What you own will soon be dated. Sony and Microsoft’s refusal to give the next generation of consoles even a passing mention at E3 was the loudest silence I’ve heard in years. Sure, plenty of games were shown by both parties, but make no mistake: the seventh generation has crossed the threshold and is waving goodbye (with a few parting gifts). The technical wizards at Sony are hard-at-work on their next beautiful PlayStation box, and games have already entered the development pipeline with their sights set on Launch Day 201X.
The problem is some of Sony’s biggest franchises are fast approaching sequel burnout. Sure, we’d love another rip-roaring Nathan Drake adventure with wisecracking Sully in tow, and shouldn’t Killzone 4 be at the top of any shooter fan’s list? Most definitely, but sold as part of a launch lineup, these games don’t exactly shout, “PlayStation 4 is like nothing you’ve ever seen before!” Established IP with a dedicated following can certainly boost system sales, but nothing says, “I’m worth your money” quite like a diverse, quality-driven catalog of IP both familiar and new.
To be fair, it seems that Sony already understands the power of the unfamiliar. With the exception of God of War: Ascension, the PS3’s final chips are placed on projects both new and ambitious. Dust 514 looks to be the most aggressively impactful shooter to date, and it’s bringing free-to-play gaming exclusively to the mainstream console market for the first time in history. The Last of Us will feature Naughty Dog’s character-driven approach in a mature setting that promises emotional engagement amidst getting your pants scared off by zombies. BEYOND: Two Souls looks absolutely stunning and, as an interactive drama, has very few imitators.
After these titles have come and gone, what remains? In order for “Orbis” to be a success, first- and third-party support must come to bear arms. Let’s take a look at what might be brewing in Sony’s first-party family and where they stand with some of the industry’s biggest publishers.
THE FIRST-PARTY FAMILY
Naughty Dog – Locked and loaded!
The premier Sony-owned developer has its hands full making the best post-apocalyptic game we’ve ever seen. That said, we know the Dogs split their ranks into two development teams after the release of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. While work began on Drake’s third outing, the Uncharted 2 team began concurrent development of The Last of Us. That means there is currently one team busy polishing the Joel & Ellie Variety Hour, and another that’s slowly releasing Uncharted 3 DLC. Guess which team’s getting tapped for PlayStation 4 development?
We don’t know for sure what the Uncharted 3 team is working on, but we guarantee they’ve seen the PS4 prototypes, and quite likely have their hands on an early build. After all, Naughty Dog was the first developer in the world to receive a PlayStation 2 dev kit, and the studio’s importance to Sony has grown immeasurably in the years since. Uncharted 4 is the obvious bet, but what we see from the Dogs at launch could depend on how The Last of Us sells. Having two teams to develop sequels for each franchise would allow extra development time and consecutive yearly releases, but I can’t help but yearn for what brand-new IP the creative geniuses at Naughty Dog could debut to ring in the next generation.
Guerilla Games – New and old.
Killzone 4 is undoubtedly in the works – Guerilla has said the series will continue on PS3 – but it’s a bit surprising that E3 2012 came and went without any mention of the game’s progress. Could this mean that development on Killzone 4 has been extended to coincide with the PS4’s release? It’s entirely possible, and with a Killzone game also coming to Vita, the series could afford an absence to make our hearts grow fonder. However, Guerilla is also working on a totally new IP. This should excite you. Guerilla’s ability to craft a compelling sci-fi universe is evident in the Killzone series, so if its new IP is ready on launch day to usher in the PS4, I hope the new setting and context takes advantage of the team’s talents.
Media Molecule – Anything could happen.
The house that built Sackboy is, for the moment, a total mystery. The talented ladies and gents at Media Molecule are currently assisting United Front Games with development on LittleBigPlanet Karting, but we’re anxiously waiting to see what’s next from this U.K. studio. Honestly, anything could happen for the next generation. A new iteration of LittleBigPlanet could strengthen the Play. Create. Share. mantra on the new platform, but what we’ve seen of LittleBigPlanet Vita tells us that secondary studios are plenty capable of treating the franchise with respect and producing a quality game. Personally, I hope that Media Molecule is given free rein to flex its creative muscles on something new. Imagine what the studio could accomplish with a return to its indie-minded roots, developing smaller games with an artistic focus in the vein of thatgamecompany. Speaking of whom…
thatgamecompany – Looking good!
