PlayStation Showcase 2023 – A Full Recap

Tonight saw the 2023 PlayStation Showcase arrive with a bang and with over an hour of footage, we have a lot to discuss.

The PlayStation Showcase 2023 featured a jam-packed show full of all the upcoming titles for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation VR2. We saw everything from some indie gems, remakes and even a few surprises.

So without further ado, let’s take a look at everything announced during the showcase.

PlayStation Showcase 2023 – A Full Recap

Fairgame$ by Haven Studios

First up was Haven Studios new competitive heist experience coming to PS5 and PC. Their first IP is “a unique take on the heist genre” which sees you join an underground movement to rob the ultra rich and rebalance society. Play as a modern-day Robin Hood and you explore forbidden locations, fill your pockets and take down the rich alongside your friends.

Helldivers 2 by Arrowhead Game Studios

The sequel to the 2015 title with the same name was announced today. The top-down shooter has switched to a 3rd-person experience and the trailer brought all the fun. We see the Helldivers as they protect society from insect-like aliens. The co-op shooter allows you to team up with buddies as you wield an arsenal of weapons, drop a lot of bombs and fight off waves of enemies.

Helldivers 2 is coming to PS5 and PC in 2023. 

Immortals of Aveum by Ascendant Studios

This upcoming first-person game gifts your protagonist with a hand capable of wielding magic and the goal to try and stop the Everwar. The fate of the world hangs in the balance but Jak and the Order of the Immortals are here to save the day. Fight powerful bosses and mages as you use the different “colours of magic” to aid you. You can read much more about it here.

Available on PS5 on July 20, 2023.

Ghostrunner 2 by 505 Games

First released back in 2020, Ghostrunner is finally getting a sequel this year. Shrouded in mystery until now, we finally got a good look at what we can expect. Explore the world of Ghostrunner one year after the events of the original and “prepare to face off against some of the toughest opponents you’ve ever encountered in a video game.” Find out more here.

Phantom Blade Zero by Cruel Man Studio

The newest entry in the Phantom Blade universe was released today and showed an epic trailer filled with combat and steampunk vibes. Set in the Phantom World, you will find “Chinese Kung Fu, intricate machines reminiscent of steampunk, arts of the occult, and other intriguing elements that don’t quite fit into any of these categories.” With hack ‘n’ slash combat and Eastern influences, it looks to be an epic adventure. 

No release date yet.

Sword of the Sea by Giant Squid

From the creators of Abzû and The Pathless comes this new adventure that takes place in an abandoned realm where the terrain flows in constant waves. Use your Hoversword to explore the vast terrain, discover old ruins and restore life to the world as the Wraith. However, beware of the leviathans who lurk in the sunken world. 

Available for PS5 (no release date yet). 

The Talos Principle 2 by Croteam

First released back in 2014, it has been a long wait for the sequel to The Talos Principle. However, we now have a release date for the puzzle game that will “greatly expand the first game’s philosophical themes and stunning environments with increasingly mind-bending challenges.” The sequel will be a big leap forward for the series when it launches later this year.

Neva by Nomada Studios

From the creators of Gris comes this beautiful new game that tasks you with raising a baby wolf. In this moving tale between a young woman and her wolf, you must learn to survive a rapidly dying world. Telling the story of our ever-changing earth and the beauty of life and animals was the goal for its creators and they look to have achieved that.

Cat Quest: Pirates of the Purribean by TheGentleBros

This open-world RPG tells the story of a cat on a magnificent adventure across the seas. On a search for the Northern Star, battle pirates, discover lost treasures and become a hero. The latest instalment in the award-winning Cat Quest series sees you travel alongside your spirit companion on your very own ship.

It will be released sometime in 2024. 

Foamstars by Square Enix

If you’ve ever wanted to experience a foam party with Splatoon-style gameplay, then you’re in luck. Foamstars is an upcoming multiplayer party shooter that tasks you with taking over your map’s territory with a bunch of foam. Use the foam to quickly slide across the arena, defend from enemy attacks and climb to vantage points to get the lay of the battlefield. 

