Nothing will ever top the Holy Trifecta™ – ever. That triple-punch of The Last Guardian, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Shenmue III is the kind of thing that legends are made of; I’ll be telling my grandchildren about it, and I expect them to tell their grandchildren as well. E3 2015, as I wrote at the time, was the greatest gaming press conference ever – it simply can’t be topped.
But it can be rivalled, and you’ll find many people without a personal connection to the aforementioned franchises who argue that Sony’s almost-as-epic E3 2016 press conference was actually better than its predecessor. I don’t agree, but it was a good one: God of War, Death Stranding, and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy – impressive stuff.
Here’s something that I’ve been thinking about for some time: the PlayStation 5’s reveal event is going to be insane. It’s a weird one this time, because the platform holder has actually shared a lot of information about the device already, but one could argue that it’s got all of the boring bits out of the way. We know the name, for example, and that it supports raytracing; we know that it’s got a 4K Blu-ray drive and a controller with haptic feedback.
Of course the company’s going to spend some time talking about the hardware, but I think it’s going to lavish even more attention on the feature that matters most: the games. Here’s the thing: Sony’s practically shut up shop this past year. Yes, it’s updated us on some of its tentpole PlayStation 4 titles like The Last of Us: Part II, but we’ve barely heard a peep from it beyond that.
There’s no doubt a small clan of keyboard warriors on enthusiast forums who feel that the organisation has “lost its way” and succumb to its deep-rooted hubris from the PlayStation 3 days; I happen to believe it’s been busy behind-the-scenes, and it’s been building the biggest atomic bomb imaginable ahead of that all-important unveiling.
It’ll hold some stuff back, of course it will: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is surely in development, but I don’t think we’ll see it for a little while yet; the same with God of War 2, which will likely drop a few years into the generation. The sequel to Horizon: Zero Dawn, though – even though I don’t think it’ll be a launch game, you can bet every last copper coin you have on it putting in an appearance, complete with a full-range of features inspired by the DualShock 5.
Demon’s Souls Remake, obviously, is going to be there – assuming that is, indeed, what Bluepoint is busy beavering away on. There are few franchises that attract the hardcore quite like From Software ones, and while this is unlikely to have director Hidetaka Miyazaki’s involvement, I think we all know people are going to freak out when they see this running in real-time on next-gen hardware.
I think we’ll see Gran Turismo 7, as I still fully expect that to be a launch game. Honestly, I think it’ll be closer to what people wanted out of GT Sport as well; I reckon all of the innovative online e-sports features will remain intact, but I expect the whole package to be padded out with a more traditional single player campaign to boot. Plus, let’s be honest, it’s going to look unreal – well, by unreal I actually mean, y'know, real.
To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a new Ratchet & Clank announced, and I still believe that Ghost of Tsushima is going to be cross-gen; already we’re looking at a mouth-watering slate of software. But it won’t just be the first-party stuff; Sony’s said that it’s aggressively targeting third-parties, and I think we’re going to see at least one controversial Rise of the Tomb Raider-esque timed exclusive, alongside a slate of third-party debuts.
Rocksteady, for example, has been whisper quiet since the release of Batman: Arkham VR – I believe it’ll be in attendance at the PS5 reveal event in some capacity. I genuinely believe that Sony’s working with Remedy on something; there’s been far too much smoke for there not to be some kind of inferno blazing in Finland. The platform holder will probably retain its partnership with Activision on Call of Duty, but don’t be surprised if it also debuts some kind of new Crash Bandicoot game.
And it’ll definitely have a few Japanese organisations under its umbrella: Capcom will be in attendance; Yakuza Studio always has something to show. The bottom line is that Sony’s been so quiet for so long, it simply must have been stockpiling ammunition in the interim. I think it’s going to go big – really big. There’s so much content clearly in the works; what better way to showcase it than alongside new hardware?
How much potential do you think the PS5 reveal event has to upstage E3 2015? What kind of next-gen announcement would get you hot under the collar? Look forward to the imminent unveiling in the comments section below.
Comments 46
It's certainly an exciting time. Competition is as strong as ever and PlayStation seem in a perfect position to just continue what they've been doing this gen really, whilst adding to it with new ideas and impressive new tech.
Bring it on!
I know it's not going to happen, especially since Demon's Souls is looking likely and Elden Ring is on the way, but a Bloodborne 2 announcement would see me hand over my money there and then.
Of course I'll settle for Knack 3.
What's funny is that we still don't have 2 out of 3 of those games.
