Sony PlayStation have just concluded their E3 2015 PlayStation press conference where they showcased how PlayStation 4 is redefining what we play, how we play, and who it is that’s playing games today.
PlayStation stated that they believe that gamers come first; that developers are the heart and soul of the industry; that innovation, intelligence, and emotion are central to games… which themselves are driving the cultural zeitgeist.
All of the games unveiled today speak to an historic evolution of gaming, one that’s inspiring the entire community of gamers, developers, creators, and engineers. Gaming today offers unprecedented action and interactivity but it also means beautiful stories and emotional narratives.
One game in particular more fitting of this new era is The Last Guardian, whose beauty and rich narrative was evident in just a few minutes of gameplay footage. PlayStation fans have been waiting a long time for The Last Guardian, and PlayStation were proud to introduce the title, coming to PS4 in 2016.
The conference kicked off with one story-driven experience and closed the show with one of the most storied franchises on PlayStation, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. A live demo with an epic car chase showcased Naughty Dog’s uncanny ability to deliver action-packed scenes that rival any summer blockbuster.
In between The Last Guardian and Uncharted, they showed why PlayStation’s investment in their own development studios reflects their unwavering commitment to gamers.
The ingenious minds at Media Molecule unveiled Dreams, a space where you can go to explore and play the dreams of others and create and share your own. This open-ended adventure, where players surf an ever-evolving collage of games, film, animation, music, and whatever we all imagine, is a continuation of the studio’s work in creative gaming.
Guerilla Games’ Horizon Zero Dawn, the studio’s first foray outside of the shooter genre, delivers an action RPG that invites players to embark on a journey in a lush, post-apocalyptic open world. The team at Guerilla has also been keeping busy with RIGS Mechanized Combat League, a showpiece launch title for Project Morpheus virtual reality on PS4.
This futuristic arena shooter is one of nearly 20 titles and experiences for Project Morpheus that E3 attendees, including us here at shanethegamer.com can check out this week.
PS4 also spoke of the decades-long partnerships with the industry’s best developers and publishers. One of those was unveiled today; Destiny: The Taken King, which will offer exclusive content on PlayStation including a co-op Strike, new multiplayer map, and new gear.
They are also working with Activision to make PlayStation the new home of Call of Duty. For the first time ever on the E3 stage, they debuted Call of Duty: Black Ops III, the deepest and most engaging installment in one of the world’s biggest franchises. Starting with Black Ops III, PlayStation gamers will be the first to play all map packs, and for PS4 owners to be the first to play the upcoming multiplayer beta.
Looking out at the broader entertainment landscape this year, there’s nothing else bigger than Star Wars. PlayStation also announced that they will be the definitive console destination for STAR WARS fans. From the STAR WARS Play Set starter pack for Disney Infinity 3.0 and exclusive Boba Fett figure, to the iconic battles in EA’s STAR WARS: Battlefront, they know that STAR WARS holds a special place in the hearts of PlayStation fans.
PlayStation also proudly stated that they have been listening to their fans. On the E3 stage they celebrated the Kickstarter to fund Shenmue III on PS4 and PC and to announce FINAL FANTASY VII Remake (final name pending) is coming first to PS4.
And as of tonight every PlayStation 4 / 3 owner be able to access the PS4 media player app to enjoy personal videos, music (also playable as BGM), and photos (with support for home server sharing).
From the rich experiences on PlayStation Network to the boundless creativity in PS4 games to virtual reality with Project Morpheus, we as PlayStation gamers are seeing a level of innovation unlike anything before in the 20 years.