We’re gonna get some PlayStation 5 games tomorrow. And since Sony is still leading with a focus on new titles and traditional releases, that means some big franchises and big remasters should be on the table. Here’s what we’d like to see — or we’re hoping we’ll see, anyway.
Spider-Man 2
Sony backed up an Oz Lotto-sized truck of money to the Insomniac offices when they acquired the studio, so this one is probably the safest bet imaginable. Spider-Man was a rampant success for Sony, selling over 13 million units by August 2019.
There’s a ton that can be done in that universe. And outside of all the narrative adventures, the added technical capabilities of what’s possible must be staggering too. Spider-Man already did a bang-up job bringing New York to life with the existing limitations of the PS4’s memory and streaming capabilities. What does a proper superhero adventure look like when those are removed? It’ll be fun to see.
Bloodborne/Demon Souls remaster
Similarly, the Austin-based Bluepoint Games are one of the most talented studios at what they do: remasters. Their work has been nothing but stellar until now, and it makes complete sense that Sony would hand over one of their biggest IPs to showcase the power of the PS5.
In that vein, it makes sense for Bloodborne to get a rework. But a reimagining/full remaster of Demon Souls makes complete sense too. I’d personally prefer Bloodborne got the treatment first, since it’s architecture, combat design and aesthetic struck the strongest chord. But either one would look stunning — Bluepoint are seriously very, very good at what they do.
Ape Escape
This one’s a suggestion from our producer Leah, who would deeply appreciate it if her beloved platformer had another turn in the sun. I would be completely down for an off-beat reveal like this — a classic IP that people loved, but wouldn’t automatically think of as a console-seller or something that you’d headline a launch with.
It’s important that Sony doesn’t put too many eggs in the same basket with the PS5. We’re all definitely keen to see the new graphics, the power of 3D audio, what zero loading screens is like in practice and all that jazz. But people appreciate diversity in gameplay and game genres too. I don’t know what I’d want a next-gen platformer to do precisely, but I’m keen to see one.
God of War 2
Another popular suggestion within our work Slack, and also a likely safe bet for Sony Santa Monica. It’s funny: I remember having a conversation with an old colleague years ago, not long before God of War launched.
We’d heard absolutely nothing about the game at that point. Sony was very quiet not just externally, but privately to press as well. Completely bugger all was being said. There was no word about upcoming previews. No suggestion of new announcements or gameplay or any footage. People were wondering whether a delay was in the footing — since that’s what you usually do when you get within months of a release, and have nothing to say about it.
Instead, it ended up being Kratos’ greatest journey, and one of the best games that year. Kratos deserves a follow-up adventure. But honestly, whatever Sony Santa Monica truly believed in, Sony would probably back at this point.
Mass Effect Remasters
A recommendation from Gizmodo editor Tegan Jones, and one that I’m honestly surprised EA hasn’t done already. A launch showcase is usually an opportunity for Sony to show off all their first-party titles, and some curveballs, but some big hitters from other major publishers makes a lot of sense as well.
And, sure, it’s not as exciting as a Dragon Age 4 in a way. Or what a proper Knights of the Old Republic sequel could be if that was ever allowed. But it’d sell like hotcakes. It’d be great to relive that journey over again with a few quality of life tweaks. It’s been left on the shelf for so long, and wanted for so long. And if Friday’s not the right time to reveal it — then maybe next week during EA Play is.
[referenced url=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/2020/06/e3-conferences-australia-new-zealand/” thumb=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/06/e3-2018-esa-2-410×231.jpg” title=”All The Australian Times For Not-E3 2020″ excerpt=”E3’s a lot more complicated this year. Sure, the event we know as E3 2020 was officially cancelled, but all the announcement and showcases you know and love haven’t been. Sort of. Here’s all the local dates and times to mark in your calendar.”]
Horizon: Zero Dawn 2
Another safe bet, but I still want to see where the Horizon world goes after this. I’ll be replaying the game on PC when it drops — which is hopefully very soon, given the “Summer 2020” (which is the Australian winter) date on the Steam page.
Gran Turismo Sequel
GT has always been a great bit of escapism and a headline for Sony, going all the way back to the PlayStation 1. It’s been almost three years since GT Sport launched, and the series would get an enormous bump from the PS5’s extra hardware. More detailed tracks, more cars on the track, better damage effects and more detailed physics simulation are all things that would be much easier on the next generation.
From a more general point of view, the removal of loading screens will make GT a hell of a lot more fun. The loading for GT 5 was absolutely brutal, worse than dying repeatedly in Bloodborne. Removing that would be a lifesaver for the career progression, and I’m fascinated to see just how deep Polyphony can go. It’d also be a great showcase for a future PSVR or upgraded PSVR experience on the PS5, too.
Beat Saber 2
It’d be weird if there wasn’t at least one major showcase for PSVR, or PSVR 2. Sony’s headset has had a solid amount of success, and even if there isn’t a future revision in the next 12 months, fans will at least want to know what the new hardware can do.
So, a headline title is appropriate. The biggest thing Sony could drop would honestly be a Beat Saber sequel. For most people, Beat Saber is still the closest thing to a killer app, even over a game as accomplished as Half-Life: Alyx. It’s immediately accessible, fun for all, and a great point of difference in the console wars between Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.
Monster Hunter World 2
One of Capcom’s most successful games of the most recent era. The company has talked up an expansion of the Monster Hunter license as a key strategy in their investor briefings, and with how well Monster Hunter World has done, a sequel built for the next-generation seems a likely candidate.
Whether a sequel is likely this early is another matter. If announced, I’d expect a 2021 or 2022 release date at least. There’s been more lead time to work on a Resident Evil 8, or another Resident Evil prequel. And that’s a logical inclusion for Sony too, being a good highlight for VR.
But I’ll bet on Monster Hunter World, simply because it means so much more to Capcom. Resident Evil 7 sold 7.5 million copies worldwide as of this month, while MHW sold over 20 million copies of the base game and the Iceborne expansion as of March this year. There’s enough justification for Capcom to obviously develop both at the same time, but I don’t think it’s likely that both will be announced alongside each other.
What would you like to see Sony announce tomorrow morning?
[referenced url=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/2020/06/sony-will-now-reveal-the-playstation-5-on-june-11/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_lfill,w_768,q_90/kzmc3qhjp69xu9csx64i.jpg” title=”Watch Sony’s PlayStation 5 Games Showcase Here” excerpt=”We’re finally getting a look at what the PlayStation 5 is capable of running — and what it might have at launch. On Friday morning, we’ll see what those games are.”]
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