The news headlines have all been centred around PlayStation hardware as of late. The announcement of the PS5 Pro and its beefy price tag technical specs promise an enhanced gameplay experience; while the 30th-anniversary consoles and accessories promise to be expensive in the aftermarket, we will do it in style. This is all well and good, but we need to know what we will be playing on these machines. Thankfully, we’re getting a State of Play showcase this morning to (hopefully) let us know what’s in the works for our big modems.
Without delay, let’s take a look at everything that was announced during the September 2024 State of Play:
Astro Bot
For those who binged Astro Bot, snagged the platinum trophy, and were left with a hole in their heart because there was nothing left to squeeze out of the excellent game (myself included), you’re in luck. A Free update is coming before the end of the year that will include five online speed run levels and ten new bots to rescue. The short trailer showed off Eve from Stellar Blade and a Helldiver from, well, Helldivers 2.
The Midnight Walk
Coming from Moon Hood, the team behind Lost in Random, The Midnight Walk had an excellent showing, with a creepy visual design and tone. Playable on PS5 and PSVR2, players will befriend a little guy named Potboy, who will help lead you through a darkened world filled with nasty creatures. The stop-motion aesthetic is awesome, and I’m keen to see more before it launches in 2025.
Hell is Us
A third-person action-adventure title from studio Rogue Factor, Hell is Us aims to strip players of all their comforts, such as minimaps and quest markers, and force them to observe the grim worlds around them. The debut trailer gives us a glimpse at the game’s melee combat, as well as the otherworldly enemies and locations, making it a rather unique-looking and sounding game. We will be keen to hear more from Hell is Us before its 2025 release on PS5.
Metro: Awakening
Time for a bit more virtual reality love. One of the more anticipated announcements for the PSVR2 in some time, Metro: Awakening finally has a solid release date. Fans of the post-apocalyptic shooter can jump into the Metro on November 7.
ArcheAge Chronicles
I’ll admit, I hadn’t heard of this series before, but the newly-announced ArcheAge Chronicles is set 50 years after the original. An online action RPG, the reveal trailer for Chronicles showed some very beefy lads engaging in weighty melee combat, as well as folks casting spells and battling ghosts, so there’s a good bit of variety in this fantasy world. We can look forward to this one coming in 2025.
Palworld
Lawsuits be damned, hey? Yes, Palworld is finally making the jump to PlayStation. In fact, the catch ’em all open-world survival game is available on PS5 from today, so get out there and make some pals.
Lunar Remastered Collection
A collection of two PS1 classic JRPGs is on the way. The Lunar Remastered Collection includes LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete, both with improved audio and visuals and various quality-of-life inclusions. This collection will be available on PS5 and PS4 in autumn 2025.
TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge
New content is on the way for TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge. The Radical Reptiles DLC adds Mondo Gecko and Mona Lisa as playable characters, while a free update will add new remixed tracks to the game’s soundtrack. Both the paid DLC and free update are available now.
Sonic X Shadow Generations
There’s nothing like hearing about a game’s DLC offerings before it hits shelves. Sonic X Shadow Generations will be getting a Sonic the Hedgehog Movie 3 DLC pack that adds levels inspired by the upcoming third Sonic movie. Not to mention, the pack will also include Keanu Reeves voice lines for the dark hedgehog himself. This one is available as of December 12 and is included in the game’s Digital Deluxe Edition.
Fantasian Neo Dimension
We’ve got an update on the next game from the “Father of Final Fantasy” Hironobu Sakaguchi. Fantasian Neo Dimension is a JRPG that mixes physical dioramas with digital 3D sprites to make a unique visual style that looks unlike anything else. That’s not what we’re here to talk about, though, as it was announced to be coming to PS5 and PS4 on December 5.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
It’s just around the corner, and the hype is building, so it makes sense to be here. A new trailer for Dragon Age: The Veilguard showed off some awesome cinematics, as well as a climactic battle against a pair of dragons. We don’t have long to wait before we can get this in our hands, as Veilguard releases on October 31.
Alan Wake II – Lake House Expansion
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s not a loop, it’s a spiral. A new expansion for Alan Wake II has been revealed, taking us back to Cauldron Lake. Playing as FBC agent Kiran Estevez, the events of the Lake House DLC will run concurrently with the story of the base game, with a disastrous event causing a rift between our world and the Dark Place. I can’t wait for this DLC to drop later in October.
