Wow, what a week for gaming news! We got a ton of exciting announcements, surprising reveals, and even a few head-scratchers. Let’s dive right in!
PlayStation State of Play: A Mixed Bag of Delights
PlayStation’s State of Play wasn’t their biggest showcase, but it still had some gems. We got a glimpse of the PSVR2 title “Behemoth” from Skydance, a promising first-person RPG that throws you into a world of giant monsters and epic battles.
“Where Winds Meet,” a game that first piqued our interest a while back, reemerged with a new logo and some slick gameplay footage showcasing intense boss battles. It’s giving off some serious “Souls-like” vibes but with a faster, more action-packed twist.
PlayStation also dropped news on some smaller titles: the charmingly titled driving adventure “Caravan SandWitch,” and “Architect Life,” a house design simulator perfect for those who like to get creative with blueprints and landscaping.
Free-to-Play Adventures and a Familiar Musou Mayhem
Hold onto your hats because “Ballad of Antara” caught everyone off guard. This action-adventure RPG, with its intriguing cast of characters and unique combat styles, will be entirely free-to-play. It’ll be interesting to see how they handle the free-to-play model, but the initial reveal definitely piqued my interest.
And for fans of over-the-top action, “Dynasty Warriors” is back with “Dynasty Warriors: Origins.” This time around, they seem to be shaking things up a bit, and I’m cautiously optimistic. After all, who doesn’t love the feeling of cutting through hordes of enemies like a hot knife through butter?
Stylish Dress-Up and Hero Shooters
Next up, we have “Infinity Nikki,” a stylish dress-up game that seems to be breaking the mold with open-world elements and a focus on adventure. This one seems geared towards a younger audience, but the whimsical art style and promise of endless gameplay could be a winning combination.
Moving on to the big guns, we finally got a good look at “Concord,” Sony’s answer to “Overwatch.” This 5v5 hero shooter features a vibrant sci-fi universe with characters drawing comparisons to the “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The gameplay looks solid, but I’m waiting to see if it offers enough uniqueness to stand out in the crowded hero shooter market.
Platforming Joy and a PC God of War
One of the most pleasant surprises of the showcase was the announcement of a brand new “Astro Bot” game! This full-fledged adventure for our favorite little robot looks to expand on everything that made “Astro’s Playroom” so charming. With a September 6th release date, we won’t have to wait long to jump back into Astro’s delightful world.
PC gamers, rejoice! “God of War Ragnarok” is making its way to your platform, complete with all the bells and whistles you expect, including DLSS, unlocked frame rates, and ultrawide support. However, there’s a catch – you’ll need a PSN account to play, even in single-player. Let’s hope this trend doesn’t become the norm for Sony’s PC ports.
“Monster Hunter,” “Silent Hill,” and More!
We got a thrilling new trailer for “Monster Hunter Now” that highlighted the game’s focus on unique mounts and exhilarating monster encounters. It’s looking like more than just a simple follow-up to “Monster Hunter: World.”
“Silent Hill 2” remake finally has a release date! Mark your calendars for October 8th. However, the recent gameplay footage has left me with mixed feelings. While the environments are stunning, the animations and combat still feel a bit stiff.
Beyond PlayStation: “GTA VI,” “Call of Duty,” and “Resident Evil” Rumors
Outside the PlayStation ecosystem, the rumor mill is churning! Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two, hinted that “Grand Theft Auto VI” will likely follow the release pattern of its predecessors, arriving on consoles first and PC later. Disappointing for PC gamers, but not entirely unexpected.
In a bold move, Microsoft announced that “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6” will launch day one on Xbox Game Pass. This is a major shift for the franchise and could be a game-changer for Game Pass’s subscriber numbers.
“Resident Evil” fans are buzzing with rumors of remakes for “Code: Veronica” and “Resident Evil Zero” in development. With “Resident Evil 9” also reportedly in the works, Capcom is keeping itself busy in the world of survival horror.
Indie Delights and Upcoming Highlights
Don’t miss “Bloodborne Kart,” now officially titled “Nightmare Kart,” a fantastic indie love letter to “Bloodborne” with a retro PS1 aesthetic. It’s available now on Steam and well worth checking out.
“Crow Country,” another indie gem, flew under the radar recently. This ’90s PS1-inspired survival horror game has been earning rave reviews for its atmosphere and unique style.
And finally, for fans of “Prince of Persia” and “Dead Cells,” the early access release of “Rogue Prince of Persia” offers a promising blend of both worlds.
That’s a wrap on this week’s gaming news! Let me know what announcements caught your eye and what you’re hoping to see at Summer Game Fest!
