Sony’s August 6 all-digital State of Play focused on third-party titles for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, and even the upcoming next-generation PlayStation 5 console. The nearly 45-minute stream revealed exciting updates from famous series and beloved indie classics both.
The event started with a full five minutes of brand-new gameplay footage from Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, developed by Toys for Bob. First revealed earlier this year, the title will see the platforming bandicoot return to his roots in a direct sequel to 1998’s Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped – yes, that’s right, it’s the first new main-series Crash title in over a decade. Drs. Neo Cortex and N. Tropy have escaped from their imprisonment, and are wreaking havoc in every single dimension, and it’s up to Crash and his spunky sister Coco to stop them!
Crash’s upcoming adventure will include a ton of new features, including the ability to play as Coco, Neo Cortex, and even Dingodile, who has retired from a life of evil to open a diner. Also, the Bandicoot siblings will be able to use the powers of the newly discovered Quantum Masks to shift gravity, slow down time, and phase obstacles and platforms in and out of existence. (A fourth mask is planned to appear as well, but it’s power has not yet been revealed.) Finally, the all-new “N. Verted” mode will allow gamers to replay levels with redesigned aesthetics inspired by classic cartoons, old movies, neon-lit techno landscapes, and more.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time will release for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 2, 2020. Toys for Bob also took advantage of the State of Play to officially de-confirm rumors that It’s About Time will contain in-game purchases. The newest Crash adventure will be entirely micro-transaction-free.
In June, it was announced that Agent 47 would return in Hitman 3, the long-awaited conclusion to IO Interactive’s World of Assassination trilogy. A new teaser trailer shows 47 infiltrating a luxurious party, presumably in the previously revealed location of Dubai. The stealthy assassin stalks a target into the bathroom, before quickly ending his life with nothing more than a single length of wire.
The trailer concluded by announcing that not just Hitman 3, but the entire World of Assassination trilogy will be available via PlayStation VR. Players will be able to take on Agent 47’s contracts in a stunning new VR mode, which features greater interactivity than ever before.
Hitman 3 is currently planned to release in January 2021 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Also, it has recently been announced that the entire trilogy is also coming to Google Stadia.
Puzzle-platformer Braid, first released in 2008, will be receiving an upgraded Anniversary Edition debuting for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in 2021. The surreal, beautiful game has been entirely hand-repainted, including updated areas, smoother animations, and approximately nine pixels to everyone present in the original version. Additionally, Braid: Anniversary Edition will feature hours of developer commentary telling the story of the game’s journey from idea to reality.
Abzu developer Giant Squid presented a new gameplay-intensive look at their original title The Pathless, described as “an open-world mythic adventure.” Players will take on the role of “The Hunter,” an expert archer who moves quickly and stealthily through a gorgeous but dangerous forest. She can collect talismans to move more rapidly, as well as glide, and even fly with the help of her Eagle companion. Collectible crystals and other hidden secrets allow the player to upgrade the Eagle’s abilities and fly further, higher and faster across the land.
The Pathless is unique in that, despite featuring a sprawling open world, The Pathless has no map. Instead, the Hunter can use her “spirit vision” to identify landmarks, including great obelisks and ancient ruins featuring tricky puzzles to solve. However, the spirit world is not entirely benevolent – it is inhabited by fearsome Cursed Spirits, which the Hunter and the Eagle must defeat using a combination of archery and stealth tactics.
Currently, The Pathless is scheduled to debut during the holiday season of 2020. It will launch alongside or shortly after the PlayStation 5 console. It is also coming to both PC and Apple Arcade.
Beloved cave explorer action-platformer-rogue-like (Woah, what a mouthful!) Spelunky is getting a sequel, Spelunky 2, which will debut on September 15 for the PlayStation 4. Spelunky 2 will feature new caves, new characters, new items, unique shops, new secrets to discover, new treasures to find — even the ability to ride turkeys! As you meet and interact with the various characters, you will feel as though you are genuinely building a community — perhaps even a family. Additionally, an online multiplayer mode will be accessible for those with a PlayStation Plus subscription.
What do you get when you combine an anime-inspired art style, classic Japanese role-playing game mechanics, and a world that wouldn’t be out of place in a Legend of Zelda title? Genshin Impact, a brand new title from miHoYo is coming to the PlayStation 4, PC, and mobile devices this fall. Customize your perfect party from over 20 characters wielding seven distinct elements. You can even team up with your friends in a co-op mode, which will support crossplay across all platforms.
The PlayStation 4 is also reportedly getting Aeon Must Die; a sci-fi beat ’em up inspired by classic movies and the work of animation studios such as Gainax and Trigger. As the host for Aeon, the recently overthrown galactic emperor, players must take on warring factions utilizing Aeon’s powerful abilities at the cost of their independence and control. Aeon Must Die is anticipated to debut in 2021. However, the controversy surrounding the game, including the departure of its developers due to workplace mistreatment, may result in the project being delayed or shelved entirely.