Available for PS4 & PS5 (no release date yet). 

The Plucky Squire by All Possible Futures

This upcoming action-adventure game follows the magical adventures of Jot and his friends. These storybook characters must explore the 3D world outside their book and face the evil Humgrump. Jump between the 2D and 3D world and solve puzzles, fly around on your jetpack and become the hero of your story.

Release date: 2023 

Teardown by Tuxedo Labs

This voxel-based heist game tasks you with quite literally destroying everything in your path. Tear down walls to create shortcuts, maneuver obstacles, experience physics-based destruction and smash everything in sight. With over 40 main missions, Teardown tasks you with keeping your ‘teardown’ business afloat even if it means dealing with some shady clients.

Release date: 2023

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater by Konami

With a trailer featuring shots of the entire animal kingdom, the camera finally panned to the Snake himself, revealing the news of a MGS3 remake. Not only that, but the trailer ended with the news that a Metal Gear Solid retro collection will launch for PlayStation 5 this autumn. It will feature the first three Metal Gear Solid games so it will be the perfect time to try them if you haven’t already.

Towers of Aghasba by Dreamlit

In this game, you are tasked with rebuilding a strange alien world. With a trailer showing all styles of gameplay from building, fighting, exploring and collecting, it appears to have it all. Not to mention the flying whales in the sky. With Breath of the Wild-vibes, this prehistoric survival game is set to release sometime in 2024.

Final Fantasy 16 by Square Enix

The showcase revealed a new trailer for the upcoming instalment of the Final Fantasy series. Titled ‘Salvation’ the video showed us some story and gameplay as we see protagonist Clive on his mission to save mankind. With shots of the foreboding Eikons, the exciting combat system and a few new faces, we can expect another epic tale. 

FF16 launches on June 22, 2023

Alan Wake 2 by Remedy Entertainment 

Tonight’s showcase finally gave us what we’ve all been waiting for – a release date for Alan Wake 2. The release date trailer shows us our first look at the two playable protagonists we will have to follow through this psychological survival horror game. With Remedy assuring players that they don’t have to have prior knowledge of the series to jump right in, there’s nothing stopping you.

Release date: October 17, 2023

Assassin’s Creed Mirage by Ubisoft

The thirteenth major instalment in the Assassin’s Creed franchise also got a release date earlier tonight. This chapter follows Basim Ibn Ishaq who operated in Baghdad over 300 years before the events of Assassin’s Creed 1. With Ubisoft claiming that Mirage goes back to its roots of stealth mechanics and parkour traversal, the trailer is very reminiscent of the earlier AC days.

We wrote more about it here.

Release date: October 12, 2023

Revenant Hill by The Glory Society

If you are a fan of Night in the Woods like me, you would have also screeched when this upcoming title was revealed earlier tonight. Set in 1919, Twigs the cat takes up residence near a local graveyard. However, when the landlord owl starts demanding rent, Twigs must find a way to make some money. Grow crops, make friends (and enemies) and even host the occasional party.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink by Cygames Inc

This co-op action RPG takes place in the Sky Realm where islands float in a great expanse. Join the protagonist and their little dragon called Vyrn as they team up with a mysterious young girl with powers. Journey to a fabled land beyond the skies and meet a colourful cast of characters along the way. Team up with up to four friends and take on the adventure together.

Release date: Winter 2023

Street Fighter 6 by Capcom 

The latest instalment in the Street Fighter franchise is arriving in just over a week. To celebrate, Capcom has released another trailer showing more of the game’s World Tour story. We see snippets of the large roster of characters as well as a look at the player’s custom character as they train under the world warriors. The trailer also revealed some story sneak peeks so beware of spoilers.

