Now that Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, have each had their turn showcasing their upcoming slate of games, some can’t feel like PlayStation lost this round. But, as if to take advantage of the collective disappointment of the Sony fanbase, the social media grapevine is abuzz with whispers that the company is planning a second such event later this year – a first for the PlayStation brand.
The rumor is from the insider, DarkClong, on Twitter, who claims that an “A9VG source” has confirmed a second PlayStation Showcase is coming this year.
The same source claims part of this showcase includes information about a game that’s set during the Ming Dynasty from the China Hero Project.
Sony still holding another Playstation5 showcase ,according the A9VG source:
1. They Confirmed this year will have another Showcase.
2. China Hero Project still have one game *Ming Dynasty background Game unannouncement.
Credit and the source: https://t.co/kW7FEh5dCx pic.twitter.com/Av1B9QF9Ql
— DarkClong (@DarkClong) June 20, 2023
Inaugurated in 2016, this ambitious initiative by Sony has been dedicated to fostering talent in aspiring Chinese developers, providing them with the resources they need to launch their creative endeavors on a global scale. The project has already proudly seen over seventeen titles unfurl under its banner, and the possible inclusion of a Ming Dynasty-themed game in the upcoming showcase only ramps up anticipation.
Naturally, gamers worldwide are eagerly waiting for Sony’s official word on the rumored showcase, but there’s proof that Sony isn’t about to break its usual cycle.
Although it’s possible Sony could hold another PlayStation Showcase, especially after reports following the May PlayStation Showcase suggested that Sony didn’t show all its cards on the table, or so to speak, but doing so would take away from the allure of the event.
The term “PlayStation Showcase” suggests that it’s supposed to be the one big event that every PlayStation fan should look forward to every year. The only other event that could be as big of a deal is “Future of Gaming.”
The last time that PlayStation held both a PlayStation Showcase and Future of Gaming in the same year was in 2020, where the former was scheduled in September while the latter was held in June. But, the Future of Gaming events usually leads up to a PlayStation Showcase, not the other way around. Unless Sony couldn’t get the PlayStation 5 Pro ready in time for a showcase, it’s highly unlikely that it has another console worthy of highlighting a Future of Gaming event. We’re aware that Sony is supposedly preparing to launch a slimmed-down version of the PlayStation 5 with a detachable disc drive ahead of the PS5 Pro but it’s not exactly a big deal, at least compared to a mid-gen refresh.
So, in a nutshell, even if Sony wanted to do another PlayStation Showcase this year if only to save face, it just doesn’t have the firepower to hit back against Microsoft and Nintendo.
The best thing that the PlayStation manufacturer can do now is to take this on the chin and move on.
Of course, we can’t discount the possibility that Sony has other events planned for later this year. It’s not unusual for Sony to hold multiple State of Play showcases in a single quarter let alone one year. With the likes of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Silent Hill 2, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth all scheduled to launch within the next six months or so, it’s not like Sony doesn’t have big blockbuster titles that it can use to highlight a smaller digital event to drum up hype.
As for the next PlayStation Showcase, Sony’s never been one to stay down after a loss.
Naughty Dog all but confirmed by delaying the multiplayer The Last of Us spin-off that it was supposed to be a part of the recent PlayStation Showcase as well. It’s believed that the game is currently being polished with the help of Bungie. We’re assuming that it will be ready in time for the next PlayStation Showcase next year.
By then, Sony should be armed and loaded. A quick rundown of what Sony could potentially announce at its next PlayStation Showcase reveals a dream lineup for the PS5 headlined by The Last of Us multiplayer spin-off, the still-untitled Horizon MMO, a new Twisted Metal game, Marvel’s Wolverine, Bend Studio’s next title, and, quite possibly, Santa Monica Studio’s project helmed by Cory Barlog, as well as the long-rumored remake of Horizon Zero Dawn and the Uncharted reboot.
Mind you, these are all just first-party titles, and we all know just how much Sony loves their third-party exclusives.
As fans, we’d love to see more PS5 games, but the best thing for Sony to do now is to wait. If nothing else, it’s not like the company’s bottom line is hurting at all. Final Fantasy 16 is officially out and critics have nothing but praise for the GOTY contender. Assuming that Silent Hill 2 is out right around the same time as Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Sony will end the year on a good note as far as exclusives go. Then, it has another potential best-seller with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth bookending its fiscal year.
Besides, Sony survived last year without a PlayStation Showcase and we’re pretty sure it can survive this year even if it had a relatively bad one.
