Why The PlayStation Showcase Isn't A State Of Play | Screen Rant
The new console generation has felt a bit slow, and it's still going to be some time until games completely move on from the last-gen systems, but PlayStation owners have something to look forward to with the upcoming PlayStation Showcase - which won't bear the State of Play label. Sony once again opted not to join E3 this year, so many expected some announcements from the company soon, but it's a little odd that this upcoming presentation isn't being branded as a State of Play.
PlayStation seems to use these two labels almost interchangeably, but looking at this year's State of Plays might help differentiate the two. The most recent State of Play in July was primarily for Deathloop, offering an extended look at the game's setting, Blackreef Island. Before that, in May, Horizon Forbidden West had its gameplay reveal. April's State of Play highlight was Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and one from February had a wide variety, including Returnal, Crash Bandicoot 4, Kena Bridge of Spirits, and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade.
For the most part, it appears Sony uses the State of Play title in order to deliver deep dives on gameplay. Oftentimes the games are releasing rather soon, such as the ones for Ratchet & Clank and Deathloop, but other trailers are sometimes thrown in as well. PlayStation exclusives are usually the headliners at a State of Play, but it's not surprising to see a handful of third party titles too. PlayStation doing a State of Play appears to be a much more regular occurrence, so the upcoming PlayStation Showcase on September 9 sounds like more of a special occasion.
Although PlayStation fans should try to keep their hype in check, the use of PlayStation Showcase implies there might be some big reveals, especially considering Sony's absence from E3 2021. The stage is roughly set for PlayStation for the rest of the year, and even into early 2022. Deathloop and Death Stranding Director's Cut are coming soon, and Horizon Forbidden West now has a release date in February, but there's more around the corner that Sony might look to capitalize on now that the excitement from E3 and Gamescom has passed.
PlayStation Blog has revealed that the Showcase will run for roughly 40 minutes, followed by updates from the developers. The whole package will be much larger than a typical State of Play, which makes for some interesting possibilities. The still-untitled God of War sequel may finally get a second look, and more info on Gran Turismo 7, such as a release window, could be revealed. Naughty Dog has been quiet on The Last of Us Part II's multiplayer for a while now, and it wouldn't be surprising to see more of Horizon Forbidden West.
The long run time may allow for third-party console exclusives to be shown as well, such as Solar Ash, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, and Jett: The Far Shore. While State of Play shows are a branded way to periodically reveal gameplay and trailers in bulk, their overall scope remains limited in comparison to what Sony calls PlayStation Showcases. The last Showcase in September 2020 was all about the PS5, which was releasing two months later. At this rate the Showcase title appears to be a yearly event, becoming the de facto replacement for a PlayStation E3 conference.
Source: PlayStation