Sony’s State of Play for February 2023 was a doozy as it had plenty of exciting announcements and reveals for some of the most anticipated games that are slated to be released this year. The latest State of Play had something for everyone and here are some of the announcements that have gotten us excited for the months to come.
Baldur’s Gate III
Baldur’s Gate III has been in early access since October 2020 and for fans who have been patiently waiting for its full release–you will have to wait a little longer. It will be released on August 31 (fingers crossed) for PC, Mac and PlayStation 5.
Developed by Larian Studios (Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin II), the third entry in the Baldur’s Gate series takes place over 120 years after the events of Baldur’s Gate II: Shadow of Amn and months after the events of Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus. The land of Faerûn is under siege by the otherworldly mind flayers who are expanding their army by using parasitic illithid tadpoles. Unfortunately, you–the protagonists, also have one of these creatures wriggling in your head.
However, mind flayers are just one of your problems. You also have to deal with the just revealed General Ketheric Thorm, a seemingly invincible necromancer, who is leading an army of the dead towards the city of Baldur’s Gate. General Thorm is voiced by none other than renowned character actor J.K. Simmons who will no doubt deliver a nuanced performance to a character with complex ambitions and motivations.
Larian Studios promises to introduce gamers to two more antagonists over the coming months, so we will be keeping our eyes and ears open to this news.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Rocksteady Studios unveiled even more details for its upcoming action-adventure game, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which is set in the same universe as the Batman: Arkham series. While the combat mechanics look fun, the live service elements and cosmetic battle pass might put off quite a number of fans.
The gameplay showcase was mainly focused on the 4-player co-op that saw the ‘Squad’ taking on Brainiac’s minions and also taking down a huge artillery gun. Combat overall looks fast-paced and fluid with characters having their own traversal abilities, gunplay, melee and tactics.
Rocksteady also revealed that every character wields a variety of firearms from different manufacturers (think Borderlands) that can be customised with attachments. Characters can also be outfitted with various gear pieces and costumes with some granting them attributes and powers of other well-known villains such as Bane.
Fans of the Batman: Arkham series might not like what was shown here due to the huge shift in tone and gameplay but it does look like a fun romp nonetheless.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be out on May 26 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Tchia
Other than huge AAA titles, this month’s State of Play also shone a spotlight on one of the more charming games set to be released on March 21 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC. Besides that, the game will also be available in the Premium and Extra PlayStation Plus catalogues.
Tchia is an open-world action-adventure inspired by the developers’ homeland of New Caledonia. It is infused with all aspects of New Caledonian culture and the team has even recreated iconic landmarks and populated the world with local wildlife, even the story is told using local languages, with all characters voiced by local talent.
In this action-adventure, you play as the titular Tchia who must explore a tropical archipelago to rescue her kidnapped father. With her ‘soul jumping’ ability, she can possess and assume control of animals and inanimate objects found in the world, and use their powers to travel to new areas, solve puzzles, and defend herself against enemies.
The game has drawn many comparisons to Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and it is quite easy to see why because Tchia can also slide down mountains, climb up trees and even ascend nearly all types of surfaces. She also has a glider and raft that lets her navigate between places quickly.
Resident Evil 4
Last but certainly not least, we also got an updated look at the Resident Evil 4 remake, which gave us a closer look at Leon S. Kennedy exploring multiple new environments and of course confirming “The Mercenaries” mode that will return as a free DLC after launch. Speaking of launch, Resident Evil 4 will be released on March 24 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
The State of Play trailer showcased Leon and his ward Ashley Graham navigating multiple environments controlled by the cult of Los Iluminados. Across a sprawling castle, dilapidated mines, and more, they encounter even more infected villagers, deranged cultists, and insidious enemies empowered by the Las Plagas parasite. Leon and Ashley must navigate these foes while also deciphering the arcane designs of the hidden mechanisms, esoteric puzzles, and tantalizing secrets. The duo’s path to safety also intersects with the calculating special forces operative Major Jack Krauser.
A Resident Evil 4 demo was also announced during the showcase but similar to “The Mercenaries” challenge mode, no release timing was given but Capcom promises that it will be shared at a later date.
Source: PS Blog
