Tag Archives: E3

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PlayStation: Destination Unknown

By Zach Thomas

After E3 2021 had come and gone, something sure seemed to be missing…

We had Microsoft, Nintendo, Capcom, Ubisoft, and many, many other companies showing off what they have been working on, what’s to come, but still seems like something was off. Sure it was again a virtual/online version of events, but we have all likely grown accustomed to online events and showcases.

Despite having a State of Play in June showing off Horizon: Forbidden West, it feels like there is a large void in gaming at the moment. And as mentioned in our recap of the XBOX & Bethesda Game Studios Showcase, there seems to be a large shift incoming in the power struggle of console gaming. We are seeing Microsoft make bold moves, smart strategic changes, and really focus on the gamer in what is almost a complete swap from last generation.

Currently on deck for PlayStation we have Horizon: Forbidden West coming possibly the end of this year, God of War: Ragnorak coming hopefully early 2022, a Gran Turismo is in the works as well, along with new IP from Bend Studios and just announced unknown title from Deviation Games. Before the last State of Play word broke that there are twenty-three titles in development from the various owned and partnered studios from PlayStation. And shortly after E3 2021, Sony announced that they had acquired Housemarque as well. However through the recent months and years there has been a decrease in studios for PlayStation, and what seems to be a shift in focus by the company. We are seeing multiple IPs being utilized in various other forms of entertainment, an Uncharted film starring Spiderman himself Tom Holland has wrapped and slated to come out early 2022. Then over at HBO there is a series being developed in the world of The Last of Us, with Neil Druckmann heavily involved in the inner workings of the show. Additionally there were strong rumors suggesting a Twisted Metal show and Ghost of Tsushima Movie are both in development breaking earlier this year.

What changed since last generation where we almost knew most of the slate of games multiple years out, whereas now we have more info on PlayStation in other media forms aside from gaming. Or from even earlier generations where PlayStation not only heralded as the highest quality of first party titles, but also boasted the biggest range of genres. Just look at the variety that graced the PS3 generation:

Arcade Racer: Motorstorm

Play/Create/Share: Little Big Planet and Modnation Racers

Simulation Racer: Gran Turismo

First Person Shooters: Killzone and Resistance

Third Person Adventure: Uncharted and Heavenly Sword

Third Person Action: InFamous and The Last of Us

Party Games: Buzz! and Singstar

Tactical Shooters: SOCOM and MAG

Family Games: Jak & Daxter, Sly Cooper, and Rachet & Clank

Unique “Artistic” Games: Beyond, Heavy Rain, and Journey (Thatgamecompany titles)

(Top Left to Right: Modnation Racers, Uncharted, SOCOM, LittleBigPlanet. Bottom Left to Right: Resistance, BUZZ!, Motorstorm, Journey)

And while we are early on in the PS5 generation it would certainly be a shock to those paying attention to hear that PlayStation is dusting off Buzz! for another round. Or returning to make a Free To Play Modnation Racers game with loads of potential DLC and content packs with the vast abundance of PlayStation properties. Or another long running hope of mine a new Jet Moto (PS1 jet ski racing gem for you youngsters). Or possibly even have Deviation bring SOCOM back to life again in either a Free To Play style or priced release. However none of these seem likely to fit into the current roadmap for PlayStation. And while these ideas aren’t bad in my humble opinion, they certainly aren’t the sure fire hits like putting out sequels to Spiderman or Ghost of Tsushima would be and that seems to be where PlayStation is right now. Albeit predictable, but it is also safe and when your main rival in Microsoft is being as bold as they have and have the financial viability to go even further if need be, where does that leave PlayStation.

Will gamers, some of whom are in the fifth console lifecycle be ok with this vast shift away from diversity and the push for strictly marquee or AAA titles. Will the consumers be ok to just wait around and see if these new entertainment options produce the hopeful revenue streams for the company overall to return to some boldness of their own. Or perhaps PlayStation will just announce the remainder or majority of the remaining twenty-three titles in development and that will be enough to reassure many of their gaming faithful. Only time will tell and in time I’ll lay out some things that I would love to see PlayStation do in the coming months to realign themselves more with what we’ve been collectively used to from the predominant industry leader.

Would love to hear some of your ideas on that state of PlayStation, games in general, and what you would love to see from any of the major players in the industry. Comment here and please follow @GameWrote on Twitter and Instagram to interact more with me.

