Player 2 Vs PlayStation State Of Play February 2026
As is now well and truly established, PlayStation launches their year with a February State Of Play, where the publisher promised to show off several huge games from first and third party, as well as its many independent partners. The over 60-minute long showcase has now concluded, so Player 2’s own Paul James and Jess Zammit got together to share their thoughts on this February 13th, 2026 State Of Play.
Kena: Scars Of Kosmora
Paul: I had been crying out for the return of Ember Lab and specifically Kena. She’s finally back, and the team have once again set the bar for visual fidelity sky high. Meanwhile, the combat looks more in-depth, more sophisticated, and more expansive than ever before. Speaking of expansive, the world looks enormous. Ember Lab deserves every good thing that comes their way, and this game has just shot to the top of my most anticipated list for 2026.
On the business side, I’m super interested to see how the partnership with PlayStation Studios develops. Could Ember Lab one day become a first-party studio?
Jess: Okay maybe I’m out of the loop but I honestly never expected we’d see Kena again, and I’m beyond thrilled that we are. Everything about this game looks beautiful – landscapes, character animations, story. It’s going to make me cry, and I’m going to enjoy every second of it. Also – THAT WOLF MOUNT? HOW COOL? I’m psyched about this. What an amazing, unexpected way to start the show.
Ghost Of Yotei: Legends
Paul: I never played Ghost of Tsushima’s Legends mode, and I’m kicking myself for that, but I’ll be making things right for Ghost of Yotei. I loved everything about what Legends did the first time, and I hope that Sucker Punch can successfully build upon that foundation to make Yotei’s iteration of Legends bigger and better. I’m all-in next month
Jess: I am still yet to play either Ghost of Tsushima or Ghost of Yotei, so it will probably be some time before this news is exciting to me. But it looks cool!
Death Stranding 2
Paul: I mean, I still need to spend a lot more time with the Death Stranding IP, but I’m glad that the sequel is, bit by bit, making its way to new platforms. The more people that can jump in, the better. Now the PC community is on the verge of getting in on the act. Maybe I’ll be able to catch up to everyone nice and soon.
Jess: I, again, have spent almost no time with Death Stranding. But I do have a coworker who is going to be beyond excited that the game is finally coming to PC, and I am thrilled for him and all those like him.
4:Loop
Paul: I’m still not wild about the naming convention, but I am liking the direction that 4:Loop is heading in. Mike Booth speaks about the game very well, and I certainly feel pretty comfortable in my understanding of what the game is going for. I’m keen to see how it all shapes up, and right now, I feel like it could even be the infrequent multiplayer game that I might invest some time into.
Jess: I did like the way this was presented, with devs giving some context behind the design choices and intention – it was like a mini version of what Xbox have been doing with their Developer Directs, and I’m a fan of the format. This is never going to be my sort of game, but I did enjoy the explanation.
Pragmata
Paul: I’m believing in the direction of Pragmata. I still have no idea what’s going on largely, but I’ve been trying to maintain some distance wherever possible so that I can go in fresh. The game looks gorgeous and the impressions from others who’ve played suggest its coming together really well too. I’ll be there in April Capcom!
Jess: I’m also believing in the direction of Pragmata but also have very little idea of what’s largely going on, though I wouldn’t say I’ve actively tried to maintain distance – I think it’s just been presented as a confusing string of information. It seems like my kind of weird though, and I’m here for whatever messed up shit that child is going to get into.
Resident Evil Requiem
Paul: Look, I’m a little burned out on just how much Resident Evil Requiem that we’ve been getting lately, but I cannot complain about the quality of the game. Requiem is looking superb, and it’s now just a fortnight away!
Jess: ANOTHER trailer for Re9? The game is almost out, so I’m pretty ready for it to just be here, so we can watch Leon Kennedy do what he does best – shepherd unassuming blonde woman through hordes of enemies.
Legacy Of Kain: Defiance Remastered
Paul: I cannot believe that the Legacy Of Kain games continue to get the level of love that they’ve been getting. Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted by it, but it just felt so unlikely that the IP would ever become relevant again. Now, with all of these remasters, I can’t help but let the mind wander towards a line of thinking that involves new franchise entries
Jess: Another series that has just completely passed me by, but this does seem like a fun collection. It’s always nice when previously unreleased stuff sees the light of day, so I’m sure enthusiasts will be very keen on this new/old content.
Brigandine Abyss
Paul: Mechanically speaking, Brigadine Abyss looks pretty great. The depth is there, but it just looks a bit too anime-y for my liking. Will happily be proven wrong though
Jess: Look, there were unicorns and dragons here, and that’s very exciting, but I couldn’t figure out whether they were on my side of the opposing team. This may greatly affect my excitement levels for this game.
