Player 2 Vs State Of Play September 2025
Having lain dormant for several months, fan curiosity and queries about what PlayStation’s First Party studios had been up to was at an all-time high. Fortunately, PlayStation felt your anxious vibes and delivered a State Of Play that addressed this need and also delivered a range of indie and third-party titles that are going to satisfy the PS5 ownership for months and years to come. Join Player2 editors Paul James and Matt Hewson as they break down each and every reveal from September 2025’s PlayStation State Of Play.
Saros
Paul: I’m a huge fan of Housemarque’s arcade-inspired roots, and they blended this love with Sony’s love of AAA to produce the exceptional Returnal. Saros also looks to be doing some pretty amazing things visually, and while the cuts within the trailer limited our ability to properly understand the fullest moment-to-moment action of the game, I was nonetheless impressed. Bring on March 20.
Matt: Saros is sure looking like Returnal 2, and I mean that as the highest compliment. Returnal was a master class in twitch 3rd person shooting, and this looks to take it even further. That said, based on history, I will probably wait for the PC release of this once because if it looks this good on a PS5, it is going to be a banger on a 5080.
Zero Parades
Paul: I’m intrigued to see if ZA/UM can overcome the dramas that they’ve been through in recent years. Zero Parades itself shows some promise, but also, I feel like a lot of the heavy lifting right now is being done by the visual style, so whether the gameplay itself possesses any substance remains to be seen. Curious to see more.
Matt: Very cool style, almost a Spider-verse style colour palette, but it feels like the sort of game that is going to be hard to show in trailers. A demo of some sort will do this game wonders I feel.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Paul: The rumours had been getting around about this one for a while now, though I still didn’t expect it to be announced at the State Of Play of all things. 2024’s Flight Simulator hit a few bumps that the prior release didn’t, but by the time that it comes to PlayStation this December, that community is going to be seeing the game at its best. Interesting to see that PSVR 2 functionality is on the way as well. I’ll pass on that element though, I’ll vomit within seconds.
Matt: Flight Sim is 100% one of the most amazing technical achievements in gaming and even if you don’t love this sort of game, you owe it to yourself to at least give it a crack for a few hours, just to marvel at what has been achieved. Fantastic that it is coming to Playstation because work this good needs to be shared.
Battlefield 6
Paul: Was that our first time looking at Battlefield 6 campaign? I’ve not been keeping the closest of eyes on this one, but I’ve definitely been hearing good things about the multiplayer suite, but I’m not an MP guy, so if there’s any chance of me buying the game, then this campaign is gonna need to impress. That was a cool representation of it though, so I’ll keep my eyes out.
Matt: God it feels like ages since the last Battlefield campaign. The WW1 and WW2 campaigns were great, with their multiple stories angle the perfect way to tell some interesting tales. This looks to be more like a traditional campaign so it is hard to say. That said, it has been an age since a good single-player military shooter has hit (COD left that behind years ago) so it could get me on board.
Deus Ex Remastered
Paul: PlayStation played funny buggers with us, giving people their fill with Deus Ex coming to PS+ a couple of months ago only to drop a remaster a few months later. Kudos to them on pulling it off, because I was hyped to see this. Looking forward to going back next February.
Matt: Of all the soulless companies to remake one of the greatest gaming experiences of all time, why did it have to be Aspyr? The glow up is lacking any sort of feeling and just looks like an AI upres. If you are going to touch up the Mona Lisa, you don’t get a year 10 art teacher to do it. Just go play the original release instead, revel in how far ahead of its time it was and forget this is even coming.
Halloween: The Game
Paul: Nope, not at all into Halloween or Michael Myers. Hard pass from me
Matt: These horror icon games seem to all blend for me. It is hard to separate them from the pack. I think they would be fun with a regular group but being an old, mostly offline fellow that is hard for me to come by
Last Epoch
Paul: I did like the look of Last Epoch as a Diablo-like when it first released, but being a PC-only title, I held back. Now that it’s coming to PlayStation, I’m all the way in. Keen to play this, along with the newly announced expansion in the next year.