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XBOX and Bethesda Games Showcase

By Zach Thomas

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!!

Today, Microsoft showed off what is to come from their various studios including the recently acquired in an official sense, Bethesda Game Studios during their XBOX & Bethesda Games Showcase. Both Microsoft and Sony are still vying for the advantage as we move forward during the first year of the new console generation. Console sales are going great for both companies with hardware selling out within minutes of becoming available online from any retailer, in any version of the hardware. XBOX Series X or Series S consoles are still an elusive buy for many eager gamers around the world. And while Sony has not had many true PlayStation 5 exclusives just yet aside from the just released Rachet & Clank: Rift Apart, they have delivered a decent amount of PlayStation exclusives cross generationally, such as Spiderman: Miles Morales. Microsoft however have really yet to release much in the way of next gen or cross generational exclusives to their consoles. With what should seem to be a distinct disadvantage however, there seems to be a shift in the gaming power struggle, one that has even started to get a PlayStation diehard since since their original console considering picking up my first XBOX console.

There are three key factors that Microsoft seem to be have going in their favor and could potentially lead to the upper hand early in this generation. Continue to play on their online and now even more so streaming advantages. Strengthening and promoting Gamepass even further. And when it comes down to it the biggest factor in most console generations, exclusives, what can your console give the gamer that no one else can. Let us dive deeper into these three factors and see just how strong of a position Microsoft is starting to find themselves in.

Streaming

Both Microsoft and Sony brought digital versions of their newest consoles to market last fall, but Microsoft did so at a far more competitive rate and seem to have intentions of pushing this even further moving forward. The XBOX Series S gets you into the new gen for only $299.99 and while it lacks some qualities of the XBOX Series X, it gets the basics of the job done at a great price. And while they did not cover this during the showcase today, working towards the realm of console free next gen streaming as a possibility from one of the two major brands is a huge win if they can pull it off effectively.

Gamepass

There have been no shortage of bold moves when it comes to Gamepass for Microsoft. Pushing out many first party titles day and date on Gamepass to getting a deal to release former PlayStation exclusive MLB The Show not only on to XBOX consoles, but including it with Gamepass. Microsoft certainly seems to know the advantage in not only maintaining the advantage their players get when they buy into Gamepass, but continually trying to expand on the value of the offering. And today twenty-seven of the thirty games shown off during the showcase today will release day one with Gamepass.

Exclusives

When push comes to shove, we all know what makes a generation and/or what generally wins a console war, exclusives. And while Nintendo has some amazing strengths with all their first party characters and titles, they are not really considered on the same battlefield as Microsoft and Sony. And to be honest over the past few generations, Sony has truly been on a level unto themselves when it comes to quality exclusive games. However in recent years Microsoft has been aggressive in adding quality studios to their lineup and ultimately with their financial advantage over Sony this is how Microsoft can most greatly impact the next gen console war. With the official announcements today bookending their showcase that Starfield and newly announced Redfall will be XBOX console exclusives, Microsoft delivers a massive blow to Sony for this generation.

Microsoft has a bevy of titles now at their disposal from their twenty-three studios for either cross platform to generate revenue like they do with Minecraft and presumably will do with established titles like DOOM, Elders Scroll, Fallout, etc or to release as a console exclusive to boost hardware/platform sales like they are with their two new IP shown off today Starfield and Redfall along with lesser known titles like Outer Worlds 2.

Recap

In his closing monologue, Head of XBOX Phil Spencer said it best, “You, the gamer, are at the center of everything we do”. Microsoft has learned a great deal from the previous generations and seem as well placed as they ever have been to compete on a high level. While PlayStation continues to revamp what they are doing and representing, XBOX is making it clear, they are games first and games focused, this generation dropped all the extra gimmicks, positioning the Series X/S perfectly. And there are always more studios to purchase or deals to make, which only stand to strengthen this positioning. Sony most assuredly have plans in place that we are not fully aware of, studios working on titles we can assume such as Insomniac with a true Spiderman sequel, along with ones we have no idea about such as whatever the new IP Bend is working on. PlayStation for the first time in years seem to be in need of some reassurance to their faithful, can they compete with for the first time a games focused Microsoft.

What are your thoughts on what you have seen during this virtual E3 this year? What you hope to see still announced and what are you looking forward to playing in the coming months. Comment here and please follow @GameWrote on Twitter and Instagram to interact more with me.