Alex Birlo on August 7, 2020
Yesterday Sony hosted a smaller online showcase of State of Play. Where they focused on third party games and the smaller titles still coming to the PS4, PS VR and some more on what comes to the PS5.
The presentation was opened with deep look at the new game in the franchise.
The game is a direct sequel to “Crash Bandicoot: Warped”.
Here, the villains Neo Cortex and Dr. Entropy escape their interdimensional rift where they were imprisoned and now they are set on conquering not only their dimension but also all the others.
The developers confirmed all the new platforming features we saw in the first trailer. Players will be able to wall-run, swing on ropes, ride on rails and zip-lines.
Also, by earning gems and completing challenges, players will be able to unlock cosmetic skins for both Crash and Coco.
The developers reinforced their previous statement that there will be no microtransactions in the game.
Finally, a new game mode was announced for the game – Inverted Mode.
Inverted Mode is an expansion on the standard Mirror Mode.
Though in this one, not only the perspective is shifted, but each level is also transformed to present a new look or game play mechanic.
Some levels, for example, will become entirely submerged under water, while some may be colorless and the player will be splattering paint around them to color the level and see where to go.
The game releases on October 2, 2020 for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, next gen consoles not confirmed.
Then we saw a short new look at the next Hitman game, where IOI showed us a gameplay segment announcing that the entire “World of Assassination” trilogy will now have PlayStation VR support.
The game releases in January 2021 for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Stadia.
It is a classic platforming puzzle game where you manipulate time, released back in 2008. Now it is being remade and redesigned to look the part alongside modern games of the same genre.
The world will now look more like a living painting, with animated brushstrokes. Some areas were redesigned to look more unique and the resolution is increased to support modern standards.
The game comes out next year in 2021 for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, macOS, Windows, and Linux.
This is an amazing looking third person, open world, adventure game about the journey of a huntress and her eagle as they are trying to rid their world of manifestations of darkness.
The game leans heavily on a fluid movement system in which the player has to use the huntress bow to shoot talismans scattered around the world.
The developers wanted to emphasize the bond between the huntress and her eagle and to present him not as a tool but a friend.
Thus, the players should take good care of the eagle throughout the adventure.
You can pet and clean the eagle to keep him in good shape.
The game releases holiday 2020 for the PS4, PS5 and PC via the Epic Games Store.
Next up we had a word from the creator of “Spelunky” and finally saw some extensive gameplay footage.
The developers made sure that fans loved about the previous game will still be present but with new editions that expand and add variation to the experience.
The game is set to release on September 12, 2020 first for the PlayStation 4 and later on Steam as well.
Next was a very interesting game, often called a clone of “Breath of the Wild”, called “Genshin Impact” is a game developed by the great guys at miHoYo, the creators of “Honkai Impact”.
It is an open world RPG, the extremely lavish art style that is sure to satisfy any anime lover. It is set in the magical world of Teyvat, where the players come as a “traveler of unknown origin” searching for their lost sibling.
As players travel the world they will potentially encounter enemies with elemental affinities or obstacles that can be overcome with the usage of specific elemental magic.
The game is obviously drawing inspiration, copying and expanding on mechanics seen in “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild”.
The game is set to release autumn 2020 for the PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, iOS, Android and Nintendo Switch.
Is another anime inspired game that was demonstrated at the show.
“The ruthless, grim but colorful world looks and feels like that ridiculous action-packed anime VHS tape your parents heavily disapproved of” is how it is described on the official website of the game.
It is a “beat-em-up” with an innovative game system that constantly keeps you thinking and pushes you to be creative with how you approach every encounter.
The game is set to release somewhere in 2021 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Next up in the presentation we saw a new indie game from “ThinkingStars”.
“Anno: Mutationem” is an interesting action adventure RPG, that combines 2D side scroll platforming and fast-paced combat, with more traditional 3D exploration and interaction with NPCs.
The game is set in a beautiful cyberpunk world that instantly reminds of Ghost in the Shell.
The game will be releasing in December 2020 for the PlayStation 4, PC and Mobile platforms.
Then we saw a story trailer for “Bugsnax” and adventure game where you visit an island where bugs and animals are made of various foods.
From the trailer we know that we will be playing as a reporter that went to that island to investigate and look for that “next big story”, but ends up entangled in the inner doings of its inhabitants and hunts for snack bugs.
The game is set to release holiday 2020 for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC.
In another short trailer it was announced that the Star Wars VR series called “Vader Immortal” is coming to the PlayStation VR as well.
The game comes to PlayStation VR on August 25th, 2020.
“Awe” is the second DLC expansion for the hit game “Control” from Remedy Entertainment.
Details on the content of the DLC are shady and full of speculations.
From in-game documentation it is suggested that Control shares the same universe as Remedy’s previous mystery game “Alan Wake” as he is mentioned in several documents.
In the trailer we saw a brief glimpse of a person that is speculated to be Alan Wake and that this DLC expansion will revolve around him in some capacity.
The DLC will be releasing on August 27th, 2020.
This was the next game in line at the show.
In short, it is a game that mimics chess in a way and has a multitude of colorful characters presented as stylized chess pieces.
When placed on the field they automatically move and fight based on their preset of abilities. Requiring the player to only strategize when and which unit should enter the battle.
Auto Chess is coming to the PlayStation 4 on October 31, 2020.
This is a 2.5D side scrolling puzzle platformer.
In this game you play as a drawn character traversing the 3D environment around them by moving through drawings, pictures and public signs that you rearrange by solving puzzles in order to move forward.
The game is currently available on Steam for PC and will come for the PlayStation 4 in January 2021.
“Hood” is an ambitious new take on the PvPvE genre.
The game is set in a dark medieval world, where the people are oppressed by their rulers and the rich.
In it, rivaling gangs of outlaws and rebels are competing against each other to execute heists and take riches and power from the ruling caste.
In this game, two teams of outlaws will be racing each other to storm fortified NPC castles and various other locations, and still the treasures that lie within.
Players will have a wide variety of weaponry to choose from, both man made and magical.
Character variety will enable teams to take differing approaches when tackling the various challenges posed by the castles filled with deadly NPC soldiers and knights.
Both stealth and combat are viable options depending on character builds. And players will have a plethora of tactics to approach the game scenarios and outsmart their opponents.
The game is scheduled to release somewhere in 2021 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Temtem is a Pokemon clone that gained a lot of love since its release in early access on Steam.
It was warmly welcomed as it brings a new and interesting set of gameplay mechanics into the standard turn-based, monster-collecting combat and exploration of this type of games.
And now, the game receives a PlayStation 5 release somewhere in 2021.
Last but not least, we had a deeper look at “Godfall” a combat focused “looter-slasher” developed by “Counterplay Games”.
The game is set in a high fantasy world, which is split into elemental realms: Earth, Water, Air and Fire.
You play as a Valorian knight, a godlike warrior able to wear “Valor plates” which are special armor sets that change the way your character plays.
Your goal is to challenge a mad god that awaits you at the end.
The developers explicitly stated that all the loot in the game is unlocked only through game play. And that all content will be available in the game from the beginning – no microtransactions and now waiting for content drops.
The game comes out for the PlayStation 5 and PC on Epic Games Store Holiday 2020.
