The PlayStation community was buzzing with anticipation for Sony’s highly anticipated May 24 broadcast of the PlayStation Showcase.
However, industry insiders have since come forward, suggesting that Sony may have held back on revealing its latest edition.
PlayStation Showcase Recap
The event received a mixed response, with the gameplay reveal of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 being a highlight, but criticism arose regarding the lack of first-party exclusives and a focus on CGI trailers rather than gameplay sequences.
Fans were eager for this Showcase, considering the last one occurred almost two years ago. Although the event was over an hour long and filled with content, it left fans yearning for more concrete release dates and actual gameplay footage.
To add to the surprise, it was later revealed that many of the games showcased during the event would also be coming to Xbox.
Insider Reveals Rumors
Renowned insider Tom Henderson chimed in, suggesting that Sony had intentionally held back during the PlayStation Showcase. According to Henderson, several titles showcased are nearly complete, yet gameplay reveals and release dates were conspicuously absent. Another reputable leaker, known as The Snitch, expressed surprise at Sony’s omission of several upcoming AAA games from the lineup.
The Snitch elaborated, mentioning that a PlayStation PC port is slated for release in July but was absent from the May 24 event. This omission struck them as “super weird.” While it’s not unheard of for major publishers to withhold near-finished products, Sony’s historical preference for longer marketing cycles makes this strategy less typical for them.
The lack of new release dates announced during the Showcase raises doubts about the claim that many of the showcased games are close to completion. However, it’s worth noting that Naughty Dog has already promised more information about The Last of Us multiplayer spinoff in 2023.
Its absence from the May 24 broadcast leaves room for the possibility of another PlayStation Showcase or a State of Play stream in the second half of the year.
Yet, considering publishers typically focus on promoting existing inventory leading up to the holiday season, the window for such an event is relatively narrow.
This period is traditionally the most lucrative time for the gaming industry. However, with highly anticipated AAA PlayStation exclusives like Death Stranding 2 and The Last of Us multiplayer game on the horizon, Sony will need to find an appropriate platform to unveil these titles.