Sony kicked off the new year with a bang, as it hosted its first State of Play event of 2024 on January 31. The show featured over 15 games, ranging from highly anticipated sequels to new IPs, and some unexpected surprises. Here are the highlights of the event, and what they mean for PS5 gamers.
One of the biggest announcements of the show was the reveal of the official title of Hideo Kojima’s next game, which is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The game is a sequel to the critically acclaimed Death Stranding, which was released in 2019 for PS4 and PC. The trailer showed the return of Norman Reedus as Sam Porter Bridges, who is now facing a new threat called Drawbridge. The trailer also featured a lot of action, including a chainsaw-guitar-hybrid weapon that shoots lightning, and a glimpse of the new cast, which includes Lea Seydoux, Elle Fanning, Shioli Kutsuna, and Troy Baker. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is expected to release in 2025 for PS5.
Kojima Productions is Also Working on a New Action Espionage Game
After the Death Stranding 2 trailer, Kojima confirmed that his studio is working on another project for PlayStation, which is a new action espionage game. He said that the game will try to blur the line between video game and film, and that it will be different from his previous works. He did not reveal the title or any details of the game, but he said that it will be announced soon.
Rise of the Ronin Gets a Deep Dive and a Release Date
Team Ninja, the developer behind the Nioh series, gave us a detailed look at their upcoming action game, Rise of the Ronin. The game is set in feudal Japan, where the player takes the role of a ronin, a masterless samurai, who must fight against various enemies, including other samurai, ninjas, and mythical creatures. The game features a realistic and dynamic sword combat system, where the player can parry, dodge, and counterattack. The game also has a hub world of Yokohama, where the player can interact with other characters, customize their equipment, and take on missions. Rise of the Ronin is coming out on March 22, 2024 for PS5.
Until Dawn Remaster is Coming to PS5 and PC This Year
One of the surprises of the show was the announcement of the Until Dawn remaster, which is coming to PS5 and PC later this year. Until Dawn is a horror adventure game that was released in 2015 for PS4, where the player controls eight characters who are trapped in a remote mountain lodge, and must survive until dawn. The game features a branching story, where the player’s choices and actions affect the outcome of the game. The remaster will have enhanced graphics, and will be handled by Ballistic Moon, a new studio formed by former Supermassive Games developers.
Stellar Blade is a Stylish Action Game Coming in April
Another new game that was shown at the State of Play was Stellar Blade, a stylish action game developed by Shift Up and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The game takes place on an apocalyptic Earth, where a mysterious enemy has forced humans to flee to a colony. The main character, Eve, and her two companions, Adam and Lily, work to destroy mech-like enemies and hostile survivors. Eve can use guns and swords in fast-paced combat, and can also switch between different modes, such as stealth, speed, and power. Stellar Blade is coming out on April 26, 2024 for PS5.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Gets Another Trailer
Capcom also showed up to share another trailer for Dragon’s Dogma 2, the long-awaited sequel to the cult classic action RPG. The trailer showed more of the game’s open world, where the player can explore, fight, and interact with various NPCs and creatures. The trailer also showed some of the game’s new features, such as the ability to climb on larger enemies, and the option to choose between different classes, such as fighter, mage, and assassin. Dragon’s Dogma 2 is also coming out on March 22, 2024 for PS5.
Sonic x Shadow Generations is a Remaster of Sonic Generations with New Content
The last announcement of the show was Sonic x Shadow Generations, which is an enhanced remaster of Sonic Generations, the 2011 game that celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. The game features two versions of Sonic, classic and modern, who must team up to restore the timeline that has been altered by a mysterious enemy. The game also features levels and bosses from various Sonic games, such as Green Hill Zone, Chemical Plant, and City Escape. The remaster will add new content featuring Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic’s rival and ally, who will have his own levels, abilities, and story. Sonic x Shadow Generations is coming out in 2024 for PS5.
These were the main announcements of the January 2024 State of Play, which showcased some of the upcoming PS5 games and surprises. Sony said that it will have more State of Play events throughout the year, and that it is excited to share more of its plans for the PS5.