Gaming
Games
What to expect from Sony at E3 2017
They’re the current reigning console champs, but can Sony stay on top this E3?
Will Sony stay on top at this year’s E3?
© Sony
No impartial observer would argue that Sony aren’t the market leaders right now. First out of the gate with 4K gaming, also leading the way with console-based Virtual Reality, and with multiple PS4 console variants on sale, we all know that Microsoft are the ones who have to impress this E3 with their Xbox keynote, not Sony.
But is that actually the case, though? You don’t stay on top by resting on your laurels. Despite the recent release of Farpoint, PSVR has been very quiet of late, and although boost mode came to PS4 Pro (allowing earlier PS4 games to benefit from the Pro console), Horizon Zero Dawn aside we’re not being told what to look forward to if we’ve invested in 4K TVs. So, then, what will Sony do this year? Never fear, we’ve got you covered.
Nostalgia overload
Expect more remakes from Sony to be announced
© Sony
With the recent release of LocoRoco Remastered and PaRappa the Rapper, and with Patapon still to come, it’s very clear that Sony are tapping into our thirst for nostalgia. Expect announcements of something like a new game in one (or all) of those series. To that end, we’re also expecting a new PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale announcement. It won’t be a major focus, but it ties all the nostalgia up with one neat bow, and Super Smash Bros is super hot right now.
While most of them have already been done, we also wouldn’t be surprised to see yet more classic remakes and remasters of other old games from third-parties, just like the ones we got from Double Fine over the past few years. Elsewhere, they’ll show Crash Bandicoot’s upcoming remake, but one thing’s for sure, Sony won’t be leaving their past behind this E3.
The Last of Us: Part II
We can’t wait to see more from Ellie and Joel
© Sony
Despite the awkward naming convention, you can bet the house that Sony will go big on showing off Naughty Dog’s follow up to one of the best PS3 games ever. We’re pretty sure you’re going to be playing as Ellie, but we wouldn’t rule out anything after playing through The Last of Us.
You can expect to see gameplay, perhaps even some multiplayer details (the multiplayer for The Last of Us was surprisingly good, so it’s bound to return), but release date wise, it’s likely to just be “Coming 2018” at best, especially with an Uncharted game to get out the door first.
Details and release dates for God of War and Days Gone
Gods and Zombies, both coming soon?
© Sony
As with The Last of Us, Sony will likely show off God of War and go heavy on how the frame rate will be high on PS4 Pro, and gosh don’t those blood spattered togas have high textures et cetera. But we reckon we’re also going to be getting a release date, and that it will be later in 2017.
Days Gone, Sony’s next big exclusive action game, featuring bikers taking on monsters in a post-apocalyptic world, despite looking very impressive last year, is likely to be 2018, but we think Sony will announce an early 2018 release date, possibly even narrowing it down to a month. We wouldn’t put it past them to release a demo of this one during the show, in order to showcase the impressive zombie numbers tech. There’s a lot of them.
Kojima on stage
Kojima’s Sony exclusive won’t be out this year
© Sony
It’s all gone a bit quiet about Death Stranding, but Sony are bound to wheel the industry’s greatest auteur, Hideo Kojima, out for E3. Don’t expect a release date, but do expect at the very least a lengthy pre-recorded gameplay demo reel. We think this game is a very long way off yet, so although it’ll be shown, Sony will be vague about when it’s coming.
That said, just having Kojima on stage will feel like a coup for Sony. They’re very proud they’ve got him working on a PS4 game, exclusively as well, and they’ll make a big fuss over him.
No mention of Final Fantasy VII Remake or Shenmue 3
Final Fantsasy VII remake is ages away
© Square Enix
When FFVII’s remake was announced, jaws hit the floor. Most people thought it had been too long, and that it’d never happen, but there we all were, watching Sony and Square Enix announce it’s a real thing.
However, don’t expect to see it, or Shenmue 3 at E3 this year. Both projects are early in the development process and there’s likely nothing worth actually showing at this point. We’re sorry to break it to you, but the wait for these two will have to continue, but hey, at least they’re both happening.
Third party games on the Sony stage
As usual, Sony fans will get DLC early
© Activision
We’re expecting a lot of games to be revealed or shown at this year’s E3, and as always, there will be third party publishers appearing on Sony’s stage to announce some form of exclusive content “first on PlayStation”.
Ubisoft have always had a relationship with Sony, so we’re thinking the new Assassin’s Creed or Far Cry 5 will have something PS4-exclusive, timed or otherwise. Activision will almost certainly have Call of Duty timed exclusivity on PlayStation, and Destiny 2 is likely to feature as well.
PSVR, and lots of it
What VR surprises do Sony have up their sleeve?
© Sony
Look, the people at Sony are smart. They know all too well that they need to show strong support for their expensive VR kit, and that E3 is the perfect time to do it. It’s simple, really, because if Sony don’t give fans a reason to be excited about the future of PSVR, people will walk away thinking it’s another Vita.
Expect a segment of the press conference to be dedicated to showcasing new games from different internal and external developers, ending in a sizzle reel showing “all the great PSVR content coming this year”. Oh, and they’ll almost certainly show GT Sport in VR, too.
Something Bloodborne related
Surely the time is now for more Bloodborne?
© Sony
OK, OK, this is more of a hope than a prediction. Sony and Fromsoftware have had a relationship for some time, as the original “ Souls-like” game, Demon’s Souls was a PS3 exclusive. As the best game in the series, Bloodborne deserves a follow up. That universe is ripe for the picking and we want more.
It’s not impossible for a full-on sequel to be announced, but it’s something that may well be developed by Sony, in a similar fashion to how Bandai Namco are making a game that looks very “Soulsy” in Code Vein, but has nothing to do with Fromsoftware. Perhaps a PS4 Pro enhanced version of the game might come out, or even a patch and a mention that “there’s more on the horizon”, but the time is right for Bloodborne news. Consider this our wildcard prediction.
Absolutely no mention of Red Dead Redemption 2
If Rockstar show up at Sony, we’ll eat our hats
© Rockstar
This is a rumour that does the rounds every year, that Rockstar will rock up (sorry) on Sony’s stage and stun the world by showing off their game on someone else’s stage. But let’s be clear: this won’t happen.
It’s as likely as Valve showing up and announcing Half-Life 3 as a PSVR exclusive, because like Valve, Rockstar don’t need a partner to promote their game. Red Dead Redemption 2 will be amazing, we’re sure of that, but it won’t be shown on anyone else’s stage, because Rockstar will, as usual, demand the limelight all to themselves, and fair play, too!