I can't say that I really care for Demon Souls and can't remember the last time I played a lot of a Gran Turismo title. Those aside the exclusive I'm most looking forward to is the sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, the original is by far my favourite exclusive this gen. After them it'd be a new Spiderman and the next God of War title with a sprinkling of Ratchet and Clank thrown in. More than anything though I'd like to see some genuinely new ideas and game changing mechanics made possible by the new hardware
I think the thing they need to top for me is E3 2016. God of War reveal, multiple exclusives, Resident Evil 7, Crash Bandicoot, Spider-Man, and Death Stranding. Good lord. AND that awesome orchestra.
2016 conference is still the one to beat imo. sorry sammy!
anyway i actually do expect HZD2 to either be a launch game or release a couple months later like infamous second son did.
rumors about the game being in development have been going on for a couple of years now.
i don't see a new GT game at launch yet. since they have a track record of taking a long time to release.
but what about that new san diego studio's game? uncharted as the rumors tell.
may not be a launch game but it could make an appearance in the form of a trailer.
there's also that MP shooter guerilla is working on but i don't care about that at all. but still could make an apearance in some form.
either way they can show off lot's of games if they want to during the ps5 reveal which is always exiting.
also i think if sony would get a timed exclusive,it could be remedy's new game. maybe control 2,or alan wake remaster plus sequel.
"Happiness is having something to look forward to."
I'm a sucker for anticipating things and reveals. I love when RockStar slowly introduces videos for upcoming games. I cannot wait for PS5 information to start coming to light, and then the wait for the ultimate launch.
Horizon 2 or TLOU part 2 online and Sony already win E3 2020.
Sony have so many great exclusives that they can afford to drop 2 exclusives at launch and still have tje heavy hitters release in 2021, 22 etc
The potential of big sequel on ps5 is super crazy, we're getting god of war 2, spider-man 2, horizon zd 2, ratchet & clank 2, and maybe from second/third party exclusive like bloodborne 2 and persona 6.
That list alone make ps5 worth it from the launch date, especially if sony add 60 fps support for all their 1st party titles.
I sure hope your right. Bc with their silence if the launch line up isnt killer its gonna be a huge letdown.
i don't think horizon zero dawn 2 will be anywhere near the launch, as i don't expect it to be released before 2022. i think possibly there might be something different from guerrilla, not on the scale of H:ZD but still able to show off all the tech prowess of PS5. and the start of a generation is a good time to launch something new, with modest expectations you can lock people in with mass bundling, and if it turns out well, there's a base to grow it into a franchise or something bigger.
Resistance 4.syphon filter remake.god of war 2.sly cooper 4💛💚💖😍.wowps5 for the win.word up son
While it's years away I'm excited to see what Naughty Dog are going to do with a PS5 after TLOU2. With Uncharted retired (at least for them) I wonder what sort of game they will make next. I'm hoping for a sci-fi/space genre game.
I wouldn't be surprised if during the PS5 reveal event we get shown a trailer/slideshow of all the PS4 games getting a release day patch upgrade for PS5. It would certainly buy them more time to release new stuff and give people more reason to buy the new system sooner rather than later.
Think you’re right Sammy, they’ve been so quiet this year, they gotta be revving up for a big blowout in spring/E3...
It’s pretty clear to me that Valve will announce Half Life 3 as a PS5 exclusive 🤣
Seeing a full reveal of the console is great, yes, but seeing what new games will be coming along for the ride at launch is just as exciting.
I just can't wait to see what the next GTA game looks like on these powerful consoles.
Well, here's the thing about E3 2015. It was only intensely exciting and emotional for those of us who are old enough to realize the magnitude of what was being shown off. And it's extremely unlikely that Sony will have anything on the level of FF7R or The Last Guardian. How could they? People spent a decade or so waiting for TLG, and FF7R has been a crazy dream for every FF fan who ever lost themselves in the world of Gaia on the PS1.
I do hope it'll be a good show, though. If Sony's console is as expensive as I think it'll be, they'll want a couple of blowout games to push the system early on.
I’d like to see Capcom present with a re-unveiling of Deep Down as a launch PS5 title. I can’t believe we went a full generation without seeing much more about that game.
Buy Techland Sony. Them and Remedy have that SWW Studios feel to them. Im as excited for Dying Light 2 as much as anything and i feel like nobody is talking about it. I hope the reveal has a big studio acquisition
Man, you're making me hyped for this event! It will certainly be legendary.
I was expecting it to happen after Last of Us 2 came out, but since it will probably be delayed maybe in january like they did with the PS4?
@AFCC ps4 reveal was in february i think.
and the current rumors point to another february 2020 reveal for the ps5 aswell. apparently TLOU 2 will be shown off on the system but take that with a big grain of salt.
@ApostateMage. Gta 6 in 1980s miami will be amazing.1986 miami with 15 teraflops power.wow.word up son
@Nyne11Tyme. They will definitely reveal new studios at the February ps5 reveal.remedy.bluepoint.suppermasivegames.ready at dawn.asobo studio.kojima productions.word up son
I'm more looking forward to looking for the PS5's game announcements than the reveal of the console itself, I'm willing to bet Japan Studio will have something in the works.
