10 Extremely Reasonable Predictions for the 2023 PlayStation Showcase
Written by: Ethan (@ChaoticAether)
Image Credit: PlayStation
If you’re a listener of our podcast, you’ll know that I may have promised to write up some predictions for tomorrow's PlayStation showcase. Well I always keep my promises, so here we are! I thought I would quickly write down five solid, boring, locked in predictions so you know what to expect when it comes to the show tomorrow. However, where’s the fun in that?! That’s why I’m also going to give you an additional five unreasonable predictions to get you pumped for the show as well!
Did I mention I’m also not going to tell you what prediction falls into which category? Let’s dive into these ten completely sane predictions; which you definitely won’t be able to tell the difference between…
1) Spider-Man 2 is the star of the show
Image Credit: Insomniac Games, Marvel, Sony
I may as well get this one out of the way at the start. Spider-Man 2 will be there, it will look awesome, and it will have a release date around September-October of this year. Knowing Insomniac and their incredible track record over recent years, it’s going to easily steal most of the attention from the showcase. I do wonder how much they are willing to show though. My wild bet is I hope we see some venom/symbiote gameplay, but I reckon that might be something they want to save for later…
2) The Last of Us Factions is finally here!
Image Credit: Naughty Dog, Sony
We’ve been waiting on this one for a while, and it only seems right that we finally see what Naughty Dog has been cooking up. I wasn’t a huge fan of the factions mode in the original Last of Us, it was just a tad too clunky for me personally, but I’m extremely interested in seeing what this new game has to offer. I’m sure it has a plethora of new modes and features, and I’m sure it will be spotlighted in detail at the upcoming showcase.
3) Honkai Star Rail Gets a date for PS4 and PS5
Image Credit: HoYoverse
Weebs rise up. With its recent release on PC and all the marketing budget behind it, it wouldn’t shock me in the slightest if the newest game from HoYoverse makes its way to PlayStation consoles very soon. Its Genshin gacha crossed with turn-based combat is surely going to be an addictive hit, and I pray for the wallets of every sucker that gets heavily invested when it launches later this year. It won’t be me guys I swear…
4) Final Fantasy 16 has a demo out soon (today?!)
Image Credit: Square Enix
We are only just a few weeks away from getting our hands on Clive and Final Fantasy 16. This is the first time I’m actually getting a FF game at launch and man I honestly can’t wait to play this game soon. Well the good news is they have already announced a month or so back that a demo is on the way. I feel like the PlayStation showcase is the perfect place to announce/shadow drop it, and I’m sure this will be the final push before the full release in June.
5) Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth begins its hype machine
Image Credit: Square Enix
If we’re talking about 16, it’s only fair to discuss its sibling, which is scheduled to release around six months after it. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth isn’t that far away, and I’m more than confident that we’re about to see the start of its big marketing push at the PlayStation Showcase. I also wouldn’t be surprised if we get confirmation it’s coming in January, mainly as I still find it very hard to believe it will be out this year.
6) Ghost of Tsushima 2 Has a Teaser Trailer
Image Credit: Sucker Punch Productions, Sony
When I say a teaser I mean a teaser dammit. You’re getting a jpeg and maybe a 30 second animated teaser and that’s it. I still think it’s slightly too early to talk about Tsushima 2, but if this is the show where Sony wants to line up its next few years of games, then I am sure we will be seeing at least a reference to Ghost at tomorrow's showcase.
7) Astro’s back and better than ever!
Image Credit: Team Asobi, Sony
What isn’t too early is the return of Astro-bot! After the success of Astro’s Playroom, I feel that a fully fledged sequel is a sure fire bet for tomorrow's show. Astro was such a gem at the release of the PS5, and a fully scoped project in this world is something I would love to see. I also think it has a high chance of being a PS5 title with additional PSVR2 compatibility, so hopefully everyone wins!
8) Half-Life Alyx is coming to PSVR2!
Image Credit: Valve
Speaking of VR, let’s go big. There are plenty of safe bets when it comes to potential ports to PSVR2 but I want to go huge: Half-Life Alyx is on its way. I think Sony really needs to make a push on its VR hardware after the soft launch of VR2 this year, and I think there is no better way than bringing one of the best VR games ever to the platform.
9) There’s more to Metal Gear than meets the eye…
Image Credit: Konami
We all know that Metal Gear Solid 3 is getting a remake. We also know that it is likely to show up at tomorrow’s event. My bigger prediction with this is that there is more to it than we initially thought. Whether it is Konami teasing future plans, or the release of ports for earlier games, I believe there is more to it than just a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3. Prove me wrong Konami!
10) Bloodborne is Back!
Image Credit: FromSoftware, Sony
The endless curse of the blood and the hunter’s nightmare! Bloodborne became an instant favourite of mine when I played it for the first time last year, and I think (like everyone else) it’s finally time for a comeback. Whether it’s a PC/PS5 port or a sequel made by BluePoint, it is time to return to the world of Bloodborne. I feel it in my blood!
So there you have it, ten totally sane predictions for the PlayStation Showcase. Let me know what you’re expecting to see, and if you want to see our reactions be sure to check out our Podcast/YouTube pages for a full review and discussion next week!