Yes, yes, thatgamecompany has never been owned by Sony – only under contract. Furthermore, the terms of that contract are up; as of Journey’s release in March, thatgamecompany is no longer required to develop exclusively for PS3. Earlier this week, we reported on the venture capital acquired by the indie studio. This funding will allow Jenova Chen and team to publish their games for a wider (read: multi-platform) audience. Of course, there’s no need to fret – an excellent relationship between Sony and the studio all but guarantees that the team’s future titles will end up on PS4. At this point, all we can do is hope for thatgamecompany’s long and prosperous future. If it finds one, you can bet on amazing interactive experiences coming to PS4.
Sucker Punch – Something big is coming.
Without saying too much, the endings of inFAMOUS 2 leave Cole MacGrath’s future very much in flux. A proper canonical sequel seems difficult at first glance, so Sucker Punch’s next move may be an inFAMOUS prequel or side story set in the same universe. Series fans understand the various directions this could go, and such a title could be heading to PS3 or Vita at this very moment. But if there was ever a time to reveal said game, E3 2012 was it. After all, other Sony-owned studios like Bend or Santa Monica could handle development duties on another inFAMOUS – let’s see what Sucker Punch can do with new hardware and a new idea.
Sony Bend – Hard to say…
SCE Bend has wrapped up development on Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and while DLC could be in the pipeline, we expect Bend is already strapped in on their next project. Unfortunately, this one might not be primed for the next generation. Another Uncharted title could be in the works for Vita, and the commercial success of Golden Abyss is a good indicator. However, there’s plenty of time for another prequel or midquel to come down the road – after all, Vita is only four months old in North America. No, Bend has proven it deserves Sony’s trust, and a return to form with Syphon Filter is long overdue. Gabe Logan’s future is unknown after the events of Logan’s Shadow, but here’s hoping for a blockbuster return of this excellent stealth-action series – one that could take the prize for best-looking console game ever.
Japan Studio – All bets are off.
If it weren’t for the troubles facing The Last Guardian, Studio Japan and internal group Team ICO could be considered two of Sony’s strongest weapons. However, that game hasn’t shown face since 2009, and numerous studio departures have left its development in a state of flux. Sony recently confirmed that the game will only ship “when it’s absolutely ready,” so it’s hard to imagine that any meaningful work is taking place on a future title for PS4. Of course, Studio Japan is responsible for more than Team ICO’s offerings – the LocoRoco, Patapon, and Ape Escape franchises all owe their quality to the developer at large. The thought of a next-gen Ape Escape platformer that pays homage to the PlayStation original is tantalizing, but for now, we can’t count on Studio Japan to support Sony’s next platform at launch.
Polyphony Digital – You know what’s coming.
The excruciating wait, and subsequent hype, for Gran Turismo 5 sullied the game’s reception at launch, but it remains an admirable entry in Sony’s outstanding racing franchise. It’s not hard to guess what’s next for this highly-focused studio; Gran Turismo 6 is almost certainly in development and headed to PS4. Of course, it’s hard to imagine the game will be ready for the system’s launch; a nearly seven-year development cycle for GT5 would place its sequel releasing sometime in 2017. Regardless, Polyphony can be counted on to deliver an awesome simulation experience for car nuts and hardcore PlayStation fans alike. We can’t wait to see how the next generation of hardware treats Gran Turismo.
Sony Santa Monica – A whole heap of awesome.
The incredible diversity to come out of Sony Santa Monica this generation is interactive proof of their value to Sony. The experienced branch has developed and contributed to an alarming number of games through its internal teams and external incubation of indie talent. From God of War III to Starhawk, from the PixelJunk series to the works of thatgamecompany; if it’s an awesome PlayStation exclusive, chances are Sony Santa Monica is behind it. With every release, Santa Monica extends the reach of its talent umbrella, so we fully expect a whole heap of awesome when PS4 arrives. Santa Monica’s repertoire is so extensive that it’s hard to pick a likely title, but the PlayStation Nation will be winners regardless.
