Most Interesting

Tides of Annihilation

It’s rare that these update shows make me physically sit up and take notice, but this was one such time. The debut title from Chinese developer, Eclipse Glow Studio, Tides of Annihilation looks super slick. Legitimately one of the best looking games I’ve seen in a while.

Details are sparse this early on, but Eclipse Glow have said the game takes from Arthurian legend (7 year old me very excited for some King Arthur related stuff), across modern and medieval fantasy settings. 

I’m very very interested in this one. I’m always down for new IP, and will be watching this with a very close eye.

Interest Piqued

Lost Soul Aside

Another game that completely passed me by, another debut title from a Chinese Studio. Ultizero Games take the stage with this one, and it looks, you guessed it, super slick.

The latest trailer has given me serious Final Fantasy XV vibes, seemingly with the combat of Final Fantasy XVI? Studio Head, Yang Bing, put special focus on the games combat in his PS Blog post following the State of Play. 

One the State of Play ended, I was recommended like 4 more trailers from the past 3 or 4 years that I’ve managed to miss. I watched every single one. I then pre-ordered it. I’m in. Give me more new titles, guys, I’m ready for new stories.

Know I’ll love it but welcome more footage

Split Fiction

Over Christmas, my partner and I played It Takes Two in about a week. We’ve never done co-op games before, for fear of it causing arguments, but it was one of the most fun experiences I’ve had in games. Split Fiction is something I’m all in on, man. Whatever they’ve got in the water over at Hazelight needs to be bottled, because it’s pure magic.

It’s such a cool little premise, too. Two authors from different genres being transported into their own worlds and fighting against a major publisher? I’m all in. Let’s tear down corporations, man. One book at at time.

This one’s out in only a few weeks time, and I’m gagging for it. We’ll be playing it at launch, for sure, and I’m absolutely going to get something about it out. Split Fiction. I’ll be there.

Biggest Disappointment

There is a clear distinction between a State of Play and a PlayStation Showcase. I get that. I understand you cannot come out with your heavy hitters in February (though, you probably could if you didn’t spend the past 5 years forcing all your studios to make live services JUST SAYING). I dunno, I think I’d have liked something a little meatier to round out the show.

Granted, Housemarque’s new title is pretty big deal. Returnal might not be my bag, but it’s undeniably a very good title, and an excellent example of the roguelite genre. I’ll give Saros a go, for sure. But it just felt like something was kind of lacking.

It was probably not the right setting for more Ghost of Yotei or Death Stranding 2, which are absolutely what this year is all about for PS5. But I definitely would have loved to have seen something huge that I’m already excited for!

–

It was a good State of Play, I thought! There was enough here to get me excited for 2025. The PS5’s library is a little thin right now (that’s another article, I think), so to come away with 2 titles I’d never heard of at the forefront of my mind is definitely a positive. Next up, barring any late additions to their schedule, is Nintendo’s “Nintendo Switch 2” direct in April. Which I am very excited for.