This is the latest guest column from push square, the voice of the PlayStation community, offering passionate, in-depth coverage and insight into the world of Sony. Its goal is uncomplicated: to inform, engage and be part of the conversation about all things PlayStation.
Sony caused dissatisfaction among the PlayStation fandom in February of this year when it was announced during an earnings call there will be no sequels or updates to “major existing franchise titles” on PS5 before March 2025. With the platform owner keeping its content plans close to its chest, the comments were largely taken out of context and many assumed it would be a lean year for the company’s next-generation console.
It’s true that it’s been quite a still year for PS Studios, but when it comes to gaming, it hasn’t been effortless at all. As of this writing, I have three Game of the year leaders are there Astrobot, Final Fantasy 7: RebirthAND Metaphor: ReFantasia and PS5 is Just a platform where you can play all three. Other potential award contenders include: Silent Hill 2, Helldivers 2AND Black Myth: Wukong – all exclusive consoles.
There seems to be a belief on social media that a game doesn’t count unless it comes from a wholly owned indie studio, but PlayStation has done a particularly good job of working with partners to have a full portfolio this year.
Starblade is a great example. He collaborated with Korean developer Shift Up to facilitate with the launch NIKKE: Goddess of Victory the creator’s console debut on the market, and in my opinion it is another competitive game for the gong at the end of the year. The rise of Ronina similar partnership with the legendary Team Ninja studio could have received an award cooler critical reception but it currently ranks 17th in IGN’s ongoing Game of the Year user poll, proving that it has had a lot of fan interest.
The maddening number of remakes and remasters may not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s effortless to forget The Last of Us, part 2, remastered launched this year and has achieved a critical average of 90 on aggregators Metacritical AND Open critic. And while many rolled their eyes to the rumors circulating around Remastered Horizon Zero Dawn$10 upgrade fee i re-recorded dialogue and motion capture this means it will almost certainly get positive reviews as well.
Of course, not everything PlayStation touched this year turned into gold. Complete misreading of the market for first-person shooters Agreement – competent if uninspiring stuff – will later become history he is released after two weeks. And yet, despite all the rumors about the failure of the live services initiative, it launched the fastest-selling game in the history of PS Studios With Helldivers 2an online cooperative game which, despite its simultaneous release on PC, overtook such giants as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 AND God of War Ragnarok.
It’s been a quietly colossal year for the PS5, and you get the feeling that the best is yet to come. The company has largely kept its blockbusters close to its chest, but a 2025 release is expected Yotei’s spirit AND Death Stranding 2: On the BeachWith Marvel’s Wolverine waiting in the wings. These are the “major existing franchise titles” that the Japanese giant referred to in the aforementioned investor call.
Many may still argue that it’s been a featherlight year for the PS5, but the catalog of content Sony has assembled paints a very different picture. The most invigorating thing is that he successfully filled the time while his own teams continued to cook. Now we are facing the great second half of the generation.
Sammy Barker is the editor Press square. He has been living and breathing the wonderful world of PlayStation for decades – and his tattoos are proof of it. You will find it on @_get2sammyb.