Dead Or Alive 6: Last Round + New Game
Paul: It’s well documented, I’m not much of a fighting game guy, and the nature of the characters and style of Dead Or Alive doesn’t win me over much either. I’ll pass.
Jess: Dead or Alive is still very much Dead or Alive, excessive presentation of boobs and all. I cannot imagine anyone is going to use that photo mode for anything good. Horrifying to consider.
Control: Resonant
Paul: Wheeew, how good is Control Resonant looking?! What I love most about what we’ve seen is that visually, tonally, and stylistically, the game looks very much Control, but the gameplay, world design, and combat, feels distinct to this sequel. I love what we’ve seen and I’m eager to get in on day one later this year.
Jess: I’m so curious to see how much the vibe of the game is going to change in this new environment, because I feel like it’s going to be a significant amount. A lot of the gritty darkness of the original game seems to be gone here, but those Resonants do look properly scary!
Crimson Moon
Paul: There were some elements that felt distinctly classic God Of War here that I liked. Of course, we didn’t get a proper look at exactly how Crimson Moon plays, but the bloody nature of the game, that is both full-on, but not disproportionate to the action was great, and I’m fascinated to see more.
Jess: It did feel a little God of War-y, didn’t it? It also somehow felt like an early PS4/late PS3 game, in ways I can’t quite describe. But I’m intrigued! Could be a bit of mindless action fun.
Beast Of Reincarnation
Paul: How is this the same team that develops core Pokemon entries?! Beast Of Reincarnation looks wayyyyyy too good to be coming from the same team. That said, the Souls-like nature of the game does give me pause. I hope the difficulty modes are there, or I simply won’t be playing it.
Jess: I think you’re being a little unfair to Pokemon – but, sure, you’re also right. Beast of Reincarnation does look like a very different outing for the Gamefreak team, but I have full faith that they can nail it. I’m in the same boat though – I simply do not have the time for that punishing combat.
Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition
Paul: There’d been noise about a Rayman remake, so props to Ubisoft for making it a reality. I never played the original Rayman, only getting in on it’s 3D sequel, so I’m down to jump in and check out how this remake fares, with some quality of life features sprinkled over the game to make it more acceptable against current competition.
Jess: I really love this new trend of including documentaries with these new anniversary edition collections we’ve been getting, so I’m thrilled to see one here. I played Rayman on the GameBoy Colour quite a lot as a child but have only interacted with it on and off since, so now might be the time for me to jump back in and check out the original PS release.
Mina The Hollower
Paul: Just give me a date already. The development troubles that Yacht Club Games have been facing became very public late last year, so I really hope that the game sees commercial success, because the game looks great, and Yacht Club is too talented of a developer to go away now.
Jess: Truly just give us a date. This is either going to be a game I love or one I bounce off about five minutes into, but I want it to be here already so I can figure out which one it’ll be.
Neva: Prologue
Paul: I wasn’t as wowed as many were about Neva, that said, I liked it enough to be interested in checking out this prologue DLC. It’s out tomorrow, so at least we’ll know whether the time spent developing this expansion (rather than a new game) was worth it nice and soon.
Jess: I never played Neva because I thought it was going to crush me emotionally, so I need to get over that hurdle before I think about tackling the DLC. Is it going to crush me? I feel like maybe I need someone to let me know in case I’ve got it all wrong.
Yakoh: Shinobi Ops
Paul: I’m really digging this stealth title. We don’t have nearly enough of them, but Yakoh looks to be giving off all of the right vibes. It also looks like the type of game that will give me a panic attack if I mess up. Hopefully the game turns out as good as I believe it can be.
Jess: Another one that is not my sort of game, but visually nice!
Project Windless
Paul: I must admit, I’ve never heard of ‘The Bird That Drinks Tears’ so I don’t have context for the history of the source material, but I do love the look of the world, and visually, the game looks incredibly striking. It looks like the game is mostly a Musou as well, but there are also elements of third person action, and there’s not enough here for me to identify if it’s the type I like, or something more akin to a Souls game. We’ll soon know though. For now, I’m quite optimistic
Jess: I have about a million more questions that future trailers may or may not answer about this game before I can gauge how excited I should be. I also haven’t heard of ‘The Bird That Drinks Tears’ but damn – what a name.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Paul: Just give me that pod racing experience now please! I’m not much of a racing game guy, but I am a Star Wars guy, and I do have a lot of nostalgia tied to my N64 and Star Wars Pod Racer, so I’m all in on this one.