Hitman World of Assassination
Sure, you might not want to be bald (sorry to all of my smooth-domed friends), but many would be keen to jump into the suit of Agent 47. Those who own other VR headsets have been able to do so for a while, but PSVR2 users can finally join the stealth mission, as Hitman World of Assassination is coming to PSVR2 this December.
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered
Holy smokes, this is a big one that was seemingly never going to happen. Fans rejoice, the Legacy of Kain games are finally getting a remaster. Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered does exactly what it says on the tin, bringing together the first two games in the vampire series with remastered graphics and audio. Being able to play these again on modern hardware will be a huge win for the series’ many fans. The collection is coming soon.
Fear the Spotlight
We’re about to hit the spookiest month of the year, which means getting horror games on our consoles. Thankfully, the highly anticipated Fear the Spotlight has just been given an October 22 release date, so its PS1-inspired gameplay and visuals will make it in time for Halloween this year.
Towers of Aghasba
Giving off similar vibes to Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Towers of Aghasba is an action-adventure title focusing on the natural world. Players will be able to build settlements and fight beasties, all before inviting your friends to join you in your world to build and explore. This one hits early access in November.
Fortnite LEGO | Fortnite DualSense
A quick double-up of Fortnite reveals was up next. Firstly, the LEGO Fortnite mode is getting a split-screen mode, letting you play with a mate sitting next to you. Secondly, a Fortnite-themed DualSense that will appeal visually to some, I’m sure, is on the way, with pre-orders opening on October 3.
Dynasty Warriors Origins
The next instalment of the popular one-vs-many melee combat franchise finally has a release date. Fans of mowing through hundreds of enemies with massive over-the-top weapons and attacks can look forward to Dynasty Warriors Origins hitting PS5 on January 17, 2025.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Speaking of release dates. Monster Hunter fans have been clambering for this announcement for months, and now we finally know that Monster Hunter Wilds will be coming to PS5 on February 28, 2025. The game continues to impress in this new trailer, showing new monsters, massive open biomes and plenty of awesome hairstyles.
LEGO Horizon Adventures
This is the first of two announcements tied to the Horizon IP. The previously announced spin-off, LEGO Horizon Adventures, got a November 14 release date, alongside a new trailer that showed off PlayStation mascot costumes that will be available as part of the Deluxe Edition of the game. It’s cute, it looks fun, and it’s just around the corner.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
Rumours and ratings classifications somewhat dampened this announcement, but at least we have official confirmation. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered will feature improved visuals, as well as largely re-recorded mocap to bring the original in line with the sequel. Those who already own Zero Dawn will be able to upgrade for a far smaller fee ($10US) when the game launches on October 31.
Stellar Blade x Nier: Automata
They really buried the lead here. This portion of the showcase opened by outlining the photo mode coming to the game and the soundtrack that will be available on streaming platforms, all before dropping a bomb that Stellar Blade is getting crossover DLC with Nier: Automata. We don’t know what it will entail, but the DLC will be coming later this year, so we won’t need to wait long.
PlayStation Plus Update
Taking a pause from the reveals, we got a look at what’s coming to PlayStation Plus next month. The monthly games will be WWE 2K24, Dead Space Remake and Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!, which is an unhinged collection of games. Additionally, we were told that the classics catalogue was expanding, with Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain and Dino Crisis being added to the mix. Lastly, The Last of Us Part I is being added to the main game catalogue to celebrate Last of Us Day.
PS5 Chroma Collection
We’ve had plenty of news about games, so let’s look at a few vanity items. The Chroma Collection features three new controller and console cover colourways: Chroma Pearl, Chroma Indigo and Chroma Teal. Pre-orders go live on October 3, with the Pearl and Indigo launching on November 7 and Teal following on January 23, 2025.
Ghost of Yōtei
Any good showcase ends on a banger, and this State of Play ended on a banger. Ghost of Yōtei is a sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, taking place 300 years after the events of the first game. Focusing on the new protagonist, Atsu, this new game will feature a new suite of locations, as well as new gameplay tweaks, as hinted at by the dual-wielding of katana. No release info outside of a 2025 window, but who cares, this looks amazing, take your time Sucker Punch.
Alright, that’s another State of Play in the books. We had a good handful of new game announcements, with a PlayStation first-party game among them. I’m happy with what we saw this morning, but what did you think of the showcase? Let us know in the comments or on our social media.
Adam's undying love for all things PlayStation can only be rivalled by his obsession with vacuuming. Whether it's a Dyson or a DualShock in hand you can guarantee he has a passion for it. PSN: TheVacuumVandal XBL: VacuumVandal Steam: TheVacuumVandal
