The long-awaited PlayStation Showcase 2023 has come and gone but the excitement that it served for roughly over an hour will simmer for a while in the minds of gamers—perhaps until the June 8 Summer Game Fest 2023.
The PlayStation Showcase 2023 was more about game reveals which were often briefly punctuated with the PlayStation controller symbols. Kicking off the show was a game called “Fairgame$”. Immediately after the trailer, Jim Ryan, the President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment gave a short address.
“I’m delighted to be here today to introduce what’s next for PlayStation 5,” he said. “We are now into the third year of the lifecycle of PS5, and we’ve been fortunate to have so many fan-favorite titles released on the platform. What’s even more exciting is that developers are just scratching the surface of what’s possible with the gaming experiences that they create.”
After what appears to be a welcome address from Ryan, the PlayStation Showcase 2023 switched gears, starting with upcoming games for the PS5 before jumping to upcoming games for the PSVR2. We will tell you all the biggest games that were announced at the PlayStation Showcase 2023 as well as the hardware announcement that took everyone by surprise.
Biggest game announcements for PS5 at PlayStation Showcase 2023
GameBaba Universe is all about triple-A action releases. Therefore, we will only review the big titles announced at the PlayStation Showcase 2023. Nevertheless, there will be a list of all the games showcased at the very end of the review.
Fairgame$
Developed by Fairgames, this appears to be a Robinhood kind of co-op gameplay where a team of three young adults worried that there is too much money in the hands of very few people, armed with high-tech gadgets, decided to do something about it.
The game showed glimpses of gunslinging and ziplining using cool gadgets. Fairgame$ opened the curtain of the PlayStation Showcase 2023 and from what we saw, it is definitely a game to look up to. The game will be available on PS5 and PC but no definite release date was revealed.
Helldivers II
Set in a universe that has been invaded by giant creatures in the arachnid family. In the beginning, a man was seen about to welcome his wife and daughter only to watch them torn apart by a giant arachnida. As the man screamed in pain, another taunted that scenes like that have become common across the galaxy and could be you unless you “Join the Helldivers”.
The third-person intergalactic game from developer Arrowhead will see the Helldivers fight off the invading creatures across galaxies using a diverse arsenal of weapons including airstrikes and flamethrowers. Although scheduled for release in 2023 on PS5 and PC, no definite release date was announced.
Immortals of Aveum
Although we have seen previous trailers of Immortals of Aveum, a new angle to the game was revealed at the PlayStation Showcase 2023. The EAOriginals and Ascendant Studios game is a first-person action where the protagonists make use of magic to fight off enemies.
What is different this time is that the trailer showed off some of the bosses that gamers will face in the game as well as more enemies. The game is scheduled for release on 20 July 2023, but players can pre-order now.
Ghostrunner II
PlayStation Showcase 2023 also featured a short video of Ghostrunner II from 505 Games and One More Level. The short trailer showed a masked rider riding down the side of a building. There were also flashes of sword-slashing combats. The game is scheduled for release in 2023 but no definite date was revealed. It will be a PS5 exclusive.
Phantom Blade Zero
The trailer begins with the thoughtful question, “What’s your plan, knowing you only have 66 days to live?” The Chinese-themed action adventure will see the protagonist journey through forests and mountains and slash his way through a horde of enemies. The trailer featured an impressive sword display and wall run. Phantom Blade Zero is coming to PS5 but no timeline was given.
Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater
A cameo about Metal Gear Solid showed up at PlayStation Showcase 2023—albeit fans hoped for more. The reveal trailer didn’t show any action except what appears to be the protagonist emerging from under the water. It will be released on PS5 but no timeline was given. Also, it was revealed that Metal Gear Solid Master Collection vol.1 will be available on PS5 in the Autumn of 2023.
Towers of Aghasba
Towers of Aghasba is a game from Dreamlit that is scheduled for release in 2024. The game looks and plays a lot like Legend of Zelda. The protagonist can be seen jumping off a cliff and opening up a DIY glider. The world is eerie and inhabited by creatures that look like reincarnations from the Jurassic era.
Final Fantasy 16
The inclusion of Final Fantasy 16 in PlayStation Showcase 2023 was a no-brainer. It was one of the most anticipated announcements of the day. Its timing too was strategic because it came close to the half-hour mark and immediately switched up the PlayStation Showcase 2023. The extended trailer finally gave fans a glimpse of the gameplay and story and reaffirmed that the game will be released globally on June 22.
Alan Wake II
Allan Wake is a third-person creepy horror tale. It started with police officers being called to a crime scene. Upon arrival, they find a piece of paper on the floor containing a story written about them. Equipped with a shotgun and handgun, you need to do all it takes to survive. The game is scheduled for release on 17 October 2023 on PS5 but you can pre-order now.
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
After earlier announcements and a trailer, everything about Assassin’s Creed: Mirage went silent up until PlayStation Showcase 2023. The showcase of the Ubisoft Original featured glimpses of gameplay including stealth takedowns, an interactive environment, and reaching incredible peaks. It finally got October 12 release date.
Street Fighter 6
For us, Street Fighter 6 was a surprise inclusion at PlayStation Showcase 2023. The reason is that several characters from the game have been unveiled in the last few months including a Beta version that was available sometime last year. However, the trailer at the PlayStation Showcase 2023 revealed a new gameplay mode that we have never seen before called “Become a Legend”. It will be interesting to test that out when the game releases on 2 June 2023 on PS4 and PS5.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2
The development of Five Nights at Freddy’s was only announced in February. Therefore, it was interesting to see that development has already reached an advanced stage to feature at PlayStation Showcase 2023. It was given a late 2023 release date. Hope we don’t see it delayed until 2024.
