Why PlayStation’s next State of Play feels way bigger than anyone expected.
If you have been paying attention to PlayStation lately, you can probably feel the heat building up. This upcoming State of Play is not just another quick update with a few trailers and then back to waiting. This one feels different.
When you look at the length alone, it already stands out. You are getting more than 60 minutes of announcements, gameplay, and updates, which is almost unheard of for a regular State of Play. At that point, it is basically a showcase, just without the name. And honestly, it feels like Sony might never use the word “showcase” again, even when the event looks exactly like one.
You are being asked to tune in on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Pacific and 5:00 p.m. Eastern for what is expected to be over an hour of straight gaming news. That means updates from studios around the world, big third-party games, indie projects, and fresh reveals from PlayStation Studios.
Going into this, you probably assumed it would be mostly third-party stuff, especially since February events usually lean that way. That is what the rumors were saying too. But now it is clear that this one is covering everything. AAA games, double-A titles, indie releases, and first-party projects are all in play.
When you start thinking about exclusives, things get even more interesting.
You might see something from Marvel’s Wolverine, even if it is just a short teaser. The game is expected to get more focus later in the spring, but a quick trailer and maybe even an April date wouldn’t be surprising.
You have seen Sony do this before, teasing a game briefly and then promising a full deep dive later. On top of that, there is the Marvel fighting game, which has already been hinting at a showing, especially after social media activity.
Games like Marathon and Saros make sense because of their release windows. There is also the chance of seeing something from God of War’s smaller Metroidvania-style project or another look at Intergalactic. You probably will not get everything, but getting more than one or two big PlayStation reveals feels very possible this time.
Third-party and indie games are where things could really explode. There are rumors floating around about Devil May Cry 6. Maybe Capcom will show something. Maybe Konami surprises everyone with a new Castlevania. Nothing is confirmed, but that is part of the excitement.
Of course, not everything will be for you. In a show this long, you are bound to see a few games you do not care about.
Maybe even half a dozen. But that is the trade-off. With each segment lasting a few minutes, you could easily get more than a dozen announcements, and probably even more. A mix of familiar franchises like Resident Evil or Wolverine and brand-new projects you have never heard of is exactly what this kind of event is built for.
What really makes this special is the size. Most State of Plays are 30 to 45 minutes. This one is pushing past an hour and could reach around 70 minutes. That is showcase territory. And since it has been years since Sony held a true showcase, this feels like the closest thing you are getting right now.
If the reception stays strong, you might even see this become the new normal. Maybe Sony will do something similar again in May. For now, though, you are looking at one of the biggest State of Plays ever, and it feels like a must-watch if you care about where PlayStation is headed next.
