With E3 2014 just around the corner, and Sony’s press conference due to kick off on June 9, speculation is rife about which new games will be announced, whether some previously-announced titles will be available in playable form, and whether PlayStation Vita will even be mentioned at all.
The truth is that none of us know the answers to these questions, but that hasn’t stopped us from salivating at the possibilities.
Check out these 25 predictions.
– – – – – – – –
1. The Sony press conference will kick off with a jaw-dropping, on-stage gameplay demo for Uncharted 4 which, despite rumours to the contrary, will include the return of series protagonist, Nathan Drake, complete with some crazy, cinematic set pieces. “This can’t be in-game footage, can it?”
2. Media Molecule will take to the stage at the Sony press conference to announce its new IP with a brief tech demo. At the PlayStation Meeting in February 2013, MM revealed that it was working with PS4 tech and motion controls. Rumours are rife that it will involve Project Morpheus, Sony Computer Entertainment’s prototype virtual reality (VR) system. This will coincide with the launch date announcement for Morpheus, predicted as Q1 2015. It’s too early to reveal a price tag for the headset but MM’s demo will whet our appetite nicely.
Project Morpheus sure to be highlighted by Sony
3. Some rumours suggest that PS Vita TV, which launched in Japan in November, will be confirmed for a western release. This won’t happen. Instead, Sony will push PlayStation Now like its life depends on it. Sony will confirm pricing, plans for Europe and some of the titles that will be available, including the Uncharted trilogy. Could consumers eventually buy a new PlayStation SKU, a disc-less solution that will incorporate the PlayStation Now streaming solution and digital-only titles?
4. There will be a section of the Sony press conference dedicated to Indie games, emphasising the way Sony has embraced the movement. Some people will yawn and others will be excited. The emphasis will be on the diversity and quality of these games, subliminally suggesting that Vita doesn’t need triple-A titles and never has! Expect footage of some recent well-received titles such as Transistor, alongside some future titles such as The Witness and Chasm.
5. The Last of Us Remastered for PS4 is briefly showcased detailing some of the enhancements that have been made over the original. Yep, it looks mighty fine! Though the team is pondering a new IP, there’s no rush just yet… not when there’s a bucketload of cash to be made over the summer with The Last of Us PS4 and Uncharted 4’s imminent arrival.
Continued overleaf…
@page
6. Expect a section of Sony’s E3 conference to be taken up by Driveclub with an extended demo to whet our appetites ahead of its October release, just in case you somehow forgot about it.
7. Gran Turismo 7: Prologue will be revealed for PS4. It will be a re-mastered version of Gran Turismo 6 rendered in 1080p. The release window will also be confirmed.
Gran Turismo for PS4 with better visuals and silky smooth frame-rates
8. Sony Santa Monica will showcase a brief look at God of War 4 thanks to a stunning CGI trailer complete with rippling muscles that glisten with sweat and freaks so ugly that they make that disgusting Cyclops beast in God of War Ascension look like an oil painting. We wouldn’t be surprised to hear of PlayStation Now integration with some God of War games too, or even the God of War Ascension PS4 Edition.
9. Killzone creator Guerrilla Games will take to the stage to show a short gameplay demo of a brand new sci-fi themed I.P. This will be an open-world RPG that will include futuristic cowboys, armoured robots and breathtaking landscapes. Guerrilla will also reveal some of the factions that will be at war with each other in the game, as well as unveil some of the features.
10. Sony will view Bungie’s upcoming FPS Destiny as a chance to sell more PS4 consoles. Expect the announcement of an exclusive PlayStation 4 bundle, which will include a Destiny-branded DualShock 4 controller. Though it would be nice to see a price reduction for the PS4, we think it’s unlikely. The Vita on the other hand, well, Sony would be foolish not to cut it.
Continued overleaf…
@page
11. Sony London will announce a new game in the WipEout series, which will be followed by sustained applause. Following the closure of original WipEout developer Studio Liverpool, the official Twitter page hinted that the franchise isn’t dead yet. "WE. ARE. ALIVE." they posted. Let’s see it at E3 2014.
