The PlayStation State of Play Was Solid, But Not Exciting - Beyond 883
Digest
This IGN podcast episode dissects Sony's State of Play 2025 presentation, covering numerous game reveals and announcements. Highlights include the new Housemarque title *Saros*, a 3D roguelike; *Days Gone* remaster with a new horde mode; *Borderlands 4*, shifting from its cel-shaded style; *Directive 8020*, a space horror game from Supermassive Games; *Minds Eye*, an open-world game from a former Rockstar North director; the *Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake* with David Hayter returning; *Sonic Racing Crossworlds* with track-switching mechanics; *Lies of P* DLC; *Tides of Annihilation*, a dual-reality action-adventure; and *Metal Eden*, a fast-paced FPS. The hosts express excitement for many titles but disappointment over the lack of substantial news regarding *Bloodborne* and the relatively small amount of first-party PlayStation Studios reveals. Significant discussion surrounds the upcoming *Wolverine* game from Insomniac Games, questioning how its open-world design will differ from their *Spider-Man* titles. The podcast also briefly promotes IGN FanFest. Overall, the hosts offer a mixed reaction, praising the release dates and some surprises while criticizing the reliance on third-party titles and the lack of deeper dives into key PlayStation Studios projects. The format and frequency of State of Play events are also questioned.
Outlines
Sony State of Play 2025: Game Reveals and Initial Reactions
IGN's post-show covers Sony's State of Play, analyzing reveals for Saros, Days Gone remaster, Borderlands 4, Directive 8020, Minds Eye, Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake, Sonic Racing Crossworlds, Lies of P DLC, Tides of Annihilation, and Metal Eden. Discussions include gameplay, graphics, and release dates. Strong anticipation for Bloodborne is also noted, though ultimately absent.
IGN FanFest Announcement and Continued State of Play Discussion
A brief announcement promoting IGN's upcoming FanFest precedes a return to discussing the PlayStation reveals from the State of Play, focusing on initial reactions and excitement levels.
PlayStation State of Play Reaction: Wolverine and Open-World Concerns
Detailed reactions to the State of Play showcase, focusing on the lack of Wolverine details and the potential challenges of creating a successful open-world Wolverine game. Mixed feelings are expressed, balancing excitement for other titles with concerns about the game's design.
Final State of Play Assessment and Future Expectations
The hosts offer their final thoughts on the State of Play, acknowledging positive aspects like release dates and surprises, but expressing a desire for more substantial reveals from PlayStation Studios and less reliance on third-party titles. The format and frequency of State of Play events are discussed.
Keywords
Saros
New game from Housemarque, described as "Eternal-adjacent," a 3D roguelike with a focus on bigger scale than Returnal. Features Role-Coli as the protagonist. Release date: 2026.
Roguelike
A genre of video game characterized by procedural generation, permadeath, and replayability. Often features challenging gameplay and a focus on exploration and discovery.
Days Gone Remaster
A remastered version of the PlayStation 4 game Days Gone, featuring enhanced graphics and a new horde mode. A $10 upgrade path is available for existing owners.
Borderlands 4
The next installment in the Borderlands series, featuring faster-paced gameplay, new mechanics (possibly a grappling hook), and a shift in visual style from the cel-shaded aesthetic of previous games. Release date: September 23rd.
Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake
A remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, featuring updated graphics and gameplay. Features the return of David Hayter as the voice of Snake. Release date: 2025.
Wolverine Video Game
An upcoming video game featuring the Marvel character Wolverine, developed by Insomniac Games. Its potential open-world design and gameplay mechanics are discussed, comparing it to Insomniac's successful Spider-Man games.
PlayStation State of Play
A recurring video presentation by PlayStation showcasing upcoming games. This episode discusses the recent showcase, highlighting both positive and negative aspects of the reveals.
Insomniac Games
A renowned video game developer known for titles like Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank. Their upcoming Wolverine game is a major focus of this podcast episode.
Open-World Game Design
A game design approach where players can explore a large, interconnected game world. The podcast discusses the challenges and possibilities of applying this design to a Wolverine game.
Q&A
What were some of the most anticipated game reveals from Sony's State of Play?
The most anticipated reveals included the announcements of Saros, Borderlands 4, Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake, and the potential (though ultimately absent) reveal of a new Bloodborne title. Many were also excited about the new IPs like Tides of Annihilation and Minds Eye.
What was the overall sentiment of the hosts towards the State of Play presentation?
While the hosts were generally positive about the numerous game reveals and release dates provided, there was a significant amount of disappointment surrounding the lack of any news regarding Bloodborne, despite it being its 10th anniversary. The abundance of games with release dates was seen as a positive, however.
What were the hosts' overall feelings about the PlayStation State of Play showcase?
Mixed. While pleased with some reveals and release dates, they were disappointed by the lack of substantial news from PlayStation Studios, particularly concerning Wolverine, and felt the showcase relied too heavily on third-party titles.
What are some of the challenges in creating a Wolverine video game, according to the hosts?
Adapting Wolverine's character and story into a successful open-world format similar to the Spider-Man games is a significant challenge. The hosts question how to incorporate world-building elements and missions in a way that fits Wolverine's personality and story.
Which games generated the most discussion and excitement among the hosts?
Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake generated significant excitement due to the return of David Hayter and the high expectations for a faithful and polished remake. Borderlands 4 and Saros also sparked considerable discussion about their gameplay and visual styles. The unique premise of Tides of Annihilation and the unexpected weirdness of Dreams of Another also drew considerable attention.
Show Notes
Sony’s first PlayStation State of Play showcased almost thirty new games (or updates for existing games) but still left us feeling a bit disappointed. The reveal of Housemarque’s Saros, a PS5 remaster of Days Gone, and a long overdue release date for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater were highlights, along with some proper reveals of relative unknown projects like the fast-paced FPS Metal Eden, the Arthurian Soulslike/Shadow of the Colossus-like Tides of Annihilation and Mindseye, the cyberpunk action adventure project from Grand Theft Auto series veteran Leslie Benzies. Borderlands fans have a Borderlands 4 State of Play to look forward to. Devil May Cry fans are likely going to be kept busy by Lost Soul Aside. Anyone feeling stranded without Death Stranding 2: On The Beach might appreciate the creepy vibes of Hell is Us. If you puppets, there’s Lies of P: Overture DLC, if you like cephalapods, there’s the octopuzzle-platformer Darwin’s Paradox, if you like pretty ladies in fancy outfits, there’s a Stellar Blade and Nikke: Goddess of Victory crossover, and if you’ve ever wanted to shoot a cloud with a gun and make it turn into something less abstract, there’s Dreams of Another.
This week’s show is Max Scoville, Jada Griffin, Brian Altano, and is produced by Nick Maillet.
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