Sony has wrapped up its first PlayStation State of Play program of 2023, and we got a lot of exciting new details and gameplay footage showcasing the upcoming PlayStation lineup of games. There were a number of games on display, ranging from intriguing indie projects like Tchia to the AAA headliner that is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Virtual Reality was also a big focus, which is expected with the ongoing launch of the PlayStation VR2.
Here are all the big headlines and small details from PlayStation State of Play, February 2023:
Lots of Love for PSVR 2
The show opened with the announcement of 5 new titles for the all-new PlayStation VR2, Sony’s second-generation Virtual Reality platform exclusive to the PlayStation 5 –
The Foglands
First up, from California-based indie game studio Well Told Entertainment comes the sci-fi western FPS game titled The Foglands. In a world enveloped by a toxic Fog, you and your community are forced to survive in an underground bunker known as “The Hold”. You play as a novice “Runner”, a scavenger willing to brave the dangers of the surface in order to ensure the survival of their people. The Foglands is structured like an action roguelike, where you will constantly discover new pathways and old secrets.
Green Hell VR
While PC and console gamers are very well acclimated to the open world survival genre in today’s day and age, we haven’t really seen an adequately equivalent experience for VR yet. Green Hell VR is an ambitious new game by Polish game developer Incuvo that promises a fully-fledged survival simulation and open world within Virtual Reality. The game puts you in the shoes of Jake Higgins, an expert anthropologist who somehow manages to get lost in the Amazon rainforest. Green Hell VR will make use of a lot of the new PSVR 2 features, including enhanced haptics and 3D Audio.
Synapse
Synapse is a first-person VR action game that promises to let you dual-wield firearms and levitate things with the power of telekinesis. The game is being developed by UK-based game developer nDreams, best known for VR games such as Fracked and Far Cry VR. Synapse boasts a very striking art style that contrasts the player character’s flashy neon abilities with the oppressing monochrome environments that surround them. Synapse will launch exclusively for the PSVR 2 later in 2023.
Journey to Foundation
Sci-fi purists rejoice, as Vancouver-based Canadian VR development studio Archiact is adapting legendary sci-fi author Isaac Asimov’s seminal work Foundation for the world of Virtual Reality. Journey to Foundation is an upcoming immersive narrative adventure that will focus on the larger-than-life stories and dilemmas that will ultimately shape the Galactic Empire. The game will focus heavily on having conversations, building relationships, and making choices that may have wide-ranging consequences for the world around you.
Before Your Eyes
The final VR game announced at PlayStation State of Play is Before Your Eyes, the highly rated first-person narrative adventure with a cutesy animated art style. The game was first released back in 2021 on PC but is now getting a full Virtual Reality makeover for the PSVR 2. Before Your Eyes is a very laid-back experience and the entire game can be played without a controller using only head movements.
Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League – Shiny, Wacky, & Chaotic
Despite all the other high-profile announcements and showcases during Sony’s first State of Play show of the year, the headline clearly belonged to Rocksteady Studios’ upcoming superhero action adventure game, Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League. A sizable proportion of the show was reserved for revealing all new details and gameplay footage of the highly anticipated title from the makers of the legendary Arkham series of Batman games.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice league is set in the city of Metropolis, roughly five years after the events of Batman: Arkham Knight. Superman’s nemesis Brainiac is leading an alien invasion of Earth, and has somehow managed to corrupt the minds of the Justice League to do his bidding instead. In the city’s darkest hour, Amanda Waller turns towards four veterans of the Suicide Squad to help defeat the alien threat and kill the Justice League – Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, and King Shark. Of course, it’s not like any of them have much choice in the matter – in classic Suicide Squad fashion, each of their heads is rigged to explode in case of non-compliance. Gameplay looks to be heavily focused on movement and momentum, with characters zipping around the maps acrobatically using their gadgets and powers. Each of the four characters has their own unique aesthetics, animations, powers, and gadgets, allowing for a variety of builds and customization –
- Harley Quinn – Described as the most “acrobatic” member of the Suicide Squad, Harley’s movement is extremely chaotic and fast-paced as she uses her grapple gun to swing from rooftop to rooftop.
