
Review
Valhalla review – the free God of War expansion is absolute madness
by Domagoj Belancic
Sony presents new PS5 games at a "State of Play" livestream. In addition to the expected titles, the colourful line-up also includes some nice surprises.
At today's "State of Play" May presentation, Sony served up something for every taste. The Playstation menu for the coming months includes colourful platformers, chaotic multiplayer shooters and dark horror games.
You can see an overview of all trailers and games below. You can watch the entire livestream here.
The cute little Playstation mascot is finally getting a new game. After the great, but unfortunately too short free game "Astro's Playroom", the Japanese development studio Team Asobi is giving the cute robot his biggest adventure yet. As is typical of the series, the new game makes ample use of the unique abilities of the Dualsense controller. The trailer also features numerous new skills for the robot, items and countless Easter eggs and references to other Playstation classics such as "Uncharted", "God of War" and "Shadow of the Collossus".
The Astrobot games exude the magic of Nintendo platformers in a Playstation environment. If you're even vaguely interested in the genre, you should have this title on your radar.
Date: 6 September
Released for: PS5
Following last year's teaser trailer, the latest instalment in Capcom's long-running monster-slaying series is revealed in a new gameplay video. It impresses with impressive character models, wacky monster designs and beautiful game environments.
In typical "Monster Hunter" style, you take down giant creatures with huge melee and ranged weapons - optionally with up to three other players in online mode. After "Monster Hunter World", which was released in 2018, fans of the series can look forward to another excellent game.
Date: 2025
Released for: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Sony has acquired a taste for live service. After the smash hit "Helldivers 2", the Japanese video game giant is looking for the next multiplayer hit. It could be delivered by Firewalk - a studio made up of many Bungie veterans that was bought up by Playstation last year. Their current project "Concord" is a 5v5 shooter in a sci-fi setting. You play a member of the "Freegunners", a mercenary collective that takes on various dangerous missions in the vastness of the galaxy and repeatedly embarks on dangerous adventures. However, the video footage shown doesn't quite spark the imagination.
Two videos are presented. The character trailer shows an extensive cutscene and is reminiscent of "Star Wars" and "Guardians of the Galaxy".
The second trailer shows the fast-paced shooter gameplay on sale. This is reminiscent of hero shooters like "Overwatch" and looks generic at times. According to Firewalk Studios, fans who play regularly will not only be rewarded with new gameplay content, but also with new story sequences every week.
A beta will follow in July before the launch in August. Like "Helldivers 2", the game will be released simultaneously on PS5 and PC.
Date: 23 August
Released for: PS5, PC
"Marvel Rivals" is a free-to-play PvP shooter featuring Marvel superheroes. The game has already been announced for PC and has now been confirmed for consoles. Venom and Adam Warlock are revealed as new characters.
The gameplay looks colourful, chaotic, but also at times like a generic live-action shooter. A closed beta for PC is running. PS5 players can try out the game in a closed beta in July 2024.
Date: 2024
Released for: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The remake of the horror classic is revealed in a new story trailer. The game was developed from scratch and is reminiscent of more modern horror games such as "Resident Evil 4" with its over-the-shoulder perspective. Graphically, the trailer is not convincing. The character models in particular stand out negatively.
A more detailed impression of the game is provided by the "Silent Hill Transmission", which was broadcast immediately after Sony's event:
Date: 8 October
Released for: PS5, PC
The PS4 horror cult classic is getting a remake on the PS5. This remake has also been completely redeveloped - but unlike "Silent Hill 2", it already looks very pretty. You take control of teenagers who meet up in a remote mountain cabin for a wild night of partying and are haunted by a bloodthirsty killer.
Your decisions have an influence on the course of the story - and on who of the protagonists survives or is murdered in the most brutal way. I hope that the trashy slasher vibe of the original won't be spoilt by the highly polished presentation of the new edition.
Date: Autumn 2024
Released for: PS5, PC
The sequel to the popular free-to-play ARPG will also be released on consoles. Local multiplayer co-op as well as cross-play and cross-progression between consoles and PC have been confirmed. Early access is set to start at the end of 2024. The developer studio also promises an "ethical free-to-play principle" for the sequel.
Date: End of 2024 (Early Access)
Released for: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The beautiful open-world game "Where Winds Meet" is inspired by classic Chinese martial arts films with supernatural elements. Well-known film representatives of this so-called "Wuxia" genre include "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "House of The Flying Daggers". You can expect spectacular battles with crazy superpowers in an open game world based on real historical events.
Date: still open
Released for: PS5, PC
The world of "Ballad of Antara" is divided into two parts. There is a normal world and a dark parallel world full of monsters. Your task is to travel between the two worlds and uncover the secret behind the dark "Para" dimension. You can choose to do this with up to two other players. With its environments and enemy designs, the game exudes a proper "Elden Ring" vibe. Unlike Fromsoftware's masterpiece, "Ballad of Antara" will be released as a free-to-play title.
Date: 2025
Released for: PS5
After seven years, a new instalment of the "Dynasty Warriors" battle game series will be released in 2025. In the meantime, fans of the genre have had to make do with spin-offs such as "Hyrule Warriors" or "Persona 5 Strikers".
"Origins" is set to take the action series, which has been particularly popular in Japan, to new heights worldwide with polished graphics. In the usual "Dynasty Warriors" style, the trailer shows chaotic battles with thousands of fighters. Despite the many character models, the game impresses with numerous graphic details and spectacular effects.
Date: 2025
Released for: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
The "Nikki" games have so far only been released for mobile devices. They are referred to as "dress-up sims" - in other words, the aim is to equip your character with the freshest possible outfits. "Infinite Nikki" is the first major console game from developer studio Infold Games.
The colourful open world was created with the help of Kentaro Tominaga - a designer who worked on the outstanding game world of "Breath of the Wild". By unlocking new outfits, you use magic and solve puzzles. I have no idea what's going on in the trailer, but it looks colourful and beautiful. I'm looking forward to dressing up as a princess and saving the world.
Date: Third quarter of 2024 (beta)
Released for: PS5
It seems as if Sony's development studios have forgotten about the excellent PS VR2. After all, there is new fodder for hungry Playstation VR fans at the State of Play from third-party manufacturers. VR development studio Survios shows the first short gameplay clips from the upcoming horror game "Alien: Rogue Incursion". Unfortunately, the game still stutters significantly in some places - the studio doesn't have much time left to fix the framerate problems.
Date: End of 2024
Released for: PS5 / PS VR2, PC VR
The development studio behind "The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners" presents a new VR action game with giant enemies. The trailer shows a massive-looking melee combat system from the first-person perspective. The studio has paid particular attention to the metre-high "Behemoth" creatures - they are designed to make you panic due to their size.
Date: End of 2024
Released for: PS5 / PS VR2, PC VR
Kratos' second Norse adventure is coming to PC. In contrast to the PS5 version, the PC version boasts the expected features: an unlocked frame rate, higher resolutions and ultrawide support. The excellent "Valhalla" DLC is also included.
Date: 19 September 2024
Released for: PC
Already available for: PS5, PS4
Which game are you most looking forward to?
The competition has ended.
My love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.