Biggest game announcements for PSVR at PlayStation Showcase 2023
Although most of the game announcements at PlayStation Showcase 2023 were for PS5, there were a couple of announcements for PSVR2. Below are some of the PSVR2 games that caught our attention.
Resident Evil 4: VR Mode
The Resident Evil 4 remake was an absolute stunner. It is already rated as one of the best remakes in 2023. However, it was announced that it will get a VR mode at the PlayStation Showcase 2023. From the sneak trailer, we can say the VR mode brings the horror closer to your face. It is currently in development and no official release date or timeline was announced.
Arizona Sunshine II
This is a zombie-themed game that looks a lot like Dead Island. In one scene, the protagonist was seen beating up a group of zombies using arms, probably ripped out from another zombie. The character is goofy too, as if telling you not to take the game too seriously. It is scheduled for release sometime in 2023.
Crossfire Sierra Squad
This is a military-themed game that will see you fight hordes of enemies using a large arsenal including assault riffles and snipers. No release date was announced for the game.
Synapse
Synapse has a similar playing mechanics like Returnal where you have to play the same stage over and over again. However, you will be doing it in VR mode. It has a July 4 release date.
Gran Turismo movie announcement at PlayStation Showcase 2023
Immediately after showcasing a few upcoming PSVR2 games, the Gran Turismo trailer took center stage. Although the trailer was first released earlier in May, the PlayStation Showcase 2023 included other clips that did not feature in the first trailer.
While the first trailer had commentaries, the version that aired on PlayStation Showcase 2023 was all about tires burning the tarmac and crashes. We felt the PlayStation Showcase 2023 version gave the movie which is set for August release better hype than the first trailer.
The unexpected hardware announcement at PlayStation Showcase 2023
The next time Ryan was seen on screen was after the Gran Turismo trailer and this time he came bearing news of new hardware releases from PlayStation. The announcement came before the reveal of the final game.
“Before we get into our final game, I have a few announcements to share,” Ryan said. “At PlayStation, innovation is our passion, and that applies to not just what games you play but how you play them. Later this year, we will launch a dedicated device that enables you to stream any game from your PS5 console using remote play or the Wi-Fi.”
The device referred to internally as Project Q features an 8-inch HD screen sandwiched between the arms of a PS5 DualSense controller. According to Ryan, more information about Project Q will be shared in the future.
The second surprising hardware reveal was wireless earbuds that can be used with PS5 or PC for lossless audio during gameplay. It is the first of its kind from the gaming giant.
“I’m also pleased to reveal our first ever PlayStation earbuds which will bring next-generation audio immersion to PS5 and PC,” Ryan said. “They simultaneously connect to smartphones via Bluetooth. New wireless technology will deliver lossless audio with low latency, giving you outstanding sound quality while you are playing.”
Spider-Man 2 was the biggest reveal at PlayStation Showcase 2023
Wrapping up PlayStation Showcase 2023 was the eagerly-anticipated Spider-Man 2. After Ryan’s hardware announcement, we see a man walking through the forest. He was grabbed and strangled with one hand by Kraven who appears to be looking for a worthy opponent. Kraven wore a fur-lined vest with an animal tooth necklace.
He complained to his minions that the opponent they brought was not an opponent at all. One of the minions suggested a change in hunting ground and showed him the map of New York. Immediately, they jet out to New York and that is where the action begins.
Some of the interesting things we discovered in the game are that players will use Peter Parker and Myles Morales interchangeably, just like in the other games where players had to switch between characters.
For some reason, Peter is seen wearing the Venom suit which appears to have made him more aggressive, even to Miles. The trailer also shows the Lizard on the run. All the moves that Peter and Miles had from the previous game have all been advanced.
As they chase down Kraven and his minions, they leave a trail of destruction on their path. Miles is worried both for the new invaders and the sudden change in Peter’s demeanor. The game is scheduled for release in Fall 2023.
Complete list of all the game announcements at PlayStation Showcase 2023 in the order they were announced
- Fairgame$
- Helldivers II
- Immortals of Aveum
- Ghostrunner II
- Phantom Blade Zero
- Sword of the Sea (scheduled for release on PS5 but no timeline given)
- The Talos Principle (scheduled for 2023 on PS5)
- Neva (scheduled for 2024 on PS5)
- Cat Quest: Pirates of the Purribean (scheduled for2024 on PS5 and PS4)
- FoamStars (no release date but will be available on PS5 and PS4)
- The Plucky Squire (scheduled for 2023 on PS5)
- Teardown (scheduled for 2023 on PS5)
- Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater
- Towers of Aghasba
- Final Fantasy 16
- Alan Wake II
- Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
- Revenant Hill (no scheduled release date but will be available on PS4 and PS5)
- Granblue Fantasy: Relink (Winter of 2023 on PS4 and PS5)
- Street Fighter 6
- Ultros (scheduled for 2024)
- Tower Of Fantasy
- Dragon’s Dogma II
- Five Nights at Freddy’s Help: Wanted 2
- Spider-Man 2
PSVR2
- Resident Evil 4: VR Mode
- Arizona Sunshine II
- Crossfire Sierra Squad
- Synapse
- Beat Saber (Now available on PSVR2)
- Marathon
- Destiny V2: The Final Shape (Special Destiny Showcase will happen on 8.22.23)
- Concord (scheduled for 2024 on PS5 and PC)
Which of the games revealed on PlayStation Showcase 2023 excited you the most? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
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