12. Sony Bend will announce the triumphant return of Syphon Filter exclusively for PS4, or possibly even Vita considering its past work on Sony handhelds. The third-person shooter stealth series hasn’t made an appearance since 2007 where the PSP version was well-received by critics. Expect a heavy focus on multiplayer.
13. The Last Guardian is still in development. Yes, really. Despite being announced and disappearing into the ether in 2009, Team ICO will tease us again showcasing a trailer for the game to build hype. The trailer will end with the words “Coming 2015.” People will shake their heads in disbelief.
Expect massive cheers if this one sees the light of day
14. Ah, nothing new from Rockstar just yet. Grand Theft Auto 5 will be confirmed for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with a release window announced. Rockstar will not showcase its stealth-action game Agent, or Red Dead Redemption 2.
15. Resident Evil 7 will be announced with a trailer that will introduce some brand new protagonists. Co-op will be ditched, the inventory system re-worked and Resident Evil 7 will be portrayed as heading back to its original survival horror series roots with scary enemies, tighter environments and improved puzzles. PSU Senior Editor and massive Resident Evil fan Mike Harradence will faint. We know Capcom has something major to show at E3. It’s either this, or could it be a new Dino Crisis game?
Continued overleaf…
@page
16. Electronic Arts will showcase Mass Effect 4, revealing a brand new name, a short trailer and a release date of 2015. The trailer will show off some brand new races across the series’ typical sci-fi setting. It will look like all the other Mass Effects, albeit a little shinier with great facial animations.
17 Ubisoft will demonstrate Assassins Creed Unity and exclusive PS4 content will be announced. Louis XVI will feature as well as Napolean Bonaparte, and people’s heads will start spinning again as we’re treated to a barrage of historical facts/fantasy amidst explosions and time travel craziness.
18. Battlefield Hardline gets its first major showcase. DICE and Visceral Games will take to the stage to showcase single player and multiplayer gameplay, humouring the fact that the game was leaked ahead of E3 2014. It’s a bold new direction for the series and people will go wild for it. Looking forward to this one.
A massive and exciting change of direction for the Battlefield series
19. From Software’s dark fantasy game Project Beast is revealed as a PlayStation 4 exclusive. The Dark Souls creator will reveal the official name for the title alongside an approximate release date. The game will be a sequel to Demon’s Souls and will be the hardest game ever to be released, bar none.
20. EA reveals more about Mirror’s Edge 2, showcasing a more open-world environment, as well as co-op and multiplayer modes. The physics look outstanding. People will be ducking in the auditorium as the sound of smashing glass echoes all around them.
Continued overleaf…
@page
21. Ready at Dawn will reveal more The Order: 1886 gameplay footage, this time focusing on the high level of destruction that can be shown in the game and showcasing the power of its in-house physics engine.
22. Mortal Kombat 10 will be officially unveiled following weeks of teasing by NetherRealm Studios’ Director, Ed Boon. We’ll see the return of some familiar characters, alongside new fighters. The developer will bathe in the controversy of some shocking fatalities, while the audience will squeal with delight.
23. New details for Kingdom Hearts 3 will be revealed, alongside a firm release date for Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix. Kingdom Hearts 3 will receive a launch window of Q1 2015.
Will we see Kingdom Hearts III? We certainly hope so
24. Dishonoured, Arkane Studio’s stealth action-adventure, will have a sequel announced. As one of the hottest titles of 2012, Dishonoured 2 is almost certainly in the works and what better time to showcase it to the world than at the universe’s biggest gaming expo?
25. Deus Ex Human Revolution 2 (or Deus Ex 4) will be revealed. We believe the game has already been in the works for a couple of years and was originally intended to be a PS4 launch title. We reckon the developer is still way off launch, but expect a teaser.
Those are our predictions for now. If you have any rumours or predictions you’d like to share, or E3 dreams you’d like to come true, do let us know in the comments below.