Anno Mutationem combines action and role-playing game elements, 2D and 3D art, and a neon cyberpunk sheen with the gritty realism of futuristic cities inspired by locations such as modern-day Tokyo. Players take control of the “one-woman army” Ann as she switches between 3D “Exploration Mode” and 2D “Combat Mode” and tries to uncover the truth behind a plot which has been described as both “freaky” and “twisted.” Anno Mutationem will arrive on PlayStation 4 in December 2020.
Of course, what would a State of Play be without more information regarding the highly anticipated Bugsnax? Fans got a peek at a brand new gameplay trailer, which revealed that Bugsnax would be a first-person adventure title centered around solving the mysteries of Snaktooth Island. Where did adventurer Elizabert Megafig disappear to? Why have so many residents left Snaxburg?
To solve these mysteries, you’ll need to gather information from various Grumpuses, who reside on Snaktooth Island alongside the titular Bugsnax. However, the Grumpuses won’t help you for free – most of them will require you to bring them their favorite Bugsnax, and possibly even feed it to them! You’ll use a variety of traps and techniques to photograph, catalog, catch, and study the various species of Bugsnax along your journey.
Bugsnax is planned to debut later this year for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC. But if you simply can’t get enough Bugsnax and need something to tide you over until it releases, Kero Kero Bonito’s catchy theme “It’s Bugsnax!” can now be listened to via Spotify and other primary streaming services.
Immerse yourself in the darkest parts of the Star Wars universe with Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series, coming to PSVR on August 25, 2020, after previously releasing for the Oculus Rift. This thrilling title allows players to explore the depths of Darth Vader’s fortress on the planet Mustafar, and perhaps even take down the infamous villain themselves. Dual-wield lightsabers or train your Force abilities as you grow strong enough to bring the fight to Vader.
Remedy and 505 Games’ action-adventure title Control will be receiving a brand new expansion, the second one released so far. Debuting on August 27, the new segment, entitled AWE, will be a crossover with a beloved previous Remedy title, the action-packed thriller Alan Wake. Protagonist Jesse Falden will investigate a series of new mysteries and take on brand new enemies alongside none other than Wake himself. Control is currently available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via the Epic Games Store. AWE is planned to release for all three platforms.
Two more titles rounded out the PlayStation 4-related announcements. Auto Chess, a twist on the classic board game featuring adorable fantasy-inspired characters, is coming to the console on October 31. The Pedestrian, a quirky 2D platformer which involves creating courses for a stick figure protagonist to traverse out of gorgeously rendered 3D environments including traffic signs, walls, urban refuse, and more, will be arriving sometime in January 2021.
The final three announcements all revolved around the upcoming PlayStation 5 console – and they featured quite the variety of game genres and aesthetics, as well!
On the “dark and mysterious” side of things is Sumo Digital and Focus Home Interactive’s Hood: Outlaws and Legends. This brand new title features a grimmer twist on the classic tale of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Playing as a group of outlaws called “Wraiths,” players will lead raids on castles, fortifications, and the homes of the wealthy in a danger-filled medieval setting. The game will include both PvE and PvP combat, with players forming rival gangs of Wraiths and going head-to-head in the quest for victory and treasure.
Hood: Outlaws and Legends does not have an official release date, but is currently expected to debut in 2021. In addition to the PlayStation 5, it will also be available for PC via Steam.
Nothing could quite prepare viewers for the utter mood whiplash of what came next: Temtem, a brightly colored online multiplayer take on the “creature collecting” genre. Players battle and collect Temtems, build houses, embark on adventures – and even team up with other players in the fully online world of Airborne Archipelago. The game, which takes clear inspiration from the popular Pokemon franchise, is currently available for early access on Steam. Players who are interested in giving Temtem a try can play it there before its planned PlayStation 5 release sometime in 2021. Developer Crema is still accepting player feedback and updating the game regularly, so early-access gamers could even help shape Temtem’s final form!
Last but most certainly not least, the stream wrapped up with an extended look at Counterplay Games and Gearbox Publishing’s Godfall, which in late 2019 became one of the earliest titles announced for the PlayStation 5. Described as a “looter slasher,” Godfall combines an RPG-inspired fantasy world with a gear-based progression system and fast-packed, action-packed melee combat. Taking on the role of one of the world’s last remaining knights, players will fight their way through the elemental realms of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water to take down mad gods and prevent the apocalypse itself.
The gameplay demonstration confirmed that Godfall would feature collectible armor called “Valorplates,” as well as multiple types of melee weapon classes. A select few weapons – the Dual Blades, the Longsword, and the Shield – were shown off in great detail. Presumably, information regarding the other weapon classes, including the two-handed Greatsword and War Hammer, will be revealed at a later date. Footage of a boss battle indicated that combat would be focused on speed and offense, with the player character avoiding the boss’s massive melee attacks before dashing in to deal out damage of their own.
Godfall will be releasing in late 2020, either alongside or shortly after the PlayStation 5. Co-op play (for teams of up to three players) will be available with a PlayStation Plus subscription. The game will also be debuting for PC.
It was an announcement-stacked State of Play. Which upcoming title are you most excited for? Which ones made your “must buy” list immediately? Are you more excited than ever for the PlayStation 5? Let us know!
