- PlayStation hasn’t had an exciting showcase in a while.
- With a lack of communication and the impending release of the PS5 Pro, the gaming giant needs to deliver a solid showcase soon.
- The competition has also begun to pull ahead, with both Nintendo and Xbox offering solid showcases last month.
Among the big three console manufacturers, PlayStation is often known for having the best showcases. However, last year’s showcase was an utter disappointment, the latest State of Play was far from great, and Sony skipped a showcase in 2022.
PlayStation is doing better than ever, yet it’s easy to sense a lack of communication from the gaming giant. With fans growing restless and Xbox putting on an incredible showcase this year, PlayStation’s big showcase has never been missed as much as today.
Why it matters: Showcases are a huge deal in the gaming industry since they serve to create buzz within the community while allowing developers a chance to showcase their work.
The First-Party Roadmap
Everyone knows that PlayStation’s first-party lineup has been quite great so far. However, it’s easy to ignore all the problems when games like Horizon Forbidden West, God of War Ragnarok, and Spider-Man 2 release one after another.
Behind the slew of incredible releases, PlayStation teams like Naughty Dog are currently struggling to find their footing after a challenging few years. Moreover, with no announcements under their belt, the future of Santa Monica and Guerrilla Games remains unclear.
Looking at the future, it’s difficult to say where PlayStation is headed next. Will it continue to rely on third-party exclusives like Stellar Blade and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth? Your guess is as good as mine.
This is why a PlayStation Showcase would be such a huge deal for Sony this year. Even small teasers for its future roadmap would be better than leaving fans in the dark.
Surely, the gaming giant isn’t looking forward to another barren year for its first-party lineup like 2024.
PS5 Pro
The PS5 Pro is another elephant in the room that needs addressing. It’s clear that this console exists, yet leakers have recently discussed the idea of a potential delay.
A new piece of hardware would certainly help PlayStation deal with this dry period. Imagine PlayStation announcing several new first-party games, and the PS5 Pro ends up as the icing on the top that keeps the 4K 60FPS dream alive.
That sounds like a great showcase. Moreover, the PS5 Pro announcement would also be exciting for PC gamers as they await the launch of the next-generation graphics cards, which may have been pushed back to 2025.
If rumors are to be believed, the PS5 Pro will give everyone a taste of what RDNA 4 will be capable of. This alone should make the console interesting for PC enthusiasts.
The Competition Is Pulling Ahead
While PlayStation’s first-party lineup has always been considered ahead of the curve, Xbox and Nintendo are arguably in a better spot right now.
The next year looks particularly strong for Xbox, with Fable and Doom: The Dark Ages serving as two huge first-party releases. At this year’s showcase, the gaming giant pulled out all the stops and showed PlayStation how things are done.
Similarly, Nintendo was able to put a surprisingly great Direct so late into the Switch’s lifecycle. Rumors suggest that Switch 2 will arrive in 2025, so Nintendo might just begin teasing its next console this year. This would steal the spotlight.
Fortunately, all hope isn’t lost. While PlayStation is continuing to remain quiet, it has been said that a showcase could arrive in September. Coincidentally, the PS5 Pro announcement is rumored for the same month.
If the stars align and PlayStation finally returns with a huge showcase, the gaming giant could set the tone for this industry’s future. With big studios like Naughty Dog, Santa Monica, Sucker Punch, Bend, and more possibly revealing their hand, there’s plenty of reason to anticipate what comes next.
Now that the showcase season is behind us, the stage is set, and the ball is in Sony’s court. All that’s left to do is to wait and see if PlayStation will return with a showcase this year.
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