(Photo courtesy of Sony Interactive Entertainment) “‘Ghost of Yōtei’ is highly anticipated”
Aaron Preziosi
Connector Editor
Sony Interactive Entertainment recently hosted a ‘State of Play,’ a livestream showcasing nearly 40 minutes of announcements regarding upcoming new releases, expansions, and remasters for the PlayStation family of products. Here are some of the biggest announcements to look forward to:
Team Asobi’s smash-hit platformer “Astro Bot” is set to receive a small update debuting five new speedrun levels as well as some new Special Bots this fall. Asobi’s fun, cutesy platformer pays homage to the PlayStation’s thirty years of history with these bots as they are all modeled after beloved characters with strong ties to the system throughout the years. The speedrun levels are certainly notable, as Asobi has noted that “many of [our players] asked for the return of speedrun levels” and are sure to delight those looking to show off their skills.
Following that, Sucker Punch Productions unveiled the sequel to their blockbuster 2020 title “Ghost of Tsushima” in the form of “Ghost of Yōtei,” which is set a little over 300 years after the first game. It follows a new protagonist, Atsu, and features a new region of feudal Japan to explore known as Ezo. Andrew Goldfarb, Senior Communications Manager for Sucker Punch says, “It’s a far cry from the organized samurai clans who lived in Tsushima, and it’s the setting for an original story we can’t wait to tell.” The press release also doubles down on the game’s graphical fidelity as Goldfarb remarks “We have massive sightlines that let you look far across the environment, whole new skies featuring twinkling stars and auroras, even more believable movement from wind on grass and vegetation, and more improvements we’ll share in the future.”
Next up, 2017’s bestselling “Horizon Zero Dawn” is getting a remaster, featuring “over 10 hours of re-recorded conversation, mocap, and countless graphical improvements that bring the game to the same visual fidelity as its critically acclaimed sequel ‘Horizon Forbidden West’.” The remaster is set to release on Oct 31, 2024, for both PS5 and PC. Additionally, on Nov 14, 2024, the “Horizon” IP is getting a playful LEGO spinoff in the form of “LEGO Horizon Adventures” on PS5, PC (Epic Games Store and Steam), and the Nintendo eShop.
“Alan Wake 2” is also set to receive a new expansion in the form of “Alan Wake 2: The Lake House” coming sometime in October, shown off with a chilling teaser trailer.
RPG fans have multiple games to look forward to as well, with the massively multiplayer “ArcheAge Chronicles” being teased with “action-packed combat, rich storytelling, and expansive exploration options” and story-driven action RPG “Dragon Age: The Veilguard” showing flashy skills and tactical magical combat in a gameplay trailer.
The highly anticipated “Monster Hunter Wilds” debuted a trailer showing off the ‘White Wraith,’ its flagship monster, and revealed a release date: Feb 28, 2025. The trailer also unveils some sweet pre-order and deluxe edition bonuses.
Lastly, fans of the “Sonic” series have a nice overlap of releases on the way in the form of a planned DLC for the upcoming “Sonic X Shadow Generations,” featuring content inspired by the also-upcoming “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” movie, as well as the voice talent of Keanu Reeves who is playing the part of Shadow in both the movie and DLC.
These are just some of the big announcements from Sony Interactive Entertainment’s latest State of Play. For more information, visit their website or watch the showcase online at https://www.playstation.com/en-us/state-of-play/.