Release date: June 2, 2023

Ultros by Hadoque

This psychedelic sci-fi side-scroller captures everyone’s attention (and eyes) during the showcase. The exploration-adventure game follows protagonist Ouiji as she wakes up following a ship crash. Now stranded on a giant cosmic sarcophagus, you must explore the ever-changing levels that will take multiple runs to fully uncover. This is the first game from a brand-new studio and it’s looking epic.

Release date: 2024

Dragon’s Dogma 2 by Capcom

Credit: Rock Paper Shotgun

First released back in 2012, the sequel to Dragon’s Dogma made a surprise appearance this evening. The action hack-and-slash game is set to be a fantasy epic like never before. The trailer showed everything from exhilarating combat, monstrous creatures and of course, a whole lot of dragons. With it being over a decade since the prequel, let’s hope it lives up to the hype.

VR2 Releases

Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 by Steel Wool Games

With news of an upcoming FNAF movie, it is perhaps no surprise we got news of the upcoming game this evening. Although the trailer didn’t reveal much and just stuck to the creepy atmosphere, it has been four years since its prequel released to VR and console. If you’re unfamiliar, in this game you are tasked with keeping an eye on some killer animatronics and this one looks to be no different.

Resident Evil 4 VR by Capcom

Credit: Eurogamer

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the recent Resident Evil 4 Remake has been sweeping the review board this year. Now a few months after it was released to PC and console, Sony has revealed it will be heading to PSVR2. Follow Leon as he heads to a remote Spanish island to save Ashley, the President’s daughter. 

Arizona Sunshine 2 by Vertigo Games

The next-gen sequel to the award-winning VR apocalypse game is here and it’s coming to VR2 later this year. In a zombie-filled Arizona, you must set out on a journey for answers and make every bullet count. Wield everything from machetes to shotguns, flamethrowers to melee weapons in this hack-and-slash adventure. Not only that, but you will have your trusty dog companion alongside you.

Crossfire: Sierra Squad by Smilegate West

The brand-new arcade-action FPS will be arriving this summer to PlayStation VR2. Become the leader of an elite fireteam called the Sierra Squad. Being part of a highly-trained unit means you have access to over 39 unique weapons and 13 campaign missions. Go against the rival Black List organisation and emerge victorious on the battlefield. 

The PlayStation Showcase also gave us a sneak peek at the upcoming dual-wielding VR action, Synapse and a Queen Music Pack for Beatsaber which releases today.

Back to it

Marathon by Bungie

Bungie took the opportunity to announce their first new project in over a decade. Marathon is an upcoming sci-fi PvP extraction shooter which sees you become a cybernetic mercenary known as a Runner. Explore a lost colony in search of riches, fame and infamy as you experience a universe filled with epic worldbuilding and lore, in typical Bungie fashion.

The Final Shape by Bungie

Also by Bungie was a new trailer for the upcoming instalment in Destiny 2. The Final Shape is set to be the final instalment of the ‘light vs dark’ chapter in the sci-fi FPS and despite only being a few seconds long, the trailer was epic. Featuring a character who has been dead for quite some time has got fans speculating all over the internet. Who could it be?

Concord by Firewalk Studios

This upcoming PvP multiplayer AAA game set in a sci-fi universe is the “start of a new adventure” according to developers. Although not much is known about it yet, we do know it will feature vibrant worlds and a host of colourful characters. “Concord is a bringing together of peoples. It’s the power of games to build connection and inspire social play,” says game director Ryan Ellis.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 by Insomniac Games

Last but certainly not least was the highly-anticipated sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man. In a trailer that featured a hefty chunk of gameplay, we saw Miles and Peter as they take to the skies. The 10-minute gameplay demo showed our first look at the villain, Kraven the Hunter as well as Venom himself. With both stealth and all-guns-blazing combat, the demo has got us even more excited for a release date.

And that was all the main reveals from the PlayStation Showcase 2023. What were some stand-outs for you? Let us know across our social media platforms.