E3 2017 is just around the corner, and all eyes are on Sony for scoring a hat trick by delivering another knockout press conference following its stellar offerings the past two years. We’ve already got a good idea of what to realistically expect from the format holder (some games haven’t been shown off in nearly a year, so they’re well overdue an appearance), but E3 is well known for being the stage for many bombshells over the years, so there’s bound to be some surprises in store too.
Of course, there’s the little matter of Microsoft unveiling the Xbox Scorpio at this year’s event ahead of its holiday 2017 release. Sony doesn’t have any aces up its sleeves in regards to hardware (at least, not that we’re aware of), so how could they bite back? By showing off these 5 games, that’s how!
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Resident Evil 2 Remake
Capcom has been alarmingly quiet on its planned revamp of 1998’s seminal horror romp as of late. Announced back in August 2015, the Resident Evil 2 Remake has been in production for almost two years, and we’ve yet to see anything on the highly anticipated project since that time, bar a mockup logo. We do know, however, that Capcom is planning on launching a major title by March 31, 2018, and with Resident Evil 2’s 20th anniversary looming next year, there’s every reason to believe the game is on track to hit shops around early next year. Sony’s presser would make an ideal platform to unveil the game, as classic Resi was very much synonymous with the PlayStation brand back in the late 90s. If anything, it would be great to see what direction Capcom is taking with the game; will Resi 2 Remake dazzle with sumptuous pre-rendered backdrops ala old-school Resi, or adhere to the more recent games and go a Resi 4-style camera?
New Sucker Punch game
The developer behind inFAMOUS is known to be heavily beavering away on a brand new IP for some time now, although each instance we hear about a possible reveal it never materialises. However, with the Sony-owned studio not having shipped a game since inFAMOUS Last Light in 2014, we think the time is ripe to announce what the company has been up to all this time, and Sony’s E3 presser would be the perfect opportunity to come out all guns blazing with a slick debut trailer. We’re intrigued to find out what Sucker Punch has in store: Will it go down the open-world route like the inFAMOUS games, or will they decide to adopt a more linear, narrative-driven approach? We can’t wait to find out.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Yes, it’s an obvious choice, but you have to remember that Final Fantasy 7 Remake hasn’t shown its face at E3 since its unveiling two years ago, and we haven’t see anything on the game since PlayStation Experience 2015. That’s a long time to wait without seeing how Cloud’s epic adventure is shaping up. As such, what better way to give a solid update on the project than some raw gameplay footage during Sony’s content-packed presser? Square Enix has been busy working on FF7 Remake for a while now, so perhaps it’s about time we could see some other characters in action, and perhaps new areas beyond Midgar? If combat’s on the cards, it would be fitting to catch a look at one of the game’s iconic summons in 1080p glory on PS4, or perhaps closing with that infamous scene of Sephiroth walking through a blazing Nibleheim. Jaws would drop.
Bloodborne 2
One of the hottest rumors to have popped up in the months prior to E3, Bloodborne 2 would definitely be a showstopper if it were to put in an appearance at Sony’s shindig in Los Angeles next month. The original game, masterminded buy the same team that brought us the devilishly tough Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls, was arguably one of the best games to hit Sony’s flagship telly box since its launch, and frequently graces many Top 10 lists. Bloodborne’s slightly more user-friendly combat gave it a more action-packed edge, but still adhered to its sumptuously-realised gothic design of its spiritual predecessors and packed a suitable challenge to boot. While Bloodborne worked fine as a standalone, it would be disingenuous of us to say that a sequel wouldn’t be welcomed with open arms.
Shenmue 1 & 2 HD
Now that Yu Suzuki has made his dream a reality and is chiselling away on Shenmue 3 for PS4, it’s about time SEGA did the obvious and let us revisit the original games in glorious high-definition. Ryu Hazuki’s revenge epic attracted only a niche audience upon its Dreamcast launch, so the chance for a wider circle of gamers to experience the cult classics via a PS4 HD update is an opportunity too good to miss out on. Sony’s press conference would be a great platform to announce the Shenmue HD bundle, given that Suzuki-san previously used E3 2015 as the stage to launch the Shenmue 3 Kickstarter. We know that SEGA has registered a trademark for Shenmue recently, and the latest rumors have suggested the collection is indeed real and being prepped for a launch in late 2017. Hopefully it won’t be long before we’re racing forklift trucks in the harbor and laying the smackdown Hazuki-style upon legions of punks in Hong Kong’s back streets.