Sony dominated the single-player genre and pretty much the entire PlayStation 4 generation. If you need proof? The sales numbers will tell you. But that’s not all. In the years between 2013 and 2020, Sony released several award-winning exclusive titles for its bespoke platform. Three of these games ended up winning the Game of the Year award at The Game Awards from 2018 through 2020.
Contrary to popular belief, Sony hasn’t mellowed since. If anything, today’s games have become so good after Sony helped raise the bar that there’s too much competition.
Case in point, after It Takes Two deservedly won the award in 2021, the next two titles, Elden Ring and Baldur’s Gate 3, are considered generational video games—titles whose influence on the video game industry will last for years if not decades. However, after God of War: Ragnarok, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 missed out on this prestigious accolade, Sony will have at least two exclusives gunning for the gold later this year.
First up is the obvious choice: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
The second-half of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy is currently the best-rated standalone video game this year with a Metacritic score of “92”.The other one? The unlikely champion from East Asia, Black Myth: Wukong.
Building on the success of its predecessor, which narrowly missed the GOTY title in 2020, the sequel made an even bigger splash when it came out in February, even if the sales numbers aren’t reflecting it. It’s more expansive and ambitious, setting a new standard for remakes. However, Black Myth: Wukong is not to be outdone.
The once “vaporware” title has overcome initial skepticism to become a serious contender for the top prize. Its stunning visuals, powered by Unreal Engine 5, and its rich Chinese mythology-inspired narrative have seen it affect an entire industry in China, breaking records along the way.
Historically, The Game Awards have never crowned a remake as Game of the Year, which could give Black Myth: Wukong an edge. But the sheer scale and ambition of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth might force the awards show to break this precedent.
Adding to the intrigue isStellar Blade. This darkhorse candidate turned heads earlier this year with its diverse soundtrack and unique gameplay elements. Its potential nomination could give Sony an unprecedented three titles in the running for GOTY.
Of course, the competition doesn’t end there. The year hasn’t ended yet and there are still several games coming out that could make a late run for the award. Titles like the new PS5 exclusive Astro Bot game, STALKER 2, Dragon Age: Veilguard, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are all vying for commercial attention and critical success. However, as it stands, PlayStation exclusives are leading the pack.
Nevertheless, it’s important that awards, while prestigious, aren’t the only measure of a game’s success. Commercial performance and player enjoyment often carry a lot more weight in the long run. Game Science, for instance, has already achieved profitability with Black Myth: Wukong, ensuring its future as a studio regardless of award outcomes.
With that said, the final decision lies with the jury of The Game Awards, composed largely of gaming media representatives, whose choices doesn’t always align with commercial success or popular opinion.
Will they opt for the nostalgic appeal and grand scale of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the innovative storytelling and visuals of Black Myth: Wukong, or surprise everyone with an unexpected choice?
Regardless of the answer, what’s clear here is that 2024 has been a massive year so far for PlayStation.
Between the success of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and unexpected hits like Helldivers 2, Stellar Blade, Black Myth: Wukong, alongside the hype surrounding Astro Bot, what should’ve been a “down” year for the console manufacturer ended up being one of its most memorable runs yet.
A GOTY award for a PlayStation exclusive title would certainly be a great way to cap off the year.
