PlayStation Showcase: The good, the bad and the ugly

I expect good news

May 26, 2023

Sony has been unusually quiet in the first-party games department for a while now, so you could be forgiven for going into this week’s PlayStation Showcase with high expectations. But those tuning in for a glimpse of what the likes of Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, Bluepoint Games and Bend Studio have been up to of late were left disappointed.

Sony’s biggest strength has always been the quality and quantity of its exclusives, but this PlayStation Showcase was strangely lacking in PlayStation showcases. Indeed, once the event was over, most of the games shown were immediately confirmed for Xbox and/or Switch too.

We got confirmation of the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake, alongside news that the original versions of MGS 1, 2, 3 and the two MSX titles will be released as part of the Metal Gear Solid Collection later this year. We got Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which looks like a nice return to the more compact, assassin-y games of old, and we got a pretty spectacular look at Alan Wake 2, which we’ve since been told was running in real-time (yay!), but also that it’ll be a digital-only release (boo!).

We got a Destiny 2 update from Bungie alongside the return of its Marathon IP, some intense footage of Resident Evil 4 VR, and a new pair of lossless earbuds. There was even a new handheld designed to stream games from your PS5, where it seems Sony has solved the problem of handhelds never feeling as good as a proper controller by literally splitting a DualSense in half and sticking a screen in the middle. It looks weird, but should hopefully feel the part, even if it doesn’t look it.

Oh, and um, we got Foamstars too.

Finally, Spider-Man 2 was the show’s big Just One More Thing - with a short trailer leading into a 10-minute gameplay demo that played out like a super-powered, water-based version of Uncharted 4’s signature Jeep chase. It was big and loud, and featured plenty of nods and winks to keep fans speculating until its next appearance.

On top of all that, though, were a few smaller games that I worry have been lost in the noise. So if you didn’t catch the show, here are four games you might have missed that are well worth keeping an eye on:

Sword of the Sea

Release: TBA
Platforms: PS5, PC
Developer: Giant Squid

The Art Director of Journey and Director of Abzu and The Pathless returns with a game that looks like, well, Journey, Abzu and The Pathless combined. Which is to say, absolutely gorgeous.

Those stunning, shimmering Journey sand effects have returned in style and have been turned up to 11, and the standout surfing sections from that game are also back in full effect. Add to that a lovely showing for Abzu’s fish tech and a new score from Austin Wintory and this one’s already looking like something very special indeed.

Neva

Release: 2024
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, PC
Developer: Nomada Studio

Nomada Studio’s Gris was a beautiful, understated classic, and follow-up Neva looks set to follow a similar path with its outrageously pretty pastel art style and gorgeous score.

The surprisingly hard-hitting trailer hints at themes of death and rebirth, and when combined with the previous work of its creators suggests we can be hopeful for something that proves effective and affecting in equal measure.

The Plucky Squire

Release: 2023
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series, Switch
Developer: All Possible Futures

The Plucky Squire has been shown off a few times already, but boy does it look good each and every time it is. A Media Molecule-tier feelgood vibe and art style mean it’s a joy just to watch, and gameplay that shifts seamlessly between 2D, 3D and isometric viewpoints should ensure that moment-to-moment play stays fresh.

2023 has already been a good year for indies and there are plenty more on the horizon, but The Lucky Squire looks set to be one of the best, and deserves a place on everybody’s watch list.

Ultros

Release: 2024
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
Developer: Hadoque

If psychedelic art styles are your thing, this side-scroller from Hadoque should shoot straight to the top of your most wanted list. It isn’t out until next year, but it’s already looking like a polished and accomplished actioner.

With fantastical character and creature design and a dark, brooding soundtrack from El Huervo of Hotline Miami fame, Ultros is surely one of the most interesting and unique side scrollers currently in development in a genre not lacking in either.

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As always, thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoy the rest of the issue. If you do, please tell your friends and loved ones!

Have a great weekend everyone, and I’ll see you next week,

Jeff

THE WEEK IN GAMES

The best news, deals and gaming content of the week

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LEGO Icons PAC-MAN Arcade

There have been some brilliant video game-based Lego sets released over the last few years, and this latest PAC-MAN edition looks set to continue the trend.

Lego is never cheap, but at £230 this one will hit your wallet particularly hard. Still, it should look rather lovely on the shelf. It’s due for release on June 4th and you can find out more over at the official LEGO site.

INDIE SPOTLIGHT

Shining a light on new and upcoming indies

The Settlings is “a relaxing settlement builder & resource management game in retro pixel-art optic”. If you have fond memories of Amiga classics The Settlers and Lemmings, this one should instantly appeal.

No solid release date has been announced yet, but a playable demo is already available to download. You can get more info and grab the demo over on the game’s official Steam page.

NEW RELEASES

All the major releases for this week and next

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OUT NEXT WEEK:

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Jeff