- Deadshot – Expert marksman and gun for hire, Floyd Lawton aka Deadshot has several firearms at his disposal, including sniper rifles, assault rifles, and pistols. Deadshot also gets a jetpack that allows him to fly around and hover in mid-air while mowing down the bad guys.
- King Shark – Academically well-read but socially clueless, King Shark is the son of a God who specializes in a brutish brand of up close and personal combat. King Shark is the fastest melee character in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
- Captain Boomerang – Armed with his Speed Force gauntlet and eponymous boomerang, Captain Boomerang can essentially teleport to any point he wants to get to. His smash-and-grab playstyle is ideal for players who like to get out of battles just as quickly as they get into them.
Besides the main cast, the game will also feature several supporting characters such as Hack – a digital ghost that helps you navigate the world, Toyman helps perfect your gear, and Gizmo helps with vehicle customization.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will feature an all-new storyline playable in 1-4 player co-op mode. If you prefer a solo experience you can jump into the levels with AI bots with the ability to switch characters at will in-game. The game is set to release on May 26, 2023 and the developers have also promised full post-launch support, with plans for new characters, new weapons, and new customization options in the future. The game will also offer a Battle Pass after launch, but Rocksteady claims it will only contain cosmetic items as of right now.
Other Game Reveals and New Details
Tchia
Inspired by the tropical paradise that is New Caledonia, Tchia is an open world exploration game and physics-driven sandbox. The announcement trailer depicts a very zen gaming experience with a delightful cartoon aesthetic. Tchia is set to release on March 21, 2023 and will be available to play on Day 1 for members of PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium.
Humanity
From the creators of Tetris Effect, Humanity is an upcoming puzzle and action platformer that is set to release in May 2023 for PS5, PS4, PS VR, and PSVR 2. The game features a full story mode with 90 levels but also encourages user-generated content with its map-building features. Most importantly, you get to play as a Shiba Inu dog, making it the game with quite possibly the most adorable protagonist after 2022’s Stray.
Goodbye Volcano High
Goodbye Volcano High is a new narrative rhythm game from Canadian indie developer KO_OP. The game features anthropomorphic dinosaurs, high school drama, LGBTQ+ themes, and a mellow soundtrack that lends itself well to the game’s narrative. Goodbye Volcano High is set to come out on June 15, 2023.
Wayfinder
Texas-based development studio Airship Syndicate showcased their upcoming character-driven online RPG Wayfinder. The game is set in Evenor, a fallen world that has been overrun by chaos, and will focus on exploration, customization, and third person combat. Wayfinder is getting an exclusive beta on PlayStation, and you can sign up to participate right now.
Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections
The next entry in the Ultimate Ninja Storm series is a 3D arena fighter with 124 returning playable characters from the anime, as well as the return of the epic battle between Naruto and Sasuke. The game is set to release later in 2023 for several platforms, including the current-gen PS5 and last-gen PS4.
Resident Evil 4 Remake
The big budget remake of Capcom’s survival horror masterpiece got a new gameplay trailer, as well as confirmation for the return of Mercenaries mode, which will be available as free post-launch DLC. RE4 Remake is also getting a “special demo” that is supposedly coming soon.
Baldur’s Gate 3
The long-awaited revival of the classic cRPG series has been in Early Access on PC for a while now, but Baldur’s Gate 3 now has a firm release date for PlayStation 5 as well – August 31, 2023, the same day as the full PC launch. We also got a first look at one of the game’s three main protagonists – General Ketheric Thorm, voiced by the legendary JK Simmons.
Street Fighter 6
The final 3 members of the 18-strong launch roster for Street Fighter 6 have been revealed – Zangief is a colossal hairy-chested grappler and returning fan favorite, Cammy is a member of British special forces and another returning favorite, and Lily is an all-new character who is one with the spirit of nature (as well as two rather disturbingly large war clubs).