Matt: The PC game is fantastic, a really good alternative to Diablo. The only problem is that while you can use a controller, it is really a painful way to play the game at times so the devs will want to make sure that is fixed for the PS release.
The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin
Paul: I’ve cringed a few times when I’ve seen this game in the past, as a non-anime consumer, I looked at the game as some simple adaptation slop, but seeing Seven Deadly Sins: Origin in action, my head turned a bit. This looks fairly solid. Now, there might be too much backstory to get my head around that will push me away, but I was quite impressed by what was shown here. This could be one of those sleeper gems, and if the timing is right, it might even be a gateway for me.
Post-showcase I’ve now learned that the game is a Free-To-Play title – fuck that noise
Matt: I don’t hate the style this game is showing but I am not sure if the gameplay is for me. Some cool battles and things on show, but it is obviously aimed at a different crowd.
Sonic Racing: Crossworlds
Paul: Sonic’s out tomorrow, so I’m sure many of you have made up your minds already as to whether this game is for you or not, but the Mega Man content looks pretty sweet, and I could totally see myself picking this one up at some point.
Matt: I’ve played a bit of Crossworlds and I can tell you it is an absolute banger of a Kart game, it may even take the MK title. So don’t hesitate on this one. Seriously.
Nioh 3
Paul: You know me, I’m not a Soulslike guy, but the Nioh games still look pretty great. Nioh 3 will undoubtedly continue the momentum that the franchise has been building up, but I just won’t be on the bandwagon. I’ll enjoy from afar, though.
Matt: Of all the soulslikes, Nioh has always interested me the most, mainly because of the faster and more agile combat. That said, I will inevitably get to a boss, bash my head against it and then swear to never play it again… so there is that.
Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete Edition: Remastered
Paul: As I was watching this live, I knew we were getting a Dynasty Warriors remaster, but given that they all look and play the same, there was little there to make it clear to me which game it was, and as someone who has played several of the early franchise games, I’m unclear why it’s 3 and not 2, and what makes them different to one another, and how they came to justify this remaster, because I can’t imagine why people would want this with more recent titles in the market.
Matt: Why? Origins just came out, and it is fantastic with way more depth than the old games ever had. A bit pointless, really.
Code Vein II
Paul: More Soulslikes, but Code Vein is very much an identifiable one in a sea of similarity. Of course, I probably won’t be getting into the game (unless there are difficulty modes!), but it’s cool to see the original getting a follow-up, because it seemed like there was a lot of promise. January 30 is also a good time, slipping in just before the February/March, pre-GTA landslide of games.
Matt: Unlike NiOh, I have no interest here. I bounced off the original quicker than Gout Gout’s last sprint.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Paul: Game’s out in a few days. It’s amazing. Check out my review
Matt: I have always intended to get into these games, I mean, they should be right up my alley. Maybe this one will do the trick.
Let It Die: Inferno
Paul: I really disliked the mask and the Uncle Death stuff that was going on. And of course, my wife walked into the room just in time to see this and ask “WTF are you watching?” I didn’t particularly care for the original Let It Die, so congrats to those who are undoubtedly keen for a sequel, but I’m out.
Matt: Is this a Suda 51 game? Because it feels like it wants to be a Suda 51 game. Nothing here that feels exciting, I’m afraid.
Chronoscript: The Endless End
Paul: I also wasn’t overly wild about the tone of Chronoscript, and in fact, I feel like there needs to be some kind of law established that prohibits any game from using the word Chrono in the title, unless it is Square-Enix developing a new Chrono Trigger/Cross game. As a Metroidvania, the game looks pretty cool, but the visual stylings of the game didn’t strike a chord at all for some reason. Perhaps I just need more exposure.