THE THIRD-PARTY ELITE
System exclusives are a big deal, and Sony’s are the very best around. However, a well-rounded console needs an equal amount of multi-platform support. After all, third-party blockbusters are the biggest moneymakers in the industry. We’ve covered our first-party bases, so before we close, let’s take a quick look at where Sony stands with a few key publishers.
Activision – Not too shabby!
Sure, the biggest publisher in the industry has been in Microsoft’s pocket before – one glance at Call of Duty’s DLC release schedule is proof of that – but there’s no bad blood with Sony here. Activision’s biggest franchises sell extremely well on PlayStation 3, and a Call of Duty entry is coming exclusively to Vita later this year. DLC exclusivity may continue in the next generation, but as long as Activision keeps liking money, PlayStation gamers are in the clear.
EA – An ally with exclusives.
Crysis 3. Dead Space 3. Need for Speed Most Wanted. EA is bringing some eagerly-anticipated titles to PS3 and, unlike Activision, are more than willing to give PlayStation gamers some perks. Exclusive content for SSX and early access to Battlefield 3 expansions are a hopeful sign for Sony’s relationship with EA moving forward. It’s perhaps telling that EA has decided to publish Insomniac Games’ first multi-platform outing. We’re excited for Overstrike, and if EA keeps the exclusive goodies coming, we’re equally excited for what they bring to PS4.
Ubisoft – A great relationship!
If E3 2012 is any indication, Ubisoft has a lot of confidence in the PlayStation brand. The thrilling naval battles of Assassin’s Creed III were revealed for the first time at Sony’s press conference, right before an exclusive standalone title in Ubi’s biggest franchise was announced for PS Vita. In the last few years, Ubisoft has shown that they’ll openly support any platform while more cautious publishers play Follow the Leader. For this reason, PlayStation gamers will continue to enjoy Ubisoft’s enthusiastic offerings for the foreseeable future.
Epic Games – Could be better…
Epic’s current relationship with Sony is a tumultuous affair. On the one hand, Epic’s Unreal Engine has powered more multi-platform hits than I care to count and almost always plays nice with PS3 hardware. Hell, once upon a time Sony even claimed some exclusivity with the early release of Unreal Tournament 3 and mod support that could only be found on PlayStation. But that was then, and today, Epic Games is best-known for developing Gears of War – one of Xbox 360’s biggest exclusive franchises. To presume that Epic is in Microsoft’s pocket would be boorish, so we’ll stay cautiously optimistic looking forward. Still, its willingness to choose one platform and forsake the other cannot be ignored.
Valve – Hope for the future.
Valve is something of a wild card in the console race. The makers of Half-Life, Portal, and Left 4 Dead were once hesitant to support the PS3, but time and effort spent by Sony to win them over has paid off. On PS3, Portal 2 includes a digital copy of the game for Valve’s Steam service and cross-platform co-op with PC. Xbox Live is notoriously stingy with this kind of cross-pollination, so we’re glad to see that Valve has found a comfortable partner in PlayStation. The next generation should bring even more good news, as we gear up for greater connectivity with Steam and Steamworks. Could we see mod support for some of the industry’s biggest titles through the latter? We sure hope so – the wealth of excellent fan-made content out there is staggering and would be a killer bullet point in PS4 advertising.
By all accounts, Sony looks primed and ready for the next generation of console hardware. In the push to sell systems, a strong launch lineup cannot be understated. Sony gets this, and while some of its studios are toiling away on another batch of awesome PS3 titles, others are gearing up to bring you more of that exclusive PlayStation goodness when “Orbis” finally lands. Thankfully, Sony’s third-party relationships look strong as well. Indeed, the future looks very bright for PlayStation fans everywhere.
You’ve heard our speculation, but we want to know what you think. What are your predictions and wishes for the future of PlayStation? What games do you hope your favorite studios are working on? Is our analysis full of crap? Join the conversation and let us know in the comments below.