In today’s gaming scene there is an abundance of video game showcases and presentations. However, when one of the big three companies (Nintendo, PlayStation, or Xbox) holds one, I plan to watch it LIVE. If I can’t watch the LIVE broadcast then I may wait until later that night. I try to watch them as soon as I can so I can post my recap by the next day.

Last Thursday, PlayStation shared their latest State of Play. At the time of the broadcast I was inside of Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios park, and I wasn’t about to post up in Oga’s Cantina to watch it. I thought I’d watch it later that night and take notes, but I only had time to shower and sleep once I got back to my hotel room. In fact, it wasn’t until this past Sunday night when I finally had the time to check out the State of Play — that’s definitely the longest I’ve waited to watch one in a few years.

What’s even more amazing is that I was able to stay away from social media enough to not spoil any reveals. I wasn’t expecting any huge announcements from this State of Play — since PlayStation has told us that no big first-party titles are coming any time soon. I’m guessing they are holding off until the big PlayStation Showcase later this year. That’s when we’ll see more on Marvel’s Wolverine, Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic, and possibly a new Marvel’s Spider-Man game? Who knows.

During the forty minute showcase PlayStation shared over thirty upcoming titles. Most of them are coming this year (2025). It wasn’t until later in the presentation where we saw some games expected in 2026.

As per usual, let’s go over our TOP FIVE announcements. I did save the games I already knew about for the Honorable Mentions section. Even if I’m more excited about some of those than the brand new announcements.

PlayStation State of Play | TOP FIVE

1 | Shinobi: Art of Vengeance

At the start of this trailer I thought of another classic series that’s getting a new action-platformer adventure from a proven indie team, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound by the team behind Blasphemous. Now the Shinobi series is getting a new game by the team behind Streets of Rage 4, another recent indie title I really enjoyed playing.

Going back to the trailer for Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound I noticed the two completely different looks. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound has more of a pixel style, while Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is sporting a comic book art style.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance will hit PS5 and PS4 on August 29, 2025.

2 | Directive 8020

This trailer made me think we were getting a new ALIEN game (based on the Ridley Scott films), or some new Mass Effect title since I’m not that familiar with that series. Directive 8020 is an original story from the team behind The Quarry and Until Dawn.

After creating two slasher film inspired games I want to see how they handle space and aliens. Directive 8020 seems to follow the ALIEN movie formula where a spaceship colony is being harassed by some organic life-form.

Directive 8020 is coming to PS5 on October 2nd, 2025.

3 | Darwin’s Paradox

This one seems like a simple, sneaky game. From the trailer I got the vibes of Inside, Limbo, and White Shadows, but more colorful and cute. You get to sneak around and avoid getting caught as a slippery octopus. Those three previous titles were relatively short games, but very intense.

I’m sure there’s even some fun physics in this one. Darwin’s Paradox is coming out some time this year on PlayStation 5.

4 | Tides of Annihilation

I’m not sure if this game is even for me, but the trailer was full of action. There are always a couple of cinematic masterpieces that make me curious, but I rarely end up playing them. I chose this one because it was the one that stuck with me the most.

I will keep up with Tides of Annihilation and I do hope to play it someday. The world and characters look interesting. This one may be a long way out.

5 | SAROS

From the start of this trailer, I knew that it was Rahul Kohli I could see and hear. I was not expecting anything new from Housemarque anytime soon. Housemarque has always continued to expand on their previous games concepts with the next game.

Earlier during the showcase I thought of Returnal for some reason, and how I need to get back into it. Now it’s time to return to Returnal in 2025, since SAROS is not set to come out until 2026.

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Honorable Mention

There were plenty of other games that I cannot wait for, but I already know about them (including release dates very soon for some). That’s why I didn’t include these on my TOP FIVE list — Split Fiction, Sonic Racing Crossworlds, WWE 2K25, The Midnight Walk, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, and Hell is Us. Borderlands 4 is another one, but we did get a release date for later this year.

The other games I’m keeping an eye on are the new Onimusha: Way of the Sword. I was not too keen on the remaster of Onimusha 2. It may be time to try out Lies of P, since there is some new DLC coming out — Overture.

Dreams of Another and Mindseye were two totally different games that stood out from the rest in their own unique ways. Video game reveals are always exciting, but I also need to remember to be excited about my gigantic backlog of older and recent releases.

If you missed the PlayStation State of Play you can watch the entire presentation right here:

What were your top announcements? What are you waiting for on PlayStation?
Let us know in the comments below…