Jess: This just makes me want to go back and play that N64 pod racer game again instead. This one could go either way, but I hope they manage to capture similar vibes to that iconic game (though the remake wasn’t great, so… maybe that’s why my expectations aren’t higher!)
007 First Light
Paul: I’m really keen on 007 First Light, but like Resident Evil, I’m tiring of seeing the game pop up everywhere. Enough talk, it’s time to show. So one more launch trailer please, and otherwise, let’s go quietly and speak through your actions in May.
Jess: I so badly want this game to be good – but yes, I’m ready to just see it now to find out.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2
Paul: I’ve really only just begun my Metal Gear journey after playing Snake Eater Remake last year, but the news that the game that was stuck on PS3 is now going to be available for everyone on modern platforms is enormous. Props to Konami for making it happen. Peace Walker also getting another update is great news too.
Jess: One day I’ll play a Metal Gear game and I’m sure I’ll understand why everyone loves them. But it still hasn’t happened, and the series remains on my ever-growing list.
Darwin’s Paradox
Paul: I love the look of this quirky octopus. We’ll see how the game ultimately shakes out but there are elements of Oddworld, hints of Limbo, and even Little Nightmares too. I’m really digging the deel of the game, and the ludicrous tone that comes with it being about an octopus makes it all the more appealing.
Jess: Okay no, this is one of the best things I’ve seen all showcase. Unfortunately I already know this cannot be my favourite octopus game, because this octopus does not seem to have inexplicably fathered two human children. But this does look like a whole lot of fun – I’m very much on board with this one.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
Paul: Konami has been investing so heavily in Metal Gear and Silent Hill, that I was beginning to worry that Castlevania wasn’t going to get the same time and attention. Fortunately my fears have been allayed, and equally fortunately, Belmont’s Curse is looking fantastic. The talent behind the game is obvious, so now I’m just hyped to see how the game shakes out later this year.
Jess: I dig the art style of this, and it might be what makes me finally engage with Castlevania as an IP (I know, it’s foundational and it’s a travesty that I haven’t engaged before). It seems like something a little different for the series!
Silent Hill: Townfall
Paul: This was one of the more predictable reveals of the showcase due to the Silent Hill Transmission showcase that was airing shortly after the State Of Play, but setting that predictability aside, the way the game is playing was anything but predictable. First person is cool (and terrifying), and I’m sure that as we see more, the Annapurna flavour will really begin to come out. I’m interested.
Jess: I am several Silent Hill games behind at this point and this was a reminder that I have got to catch up. I’m not sure I’m quite as enthusiastic about the focus on first person in horror games like this, but I’m willing to go along for the ride. This looks to be the perfect amount of mysterious, and yes – I’m also very interested to see Annapurna’s take on the series. This is one I’ll be watching closely.
Rev. Noir
Paul: I’m not one for anime stylings, but theres a more natural colouration at play here that tilts Rev. Noir in the direction of what I like in Tales Of titles. It’s a tricky line to walk for me personally, but Rev. Noir is currently on the right side of the line for me. Now I’m keen to see more from the game to see how it looks as a playing experience.
Jess: This was another one of those trailers that taught me almost nothing about the kind of game I’d be playing, but lured me in with the visuals. I’m curious about this one, and whether or not I play it might entirely depend on what else is coming out at the time it launches.
John Wick
Paul: There’d been rumblings of a new John Wick game, but I wasn’t expecting to see Keanu, nor something that looked quite so sharp. The trailer doesn’t give much away in terms of its gameplay, but the franchise’s iconic brutality is there for all to see. I’m definitely keen to learn more, and seeing Sabre Interactive’s name associated with the game leaves me feeling very confident given their recent run of form.
Jess: Is there where I admit I’ve also never seen John Wick? I’m so sorry, I’m showing myself to be a true disappointment to all, today. But I definitely didn’t expect to see Keanu in this showcase, and it’s always a thrill when he shows up – I’m excited to see what kind of game this turns out to be.
Marathon
Paul: Look, I’ll try Marathon, but I’m not yet convinced by Marathon. Hopefully all of the art dramas are behind Bungie and they can get back to making some of the best playing shooters in the world. If they can get even close to their best, then I’m very confident in the future of Marathon, even with the recent success of Arc Raiders. The game is close though, so we’ll know more soon.
Jess: I’m not typically a big Bungie person, but this trailer has me a little more convinced on Marathon. I’ll give it a go – and I do hope it finds the studio more success than some recent multiplayer shooters have found.
