After two weeks of nonstop showcases, we’ve been going through all the trailers and picking out a few highlights for the year (years?) ahead. First up was Sony’s PlayStation Showcase 2023, which felt a little underwhelming when all the big-budget titles were sequels and known quantities. Many of the new IP were upcoming “live service” games that – if we take a look at how so many others have fared over the last decade – will be on life support and PS+ within a few months.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (20/10/2023)
PS5 (PC later)
Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, return for an exciting new adventure in the critically acclaimed Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise for PS5. Swing, jump, and utilise the new Web Wings to travel across Marvel’s New York, quickly switching between Peter Parker and Miles Morales to experience different stories and epic new powers, as the iconic villain Venom threatens to destroy their lives, their city, and the ones they love.
Final Fantasy XVI (22/06/2023)
PS5 (timed exclusive)
The 16th standalone entry in the legendary Final Fantasy series marks a darker turn for the RPG franchise, with a complex tale of revenge, power struggles, and unavoidable tragedy. Final Fantasy XVI reimagines the series’ iconic summons as Eikons. These deadly creatures are housed within Dominants, men, and women who inherit their immense power at birth – whether they like it or not.
Eikons are the most powerful beings in Valisthea, a land where six powerful realms have emerged thanks to the power of the Mothercrystals. The aether provided by these towering mountains of crystal powers the magicks that have allowed these nations to thrive for many years — but now a mysterious Blight threatens to disrupt their uneasy alliance. Play as Clive Rosfield, First Shield of Rosaria, and guardian of his younger brother Joshua, the Dominant of the Eikon Phoenix, in this epic action RPG from a team of Final Fantasy veterans.
Alan Wake 2 (17/10/2023)
PS5, Xbox Series S|X, PC
A string of ritualistic murders threatens Bright Falls, a small-town community surrounded by Pacific Northwest wilderness. Saga Anderson, an accomplished FBI agent with a reputation for solving impossible cases arrives to investigate the murders. Anderson’s case spirals into a nightmare when she discovers pages of a horror story that starts to come true around her.
Alan Wake, a lost writer trapped in a nightmare beyond our world, writes a dark story in an attempt to shape the reality around him and escape his prison. With a dark horror hunting him, Wake is trying to retain his sanity and beat the devil at his own game.
Helldivers 2 (2023)
PS5 & PC
Join forces with up to three friends and wreak havoc on an alien scourge threatening the safety of your home planet, Super Earth, in this multiplayer co-op shooter for PS5 and PC from Arrowhead Game Studios.
Step into the boots of the Helldivers, an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty, and Managed Democracy using the biggest, baddest, and most explosive tools in the galaxy. Helldivers don’t go planet-side without proper backup, but it’s up to you to decide how and when to call it in. Not only do you have a host of superpowered primary weapons and customizable loadouts, you also have the ability to call on stratagems during play.
Ghostrunner 2 (2023)
PS5, Xbox Series S|X, PC
Ghostrunner 2 is the highly anticipated hardcore FPP slasher set one year after the events of Ghostrunner. Blood will run in this post-apocalyptic cyberpunk future that takes place after the fall of the Keymaster, a tyrant who ruled over Dharma Tower, the last refuge of humanity. The player has the power to shape the future of humanity and take on the violent AI cult that has taken shape inside Dharma Tower, making for a truly epic and unforgettable experience.
Featuring incredible boss fights, a deeper exploration of the world beyond Dharma Tower, worthwhile combat improvements, nonlinear levels with complex motorbike sections, exciting new modes, and all the action you loved about Ghostrunner. The game introduces new skills, allowing players to be more creative and take on even the most demanding encounters with greater accessibility. However, enemies in Ghostrunner 2 behave uniquely depending on the skills used on them, providing a fresh challenge with each encounter.
