excitement was also meshed together with quite a big of confusion and curiosity. When Uncharted: The Lost Legacy was first announced at PSX last year, it was unclear if the title was meant to be a new, standalone title or if it was just a massive expansion. Developer Naughty Dog has since cleared the air and confirmed that the game will be a standalone title that simply comes with additional perks for those who already own Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Digital Deluxe Edition, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Triple Pack, or the Explorer’s Pack.
So now that that’s out of the way, we’re all ready to see what’s ahead for the first Uncharted game that won’t feature Nathan Drake at all. Instead, fans of the series will see Chloe and Nadine take the lead in a brand new adventure. The game is scheduled to release on August 22 but we haven’t heard a whole lot from Sony since the game’s initial announcement. It’s likely that Sony will use this year’s E3 to really get the hype going and ensure fans of the Uncharted series that the game will still offer a lot to love even without its usual protagonist.
Bloodborne 2
Some people have given up hope, but not us. No. Not yet. Bloodborne is still regarded as one of the best games available on PS4 and a sequel would be nothing short of a dream come true. To be clear, everything about the possibility of a Bloodborne sequel is pure speculation and unsubstantiated rumors but sometimes that’s simply all you can ask for. But it turns out that hopeful fans aren’t the only ones who believe wholeheartedly that a Bloodborne sequel will be announced at E3 this year.
Even industry insiders are confident in the claim. CEO and Game Director of Moon Studios, Thomas Mahler, recently shared his own thoughts on NeoGAF about the possibilities of a Bloodborne 2 announcement at E3 2017. When one user asked if anyone else thought a sequel to the incredibly successful title was coming soon, Mahler commented, “I’m 99% certain we’ll see it :).” There’s no particular reason Mahler would have any connection to the game but that smiley face just still feels like it knows something that we don’t know.
Meanwhile, a series of different alleged leaks have been taking over the web and fueling rumors that Bloodborne 2 is in the works and on its way to E3 2017. Fingers crossed, everybody. Fingers crossed.
