Today, PlayStation held the first State of Play of the new year showcasing new updates and deep dives for 10 games coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. This includes new game announcements and updates on the third-party and indie titles that were shown during the PS5 showcase last year such as Returnal, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Solar Ash, and Oddworld: Soulstorm. Here is a recap of everything that was showcased during this State of Play.
The PlayStation 5 enhancements for Crash Bandicoot 4: Out of Time were revealed. Alongside Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, Crash Bandicoot 4: Out of Time is making the leap to next-gen.
The game on PS5 will take full advantage of the hardware with improved graphics and performance running at native 4k 60 fps, enhanced 3D audio, and the use of the Adaptive Triggers. You can also utilize the Activity Cards feature and track your progress. Owners of Crash Bandicoot 4: Out of Time on PlayStation 4 either physical or digital can upgrade for free to the enhanced PS5 version at no additional cost. The PlayStation 5 version will be released on March 12, 2021.
Returnal is set to release exclusively on PlayStation 5 on April 30. Today, PlayStation and developer HouseMarque provided a more in-depth look at the gameplay and story that players can look forward to.
Returnal features fast-pased action as players have to dash and quickly maneuver around enemies in order to survive. The game will have a large number of enemies that each have a vast number of unique move sets that will challenge players. One of the main features of Returnal is that when you die and restart, the world changes. The map will be different and enemies will appear in new locations and in different numbers.
The new footage also showed more of Returnal’s narrative which revolves around Celine, an Astrascout who crash lands on an alien planet called Atropos after receiving a mysterious signal called White Shadow.
Knockout City was revealed during the latest Nintendo Direct. This is a game where you team up with your friends to take down rival crews in epic dodgeball fights. More details were given about the gameplay and modes that players can look forward to playing on May 21.
The basics of the game come down to throwing and catching. If you can catch a ball with perfect timing, you’ll power it up and make it faster when you throw it back at an opponent. You can also perform trick shots to lob over obstacles or curve around corners. Players can even become a ball themselves and your teammates can launch you in the air and you’ll be able to crash back down and cause a huge, instant KO explosion.
Alongside the different ways to throw a ball, there will be special balls that can be found throughout a match. These range from the bomb ball which starts ticking when you pick it up and explodes after a short time to the cage ball that traps your opponents. Other examples include the moon ball that will make you jump higher and can send your opponents flying and the sniper ball that locks on to an enemy far across the map and snaps to them at crazy speeds.
Each map will feature unique mechanics too. High winds in Rooftop Rumble will boost your glider forward, a wrecking ball can fling you or your opponents in Consussion Yard, Back Alley Brawl will have tubes that players can use to travel across the map, and more.
There are different game modes to choose from. The standard game mode is called Team KO, a multi-round 3v3 match. Face Off is a 1v1 battle that is played in a shrinking battlefield. 20 new playlists will be introduced by the end of the year.
If you’re interested in trying the game out, the developers announced a cross-play beta that will take place April 2-4.
Sifu is a new game set to come out in 2021 by developer Sloclap, the team behind Absolver. Coming to PS4 and PS5, Sifu is a third-person action game featuring intense kung-fu combat with unprecedented authenticity.
The single-player experience puts players in control of a young kung-fu student who has dedicated his very soul to vengeance after his family was murdered by a squad of mysterious assassins. The student will rely on his kung fu skills as well as a magical pendent that revives him upon death. However, there is a cost: the student gets older every time he comes back to life.
The quest for vengeance will take the kung fu student through the hidden corners of the city, from the gang-ridden suburbs to cold hallways of corporate towers. Careful positioning and clever use of the environment are keys to survival. You can use throwable objects, makeshift weapons, windows, and ledges at your disposal.
Throughout the game, you will learn from your errors, unlock unique skills, and find the strength within to master the devastating techniques of Pak-Mei kung fu.
Solar Ash is a third-person action platformer developed by Heart Machine who made Hyper Light Drifter. The game will feature a massive scale and a focus on fluidity in movement.
Players will play as Rei, a Voidrunner who is trying to save her home. In order to do so, she has to travel to a massive black hole that swallows entire worlds called the Ultravoid. Rei is equipped with incredible speed, agility, and other tools to help her on her mission.
She can cover vast distances surfing across the ashen clouds, seemingly grapple across gaps and huge vertical spaces, and gracefully grind on rails to reach greater heights and secret enclaves. Combat is fluid, simple, and satisfying as Rei has to fight creatures that get larger and more twisted as you progress through the game. Solar Void is coming later this year to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
The first gameplay was revealed for Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach. The game takes place in the Mega Pizza Plex, an enormous location compared to the previous games in the series.
Oddworld: Soulstorm has players reprising the role of Abe the Mudokon, accidental hero turned leader of a growing revolution.
Soulstorm features a massive scale and weird and wonderful 2.9D environments filled with breathtaking visuals. The game will take advantage of the DualSense controller and have haptic feedback, letting you be able to feel Abe’s heartbeat during the suspense-filled action sequences.
As you progress through the game and try and save other Mudokons, they can help solve puzzles and fight off those who stand in your path. Abe can also take control of your foes with the power of possession, using their strength and weapons against them.
Oddworld: Soulstorm will release on PS4 and PS5 on April 6. PlayStation Plus owners can get the game for free for PlayStation 5 as it will be one of the games available for April 2021.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits was first revealed during the PS5 showcase back in June. The new trailer showcased during today’s State of Play provided a new look at gameplay and the story.
The game’s release date was also revealed. Kena: Bridge of Spirits will be released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on August 24, 2021.
Pre-orders are now available. The Standard Edition costs $39.99 and the Digital Deluxe Edition will cost $49.99. All editions entitle you to both the digital PS4 and PS5 versions of the game. A special pack of celebration hats will be available to you in-game. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the digital soundtrack, a unique silver staff, and golden rot skin.
The latest trailer for Deathloop reveals new footage of the game as well as a new target named “Ramblin” Frank Spicer. The new trailer also showcases the new original song Deja Vu. The song combines a classic 1960’s spy-film-inspired tune with the peculiar themes of Blackreef island. The song was made by Sencit Music featuring FJORA.
The devs also spoke more on what went into making the sounds of Blackreef. “Along with the different visual influences in each district, we wanted to ensure players would hear different things between the different regions of the island,” says Audio Director Michel Tremouiller. “The scores of each district are changed by the architecture and vibe of that particular location, as well as the Visionaries that call those areas home. Where Aleksis’ Updaam is all psyche-rock and vintage sci-fi tones, an area like Frank Spicer’s home of Fristad Rock will be more melancholic guitars swaying to the rhythm of the waves.”
Deathloop launches on PlayStation 5 on May 21, 2021.
Lastly, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade was announced. It’s an enhanced and expanded version of Final Fantasy VII Remake with visual optimizations, photo mode, and a new episode featuring Yuffie.
The new visual optimizations have increased the expressiveness of the game’s lighting, texture, and environments. There is also the ability to switch between “Graphics Mode” which prioritizes high-quality 4k graphics and “Performance Mode” which prioritizes smooth action at 60 fps.
Players who own Final Fantasy VII Remake for PlayStation 4 can upgrade to the PS4 version for free and carry their save data over. However, players will have to purchase the new episode featuring Yuffie separately. The pre-order bonus for the game features Yuffie’s weapon “Cacstar” which you can use in the new episode. The Digital Deluxe version of the game will include a digital artbook and a digital mini soundtrack.