With E3 just around the corner, it is once again time for the Player 2 crew to get their crystal balls out of the attic and make some wildly inaccurate predictions as to what will appear at the world’s biggest games show. Next on the block is Sony.
E3 2018 Predictions – Sony
Matt Hewson
Safe Bet
Well we know it is coming, it has been coming for a few years now, but it is finally time for it to be the star of the show. The Last of Us: Part 2 will surely be the highlight of the PS show. Despite my feelings towards the title ( I am not really sure I want to know more about Joel and Ellie, the first finished perfectly) I am sure it will be a high-quality title that deserves all the attention it is likely to get.
Fairly Likely
After receiving some deserved criticism last year for only having a very minimal indie presence, I think Sony will want to show the world once again that their systems are a great place for indie devs. I expect to see a healthy montage along with a more in-depth look at some of the tastier titles. I don’t expect something as grandiose as their push for No Man’s Sky was, but I do expect to see a few indies get some good stage time. I will be disappointed if they don’t.
Wishful Thinking
I would love to see another Infamous title, even one developed by someone else. I have always loved that franchise and I feel like there is so much left to see of that universe. With Ghosts of Tsushima coming, I know any super-powered shenanigans are a long way away, but a man can dream, right?
Jenn Christodoulou
Safe Bet
I am unbelievably keen to see some more on Red Dead Redemption 2 this year. The first game was frickin stellar, and I can’t wait to see more of the sequel. It’s meant to come out in October this year, so surely we’ll be seeing more of it at E3…right? RIGHT?
Fairly Likely
The PSVR started as such a strong piece of hardware when it was announced, but I feel like its popularity has dropped off recently. VR, when done right, can be absolutely amazing, and I’d love to see Sony bring out some more awesome titles to restore PSVR to its former glory.
Wishful Thinking
I want a new Final Fantasy. I’m ready. It’s time. With Final Fantasy XV taking dumb levels of time to be developed and then released, if Sony announces the next instalment of the franchise this year there’s a chance I might get it before I hit my 40’s, and that would just be really lovely.
Shaun Nichols
Safe Bet
So far apart from two cinematic trailers, we have not learned much about The Last Of Us 2. From what we have seen the world is still going to be as dark and violent as the first but I what I really want is some gameplay footage. Whereas the first had the two distinct gameplay elements between Ellie and Joel, so far we have only seen footage of Ellie. Is Joel dead? Will Ellie be the only playable character or will she have a partner? So many questions and this year at E3 I think we are ready to get some answers.
Fairly Likely
Ghost Of Tsushima. All we know about this game is that it is set in feudal Japan during the Mongolian invasion, you play a samurai and it is open world. It is being developed by Sucker Punch, the guys who gave us the very cool inFamous series. While that is enough to get me to start throwing money at my screen, others may want some more details and what better stage than E3.
Wishful Thinking
I know it is too early to expect it but I would love to see something, anything really about a sequel to Horizon: Zero Dawn. Give me more robot animals to hunt now, please.
Stevie McDonald
Safe Bet
It’s about time we saw some gameplay footage from Hideo Kojima’s ‘Death Stranding’ – mysterious, esoteric trailers are good to get the blood pumping, but I think I speak for all of us when I say a few answers to the riddles on display so far are more than welcome!
Fairly Likely
Surely Sony will make some sort of mention of The Last of Us 2 – the game’s non-appearance at E3 2017 did not go unnoticed and I’m sure I’m not the only person itching to find out what happened to Joel and Ellie.
Wishful Thinking
The time is ripe for Uncharted 5. What’s that? The series ended with Uncharted 4? LALALALALA I CAN’T HEAR YOU LALALA!
James Swinbanks
Sony will, undoubtedly, be feeling pretty good about themselves come E3 time. Word on the street is that their platform is outselling Xbox 2:1, so I expect nothing but shit-eating grins from the entire Sony executive team and a large burning effigy of Halo’s Master Chief hanging over the stage. In terms of games, expect to see Days Gone, The Last Of Us 2 and maybe a taste of the next Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
Paul James
Safe Bet
Kojima will make a splash, Spider-man will excite, and there is no game I want more than The Last of Us Part II, but these along with Ghost of Tsushima are all sure things – Sony has already confirmed this. The latter among that group though is the game I’m most intrigued to see, Ghost of Tsushima is a massive tonal change for SuckerPunch, the studio responsible for the brilliant infamous franchise, and I’m super eager to see what it is that they have in store with this darker, more mature title.
Fairly Likely
This was a game that took me by surprise when it was first revealed last year. Concrete Genie comes from the team responsible for the creative, but underwhelming Entwined of several years back, and it’s quite a leap from what they last did. Still an explosion of colour like Entwined, Concrete Genie already looks to possess more playable depth and a fair bit of soul – I’m into it and I’d very much like to see more.
Wishful Thinking
Horizon: Zero Dawn is one of the best games of this console generation, and a sequel is undoubtedly in the early stages of development, but with the big four that Sony has planned for E3 this year and then presumably slated for release between now and at least late 2019, you’d have to think that Guerrilla Games has the luxury to sit back for a while and really sink their teeth into a Horizon sequel without the pressures of the big stage. Would I love to be wrong? Absolutely, but here’s hoping that Sony keeps this card close to their chest or at least another year.
Hope Corrigan
Safe Bet
Sony has already come out and said it’s focussing on Death Stranding, The Last of Us Part II, Ghost of Tsushima, and Spider-Man for its E3 conference. Death Stranding will be a series of short videos which interrupt the other games’ presentations without ever explaining what it is until at the end another baby gives a super great thumbs up.
Fairly Likely
You can now change your name on your PS4 but only if you’re a PS+ member and you are limited to one change a year. A good showing of more Playstation VR titles are teased but may be waiting on new hardware which will not be announced at this conference. An official funeral for the Playstation Vita will be held for western audiences while Japan laughs at us all with their great portable games.
Wishful thinking
Suckerpunch are working on a new InFamous and Sly Cooper OR instead they’ve managed to blend these two IPs into a brand new IP. Sony finally releases a limited edition controller which doesn’t look like someone has just stuck decals on it.
Stephen del Prado
Safe Bet
With release dates just around the corner, I expect some Spiderman action as well as exclusive Red Dead 2 content bolstered by yet another Death Stranding teaser. DREAMS will be given a launch window that is surprisingly close – they might even trot out the old “and it’s available right now!” maneuver to spruik sales.
Fairly Likely
Unless they really want to sink the boot into Bend Studios, Naughty Dog will announce a very late 2019/early 2020 launch for The Last of Us 2. A price drop for the PS4 Pro is revealed along with a slimmer form factor. Shadows Die Twice gets a gameplay trailer.
Wishful Thinking
Sony announces a successor to the Vita, cribbing as much as they can from the Switch whilst boosting the internal specs considerably. It will launch with Dark Cloud 3 and I’ll pass out from excitement.
Royce Wilson
Safe Bet
I mean, we know The Last of Us II and Days Gone are coming (they were announced last year), and the enigmatic Death Stranding (the latest from Hideo Kojima and featuring Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelson) will almost certainly feature too.
Fairly Likely
A new exclusive which we weren’t expecting – Sony has a track record of high-quality exclusives so I’d be surprised if there wasn’t at least one in the line-up this year
Wishful Thinking
A new Uncharted game with Chloe Fraser as the protagonist – I loved The Lost Legacy and reckon Chloe is a great character to take over from Nathan Drake (whose story has concluded nicely). Playing The Lost Legacy was like being on an adventure with friends, except without having to explain to my wife why I was to heading India with two attractive, intelligent women on a treasure hunting expedition.
