On May 25, 2023, game enthusiasts from around the world waited eagerly to witness the long-awaited PlayStation Showcase 2023. Sony Interactive Entertainment once again amazed fans with an electrifying display of innovation, breathtaking visuals, and a series of thrilling announcements. From the first look at next-generation hardware to the presentation of exciting new titles, the event left an indelible mark on the gaming landscape.
While it was a Playstation conference, some games are multi-platformed
Like any Playstation conference, this one was divided into three parts; previously unknown smaller titles, VR and minor items, and tentpole titles. There were eighteen games that, at least for me, fall into the former category. Some of them are titles I really want to play, and some look like they might not be worth my time. At least for now. However, I must admit that when it comes to the graphics part of these games, they all look amazing in their own way.
The titles that impressed me the most were Ghostrunner 2, Sword of the Sea, Final Fantasy XVI, Alan Wake II, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. These are the games I’m looking forward to the most right now, and I think many gamers are with me.
Ghostrunner 2 is developed by the Polish studio One More Level. The first game became a highly acclaimed title that sold more than 600,000 copies and received high ratings on sites such as Metacritic. I believe that the sequel will be just as good or maybe even better than the previous part. It has so much potential.
Another game we don’t know much about is Sword of the Sea from the American studio Giant Squid. They are responsible for such games as Abzu and Journey. It looks really good and I can’t wait to play it. Now, as for the big titles in this section, those three left I mentioned earlier are rather impressive looking. I only played Final Fantasy XV for a few hours and I didn’t know much about the universe, but I must admit that the new part looks very inviting.
The same is true for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which we will certainly learn more about in the coming weeks. Mirage, returns to the roots of the first Assassin’s Creed game and looks like a mix of all the good stuff from previous titles. The last game I really want to talk about is Alan Wake II. This sequel is one of the most anticipated titles by gamers in recent years. The first game came out in 2010 and was a hit with gamers. Now a sequel with new mechanics, a new story, and graphics is sure to make a lot of money.
The upcoming Alan Wake II is expected to bring players a fresh experience, moving away from the previous action-adventure game genre and taking on a new identity as a horror-survival game. Many of these titles will also be released on Xbox and PC as well.
Some new games for VR don’t look so good
As for VR games, I’m not a big fan. I understand the idea behind them and I’m a fan of how the technology has evolved. However, creating a game exclusively for virtual reality is difficult. Sometimes developers try to create a really impressive, huge title that is not just adapted to the current level of technology. There are about 5 or 6 newly announced games for Playstation VR 2 (depends if you want to count the new Five Nights at Freddy’s or not).
The games are Resident Evil 4 VR MODE, Arizona Sunshine II, Crossfire: Sierra Squad, Synapse, and Beat Saber Queen DLC. Nothing impressive, at least for me. These games (with the exception of Beat Saber) look like poor ports from other consoles to VR. Quality, specifications, and overall impressions do not seem to be good, or at least not good enough.
But things like physics, low VR specs, and excessive player demands make it impossible to create a good VR game in a short period of time. We also got a look at new Playstation devices, such as Project Q, which is the company’s own version of the Steam Deck.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 steals the show in Playstation Showcase 2023
The last project to be revealed at the end of the presentation was Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. The ten minute gameplay trailer revealed what we can expect from the storyline and new game mechanics. It should be noted that this gameplay trailer was not created on the current version of the game but on an older one. Therefore, some things do not look as they should (sharpened, more detailed, etc.), So there is no need to discuss it for now.
The plot of this sequel will focus on the adventures of Peter and Miles as they try to find a cure for Harry Osborn’s disease (among other threats). As seen in the trailer, Peter will be given a symbiote suit and will become more and more evil with each mission. As a fan of the old Spider-Man series from 1994, I would really like to see his interaction with Shocker. This was iconic because Spider-Man became really angry and tried to kill him, shouting “Shockeeeer! You can’t escape me! I’ll chase you to the ends of the Earth!”. And that’s something I really want to see.
The new mechanics in the game are truly unique. Along with the new suits come new upgrades, such as the Spider Wing Suit, more finishers, new combinations, faster movement, and more. When it comes to improvements of this type, the folks at Insomniac do not disappoint. Their attention to detail and giving fans new and fresh ways to play the game is something to be praised and applauded. Also, the map will be larger and the game will be longer.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games of this year. We’re sure to hear more and more about the game in the coming months. It is possible that the publishers/developers will soon release new trailers and game footage to increase player interest. There’s also talk of giving each Spider-Man costume its own variant of the symbiote, but we’ll see.
All presented game titles and their release dates at the PlayStation 2023 Showcase
- Alan Wake II – October 17, 2023 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) (Update: Read our review!)
- Arizona Sunshine II – 2023 (PlayStation VR2, SteamVR)
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage – October 12, 2023 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC) (Update: Read our review!)
- Beat Saber: Queen Music Pack DLC – Available now (PlayStation VR2, SteamVR)
- Cat Quest: Pirates of the Purribean – 2024 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One)
- Concord – 2024 (Playstation 5, PC)
- Crossfire: Sierra Squad – 2023 (Playstation 5)
- Destiny 2: The Final Shape DLC – 2024 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC)
- Dragon’s Dogma II – Date not announced (Playstation 5, Xbox Series S/X, PC)
- Fairgame$ – 2023 (PC, PlayStation 5)
- Final Fantasy XVI – June 22, 2023 (Playstation 5)
- Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 – 2023 (PSVR 2)
- Foamstars – Date not announced (Playstation 4, Playstation 5)
- Ghostrunner 2 – 2023 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, PC)
- Granblue Fantasy: Relink – 2023 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC)
- Helldivers II – 2023 (PC, PlayStation 5) (Update: Read our review!)
- Immortals of Aveum – 2023 (PC, Xbox Series S/X, Playstation 5)
- Marathon – Date not announced (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, PC)
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Fall 2023 (Playstation 5) (Update: Read our review!)
- Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater (Remake of MGS III) – 2024 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC)
- Neva – 2024 (Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X)
- Phantom Blade Zero – 2024 (Playstation 5, PC)
- Resident Evil 4 VR MODE – 2023/2024 (PSVR 2, Steam VR)
- Revenant Hill – Date not announced (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC)
- Street Fighter 6 – June 2, 2023 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, PC)
- Sword of the Sea – Date not announced (PC, PlayStation 5)
- Synapse – July 4th, 2023 (PSVR 2)
- Teardown – 2023 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X)
- The Plucky Squire – 2023 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, and PC)
- The Talos Principle II – 2023 (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X)
- Tower of Fantasy – 2023 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5)
- Towers of Aghasba – 2024 (Playstation 5)
- Ultros – 2024 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC)
Did you like what was shown during PlayStation Showcase 2023? What game are you most hyped for? Let us know on Twitter and on our Discord channel. And if you haven’t already, check out our review of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor!
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