PS+ Updates
Paul: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a huge addition to the Extra catalogue, and of course it paves the way for the road to Wolverine later this year. As for the classics, I don’t have any interest in Tekken Dark Ressurection, but Time Crisis could be cool. The problem I have is that one is March, the other May, and we’re basically at a point of getting one classic game per month. That output is pathetic, and those who are paying for Deluxe/Premium (like I am) are getting screwed over. Big Walk arriving as a game for all tiers of Plus when it launches later this year though is a fantastic get.
Jess: Yeah, it’s hard to justify the value of PS Plus when the additions to the catalogue are so few and far between (and yet, I keep my subscription anyway). The best part of this section was hearing the phrase ‘the Spidermen’, which for some reason made me laugh. Time Crisis is also cool, but I think I’d prefer to play it in an arcade on the rare occasion I find myself at one. Interested to see how the gyroscopic aiming with the controller works though – if they can pull it off in a way that’s actually functional for a game like this, that’ll be huge!
Saros
Paul: Give me more of that Rahul Kohli brilliance. Saros looks absolutely stunning, and now that the team have proven their abilities with Returnal, I don’t have any worries at all that they’ll stick the landing with this one at all. Housemarque have been brilliant for decades, but their chops as a developer of large-scale AAA 3D games continue to improve. I’m very, very happy with how Saros is coming along, and it looks to be a little bit more accessible for those who are struggling with its difficult gameplay.
Jess: I do love some Rahul Kohli, but I’m not sure that Saros is going to be the kind of game for me. I didn’t play Returnal, but I know Housemarque are beloved, so I have no doubt Saros will deliver – just not for me.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls
Paul: I’m no fighting guy, but the Marvel flavour does at least intrigue me. I think that I will absolutely get chewed out whenever I play the game, but I could also see myself having a lot of fun with the game… even if I suck at it. August though feels like a great time to launch the game.
Jess: Both the IP and the art style make me interested here in ways I otherwise wouldn’t be. I like the stylistic approach to fighting games rather than hyper-realism or hyper-violence, so if I could find someone to play this one with, I think I could have a lot of fun. I’m also keen to see what other characters they introduce – but having Storm there from the get-go is a great start.
God Of War Trilogy Remake
Paul: OH MY GOD OF WAR! I would’ve take a remake of the original, but the whole original trilogy?! I’m feeling like a bunch of Christmases are coming at once. Getting TC Carson coming back is great news, but of course, he does highlight that the games are in the early stages of development. It smells like 2028 or later to me.
Jess: Yeah as exciting as it is to get a series of remakes, especially given I didn’t spend a whole lot of time with the original games. But I also wish we had any sense of how much of an upgrade they were getting, to know a little more about what to expect.
God Of War: Sons Of Sparta
Paul: The word had already gotten out about a side-scrolling God Of War, so the surprise when TC Carson said that they had one more God Of War thing in store was diminished somewhat (really the surprise was the trilogy remakes), but I was still most pleased to see that the game was indeed real. Sons Of Sparta looks like a great playing experience, but I’ll admit, I wasn’t wowed visually, and that has forever been a huge component of the God Of War IP. The games would both be seriously gratifying to play, and stunning to look upon, and I just felt that Sons Of Sparts looked a bit plain and simple. Hopefully it was just the trailer not putting its best foot forward in this regard
Jess: I actually think the art style was the most interesting thing about this game – it’s kind of a strange one, in the best possible way. Very different for the IP, sure – but not necessarily a bad direction, for me. There have been a few side-scrolling hits with similar IP in the last few years, so hey – maybe this game will be great. I’m not sure it was huge ‘wow’ moment to finish the showcase, though.
Final Thoughts
Paul: What a showcase, to begin my announcing Kena, to close with huge God Of War news, and to sprinkle in some incredible announcements from within the first party and the broader industry as well was just the cherry on top. I felt like there was a little bit here for everyone, and all of the game’s that did feature, had their own distinct reason for being there. It wasn’t a wash of anime games, or too many games of the same genre as we’ve seen previously. This was a really balanced showcase with some incredible highs. For those who had been recently complaining about Horizon: Hunter’s Gathering, you now have your single player first party games, so you can go away now as well. A complete showcase from start to finish. PlayStation nailed this one.
Jess: I think this was definitely a more balanced showcase than the last few – there was more here for everyone to enjoy, along with a few key highlights that were true surprises – I honestly couldn’t have seen Kena coming. I’m not sure that there were as many ‘wow’ moments here for me, but it was a solid offering, and it’s good to see that Playstation do actually have a lot slated to come our way this year. Konami really coming through with some deep cuts too, which I’m sure will thrill a whole lot of people.
