Sony’s PlayStation Showcase 2023 was supposed to be a massive event that would showcase the future of gaming on PS5 and PSVR 2. The hour-long presentation promised to reveal news about games from PlayStation Studios, third-party developers, and indie studios. However, the show turned out to be a letdown for many fans who expected more surprises, innovation, and excitement from Sony. Here are some of the reasons why PlayStation Showcase 2023 was so disappointing.
Lack of originality and diversity
One of the main criticisms of the PlayStation Showcase 2023 was that it lacked originality and diversity in its game lineup. Many of the games shown were either sequels, remakes, or multiplayer games that seemed to copy existing formulas. For example, Fairgame$, a PvPvE heist game from Haven Studios, looked like a mashup of GTA Online and Payday 2. The game did not show any gameplay footage or release date, leaving us with little idea of how it would play or when it would come out.
Foamstars, a multiplayer shooter from Square Enix, seemed to borrow heavily from Splatoon and Fortnite. The game had players spraying foam around an arena while fighting each other in 4v4 matches. The foam affected how players could move around the map and interact with the environment. While the game looked colorful and chaotic, it also looked very familiar and derivative. The game also did not show any gameplay footage or release date, making us wonder if it was still in early development.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3 from Konami, was met with mixed reactions from fans who wondered why Konami did not involve Hideo Kojima or remake the original Metal Gear Solid instead. The reveal trailer for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater was a bit of a misdirect, as it focused on a lot of animals attacking each other before revealing Snake. The trailer did not show any gameplay footage or release date, leaving us with many questions about how the remake would look and play on PS5. The trailer also did not explain why the game had a delta symbol in its title, or what changes or additions it would make to the original game.
While some of these games might turn out to be fun and enjoyable, they did not showcase much creativity or innovation from their developers. They also did not reflect the diversity of genres and experiences that PlayStation fans have come to expect from Sony’s platform. The only indie game shown was Phantom Blade Zero, a stylish action game from Chinese developer Game Science Studio. The game had players wielding a sword that could transform into different weapons and abilities while fighting enemies in a futuristic city. The game looked impressive and fast-paced, but it also reminded us of games like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta. The rest of the show was dominated by action-adventure games, most of which were based on existing franchises or IPs.
Over-reliance on Spider-Man 2 and nostalgia
Another issue with the PlayStation Showcase 2023 was that it relied too much on Marvel and nostalgia to generate hype and interest. The show closed with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which showed Peter Parker and Miles Morales teaming up against Kraven the Hunter and Venom.
Moreover, the show also relied heavily on nostalgia to appeal to older gamers who grew up with PlayStation classics. We saw a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, a reboot of Marathon from Bungie, a sequel to Alan Wake from Remedy Entertainment, and a prequel to Assassin’s Creed Valhalla called Assassin’s Creed Mirage. While these games might satisfy some fans who wanted to revisit their favorite games or characters, they also showed a lack of risk-taking and innovation from Sony and its partners. They also did not offer much for younger gamers who might not be familiar with these franchises or genres.
Also read: Must-play games for a PlayStation owner
Lack of gameplay and release dates
A final problem with the PlayStation Showcase 2023 was that it lacked gameplay footage and release dates for many of its games. Most of the games shown were either pre-rendered trailers or cinematic teasers that did not give a clear sense of how they would play or look on PS5 or PSVR 2. For example, we did not see any gameplay for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Marathon, or Project Q, a new handheld device that can stream games from PS5.
Furthermore, many of the games shown did not have any release window or date attached to them. We did not know when we would be able to play Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Marathon or Phantom Blade Zero. The only games that had confirmed release dates were Assassin’s Creed Mirage (October 12), Alan Wake 2 (November 15), and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (Fall). The rest of the games were either coming in 2024 or beyond.
This lack of gameplay footage and release dates made the show feel vague and distant. It did not give us a clear picture of what we could expect from PS5 and PSVR 2 in the near future. It also made us wonder if some of these games would ever see the light of day or if they would be delayed or canceled.
Conclusion
The PlayStation Showcase 2023 was supposed to be a celebration of gaming on PS5 and PSVR 2. However, it turned out to be a disappointment for many fans who expected more from Sony and its partners. The show lacked originality and diversity in its game lineup, relied too much on Marvel and nostalgia to generate hype and interest, and lacked gameplay footage and release dates for many of its games. While some of these games might turn out to be great when they eventually release, they did not showcase the full potential and promise of PS5 and PSVR 2 as platforms for gaming innovation and excellence.
The show lacked originality and diversity in its game lineup, relied too much on Marvel and nostalgia to generate hype and interest, and lacked gameplay footage and release dates for many of its games.