Matt: I don’t hate the look here, but something about it seems off. I am not sure if it is the animation, the movement or the combat, but I just can’t put my finger on it. Can’t say I am hyped, but not completely put off either.
Crimson Desert
Paul: Crimson Desert is one of the most anticipated RPGs of 2026, and props to Sony who got to be the ones to reveal the game’s March 2026 release date. The game looks absolutely sensational, and from the reports of those who’ve gone hands-on with it previously, it doesn’t seem like a case of all style and no substance either. I’m very, very excited for this one.
Matt: A very cinematic trailer that did little to tell me what the gameplay will be like. Keen to see more though.
Pulse Elevate Wireless Speakers
Paul: I mean, I don’t have any PC speakers, so I guess there’s some merit in me dialing into this, but I’m sure the price point is going to be pretty hefty, and I’m still a bit suss on the reliability of the PlayStation Link technology which has been a bit flaky for me in the past, especially when I’m using my Pulse Earbuds.
Matt: Frankly, I wouldn’t be pre-ordering these. There are a host of great computer speakers out there from companies that have been doing this sort of thing for years, and they are all probably cheaper than these will be. Wait for the reviews folks because unless they are absolutely mind blowing, there will be better options at a better price, I can almost guarantee it.
PlayStation Plus Updates
Paul: Alan Wake 2 is a great get, and the coming month’s slate is pretty solid around it too. There are some cool classics on the way too, and I was particularly excited to see Tomb Raider Legend in there, but I really wish we’d get a greater volume of classic games from the service, especially considering how vast the PS1-3, PSP and Vita libraries are. And if we could get those PS3 releases going, that’d be great!
Matt: Look, I haven’t ever been tempted by PlayStation’s sub service outside of the basic version, so this isn’t really for me, but I am more than happy for more people to play what is the best game of the last five years, Alan Wake 2.
Gran Turismo 7
Paul: I’m no GT fan so I was a bit overwhelmed by the jargon being used, but yay for those who love themselves some top-tier simulation racing!
Matt: I fell off GT not long after release. It didn’t hold me the way Forza does (either Horizon or Motorsport), so I can’t say how far the game has come. It obviously still has its crowd though and I am always pleased to see continued support.
God Of War 20th Anniversary Dualsense
Paul: Yep, I’ll buy it, because I’m a sucker – really disappointed to not get the alleged 2.5D game revealed though.
Matt: Look, Playstation do many things better than Xbox, it is undeniable. Custom and limited edition controllers are not one of them. A very meh controller.
Marvel’s Wolverine
Paul: Hooooo boy, it has taken us a long time to get to this point, and clearly the game was announced too soon, but the wait has been worth it, because Wolverine looks wild. The hyper-violence of the comics has been captured by Insomniac, and they’ve even gone with an Aussie for the voice acting of Logan, kudos. Sounds like we’re getting a big unveiling in Autumn of next year, so I’m super keen to see more.
Matt: I like what I saw. It seems that the combat from Spider-Man has been adapted, and the game is more of a linear experience than an open world. It comes across as an ultra-violent Uncharted in a lot of ways, and I am more than ok with that. Can’t wait to see more.
Final Thoughts
Paul: A nice mix of first and third-party titles, with some indies sprinkled in along the way. I’m super interested, after a relatively quiet 2025, to see the 2026 exclusive line-up start to take shape. With Saros in March, Wolverine to end the year, and presumably Tokon: Fighting Souls somewhere in between, there’s some great exclusive pillars to the year, let alone other titles like Marathon and this supposed God Of War game, still to stake out their place. The PS5 has a great year ahead of it, and I suspect that there are still some aces left up PlayStation’s sleeves.
Matt: Man… That Deus Ex reveal has left such a bad taste in my mouth that it is hard to be excited for anything else. But seriously, Wolverine looks the goods, finding out about Battlefield’s single player was a nice surprise, and Saros has caught my attention. A decent show, but not one that will stick in my memory for too long.
