As we inch ever closer to E3, there are still plenty of predictions left to be made. This year, on the brink of a new generation of consoles, all eyes will fall squarely on the PS4 during Sony’s presentation. But, the PlayStation brand is made up of more than just a new console, so there are plenty of reasons to look forward to news about upcoming PS3 and PS Vita titles as well. Hopefully, Sony will come to E3 with more than just sequels to their most popular brands. A new console generation is the perfect reason to introduce original titles to the PlayStation lineup. With that said, here’s a sneak peek of what to look forward to from Sony at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo:
What to expect: Much like Microsoft, Sony has promised an E3 presentation that focuses squarely on the software; so if there’s one thing we can expect: It’s games, games, games. The obvious stage demos that will get some screen time during their presentation will assuredly include Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack, and inFamous: Second Son. These titles, originally shown off during the PS4’s announcement back in February, will undoubtedly have lengthy gameplay trailers that provide much more detail about what to expect when they launch. Being the only original IP in the bunch, it’s easy to be most intrigued by Knack, an action-adventure title seemingly reminiscent of the 3D puzzle-platformers of generations past. It’s also safe to assume that these flagship PS4 titles will also make the most use of the next-gen console’s latest social features; so be sure to look out for how Sony will use the stage time to demonstrate how these new features seamlessly integrate into the core gaming experience. We should also hear some news about the upcoming project from Media Molecule, but it’s less likely we’ll get a stage demo and more likely we’ll get a whimsical teaser video featuring toe-tappingly cheerful melodies and some unique innovations on the user-created content front.
Another aspect of Sony’s presentation will focus on keeping the PS3 relevant. They’ll easily accomplish this feat by showing new gameplay segments for two of their most anticipated exclusive titles: The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls. Naughty Dog’s new survival-thriller will be launching smack in the middle of E3, so you can be sure they’ll put on a good show to convince any fence-sitters that The Last of Us is a must-purchase. As for Beyond: Two Souls, it’s been a fair while since Quantic Dream teased any substantial new details about their latest project, so E3 will bring us not only a new demo, but at least one new detail about the game that will add another layer of depth to the project. If Quantic Dream really wants to turn some heads, they’ll need to prove that Beyond is a much more physically engaging experience than Heavy Rain, which discouraged many potential buyers with a heavy focus on quick-time button prompts and very little in terms of traditional gameplay.
With today’s industry having to appeal to both core gamers and casuals alike, you can expect that Sony will have to devote some time to showing off the latest Eye Toy games as well as any new peripherals they want to introduce alongside the PS4. With that in mind, there will likely be a new Wonderbook title shown off. Beyond that, Sony will assuredly have a new sports compilation or some sort of entry-level motion gaming experience available at launch with the PS4.
This year, Sony will be pushing hard to bring the PS Vita into more homes. Look for them to bill the device as more than just a companion to the PS3/PS4, but a darn-near necessity if you want to truly experience the most out of your PlayStation experience. Cross-play will play a major role in their bid to make the Vita look desirable, so there will likely be a new Invizimals game that features cross-play support. We will also hear an update on the status of Warrior’s Lair, with Sony probably bringing a new demo to reinforce how seamless the cross-play experience is.
In terms of previously announced titles that will be shown off in some form or another, Sony’s presentation will also relay new information about Drive Club, Diablo III, Gran Turismo 6, and Capcom’s mysterious Deep Down; a fantasy action-adventure more infamously known as “that game running on the ‘panty raid’ engine.” It’s also been confirmed by Bungie that Destiny will appear during Sony’s presentation to show off the world’s first glimpse of gameplay footage in action. If you’ll recall from the PS4 announcement, Bungie also promised the PS4 version of Destiny will include exclusive content, so expect some more details concerning the specifics of what that bonus content entails.
Finally, and you knew this was coming, Square Enix will take the stage and deliver two pieces of what we can only pray will amount to more than the traditional non-news they’ve been feeding everyone for years concerning the statuses of the latest Final Fantasy project, as well as the ever-elusive wet dream oft referred to as The Last Guardian. Square Enix has already promised real news about The Last Guardian scheduled for E3, and they curiously took the stage during the PS4 announcement to, well, announce an upcoming announcement at E3 about a new Final Fantasy project. As expected, the rumor mill has been churning out all types of speculation since then; hypothesizing everything from Final Fantasy 13 Versus being rebranded into Final Fantasy 15, to the likely scenario that The Last Guardian is being shifted to a PS4 exclusive without a PS3 release. To be honest, I don’t know what to believe anymore, so all I want at this point is some sort of concrete news about anything Square Enix is working on besides HD remakes of previous Final Fantasy titles. Oh, and to those ever-vigilant fans who have yet to give up on the dream of a remastered Final Fantasy VII, I can only say this: I promise you, it will release the same year as the second season of Firefly. (Keep hope alive!)
Wish list: My wish list for Sony this year is actually pretty viable, so my expectations are high yet quietly reserved. The first thing I want is the announcement of a new entry in the Ratchet & Clank: Future series. I didn’t think I could love the Ratchet franchise any more than I already did, and then the PS3 punched me in the face with a little heartbreaker known as the Future series. Since Tools of Destruction, literally not a day has gone by where I haven’t thought about a sequel and how much I want to continue Ratchet’s crazy space adventures alongside Clank and Captain Qwark. I don’t even need to see gameplay footage or hear a year-one release date on the PS4; all I want is confirmation that Insomniac Games is working on the game to be satisfied.
If Sony doesn’t want to deliver more Ratchet & Clank, maybe they’ll give me a second helping of Kat and Dusty. Gravity Rush 2 needs to be a thing, and it has to happen sooner rather than later. The PS Vita breaks my heart because it has a few absolutely phenomenal games, but not enough to warrant the Vita’s high price tag when convincing someone they should buy the portable device. If Sony wants to convince PS4 buyers that the Vita is a must-have accessory to complete the experience, they should start by announcing Gravity Rush 2. I just… I just want more. Is that so wrong?
That’s going to wrap up today’s E3 Predictions. In short, Sony is going to bring their A-game because this year they need to convince everyone they should be buying a PS4, including the Vita as the perfect complimentary device. There will be a ton of high-profile announcements, and at least a couple surprises, so make sure to tune in to the live presentation as it happens on June 10 at 9:00 PM EST.
What are you looking forward to most out of Sony’s E3 2013 conference? Are you happy just to hear about the latest sequel to your favorite franchises, or are you hoping for a few brand new IPs? Be honest, who’s going to cry if we don’t hear an official announcement and release date for The Last Guardian? Let us know in the comments section, and don’t forget to like IGXPro on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or give us the ‘ol +1 on Google+. And if you can’t get enough of my shenanigans, (who could blame you?) you can check me out @GamingsNirvana, or add +VinnyParisi to your circles.