Honestly, I’d love to see a new IP or two. Sequels are all well and good but the true innovations between generations lie in the new genres feasible. Like how PS1 gave rise to First Person games on console (mostly), the PS2 went big on cinematic action games and PS3 had the big wave of open-world innovations.
@nessisonett There'll definitely be some new stuff.
While its true games make the console, there is something about seeing a new more powerful console for the first time. That alone fuel's the imagination to great heights on whats to come.
@Nyne11Tyme I dunno why so many people are in favour of companies just buying up smaller devs. Disney get slated for it and rightly so, megacorporations are not the answer.
@ApostateMage don’t you mean the re-remaster of GTAV so that everyone can buy it again and keep it in the top of the charts for years to come.
@nessisonett heres the thing. What WWS game has felt like a cash grab or shady business practices in any way? Its surely not my fanboy talking when i say Sony is pretty much the gold standard for 'worth 59.99 msrp for a complete video game.' I agree with you in a certain respect. But here is a huge wing of a big company on a 10+ year "i hear ya!!" Mentality (id say since PlayStation inception but then my fanboy would be showing😂). I find that impressive. We say make great games and Sony delivers. And they explore a lot of genres and take risks for the sake of a good game.
First I think 2016 was way better than 2015. GOW, Days gone, Detroit gameplay, Spidey, DS, PSVR games etc on and on and on. Come on.
Second ps5 reveal is mostly about introducing the console. Stop hyping games, games etc that should be the focus on the next events.
Of course theres going to be a few like on ps4 reveal but come on. It's like every E3 when people make wish list that look like unrealistic Cristmas list.
Ps4 reveal was well balanced. That's how it should be
I think botw has shown the difference launching with a killer app can make, hope ghosts of tsushima is that!
I think the holy trifecta at E3 2015 was the best moment in E3 history but Sonys E3 2016 was EASILY the best conference ever.
... this isn't a great start I don't think for PS5... certainly not enough to warrant handing over £500+ on new hardware and a couple of rehashed games... If they delayed the likes of Last of Us 2 and Ghosts, even Death Stranding - and made these PS5 exclusives - then we'd be talking - but the fact they'll already be out and played to death and done and dusted (and people will have 'moved on') it's not a great start at all...
@get2sammyb Horizon 2 and the Ueda's next game (though probably multiplat) are a very real possibility. That alone would make it rival 2015
Throw in GOW2 and I'm all set.
Of course, I'd love new IPs more than anything else, but they're impossible to predict.
I agree with every thing Sammy said. It's going to be glorious.
Personally, I don't think most of Sony's first party studio will have any new title on launch day short of Guerilla and the Bluepoint Remake. Gran Turismo history of release delay makes them a bad candidate for launch titles and they probably do not want to suffer the same backlash releasing an 'incomplete' Gran Turismo. The expectation is very high following GT 6 and the next title will need more time.
What Sony can wow the audience will be it's backward compatibility and how games will run better in the new system. It will be very attractive to PS4 owners if they can pay all their games at higher resolution and 60fps.
@ApostateMage It'll honestly still look like garbage. Not a single GTA game has ever looked good, nor been good. Why people give any kind of accolades to R* is beyond me...
As good as Im sure it'll be, I'm actually more excited for the upcoming PS4 games than Next gen at the moment. I'm sure that'll change as we get all the announcements but I'm in no rush.
Death Stranding, Cyberpunk 2077, Shenmue 3 (I still can't believe it's actually happening).Final Fantasy 7 Remake too.The Last of Us 2. And Ghosts of Tsushima. The PS4 is seriously going out with a bang.
For so many reasons I love the end of a console gen cycle the most. This gen probably more than ever.
e3 2016 was much better
I think 2016 was better though. The amount of new games that were revealed with ingame trailers or just pure gameplay. Games like God of War, Spiderman, Death Stranding, Days Gone, AND then later that year at PSX we got Uncharted The Lost Legacy and TLOU Part II.
But yeah, the announcements at that E3 2015 were earth shattering lol.
@nessisonett If the corp that purchases them shares their vision, then the relationship between the two shouldn't be any concern. Besides, these indie companies now have larger capital and can feel more at ease financially.
@BearsEatBeets Just incase you're serious...that's doubtful. Their efforts are most certainly in the next GTA installment.
@InsertUsername Totally not serious. I wonder if they will go back to Miami in the 80’s again or do a completely new setting.
@BearsEatBeets I think if they do Vice City again, it'll likely be present day, like San Andreas in GTA V.
@jdv95 or that x) january and february are 2 merged months for me, they are boring.
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