How can you predict the unpredictable? 2020 has been, for every person on the planet, the most bizarre year imaginable – and now, as we look forward to 2021, it is almost impossible to imagine what the future holds. However, the show must continue, and our annual PlayStation predictions are part of the New Year ritual here Push Square. Here is what we expect from the next 12 months.
Sammy Barker, editor
E3 is over. Who knows what the state of the world will be next summer? Not me, that’s for sure. However, even if it is It is sure to hold conventions in June – I don’t think it will be – I think E3 is over. You may remember, before the coronavirus pandemic finally passed, that many companies gave up E3 2020. I claimed then that it may have been a disguised blessing. But now I think the show is done for good: the publishers have proven this year that they are better off announcing games on their own terms and that there is no real purpose for this event. COVID-19 will finally determine if there is a show in 2021, but I think the advancement of this annual boom of the industry has had its day.
Starfield receives a full-fledged PS5 version a month after Xbox. The thing is, at the time of writing, Microsoft has not yet officially acquired Bethesda and I think Starfield is scheduled to launch in 2021. With both Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, the company has not officially released them until around six with a few months before launch, so I guess it’s almost done. And, until a few months ago, the company would have planned to launch it on PS5 – there was even talk that Sony is trying to ensure it as a timed exclusive – therefore, I think a lot of work has already been done. . The outcome? The game will continue to be released on PS5, will only come a month late, with minimal marketing support, and obviously you’ll have to pay the full price for it, rather than get it as part of a subscription. Better than nothing?
It’s a great year for Uncharted. Oh, do you think Sony is done with Uncharted? You are absolutely out of your rocker. This is one of the most popular intellectual properties of the PlayStation and it’s not like there’s a new one every year – damn, the previous version released in 2017, which is a lifetime in this industry. A new Uncharted game will definitely be announced this year for both PS5 and PS4 and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it launches in time for the holidays. I expect its marketing to be closely associated with Unknown movie, which will have a rating below 50% at Rotten Tomatoes, but will be relatively well received by fans. By the way, speaking of the film: do not be surprised if it is available to be rented exclusively from the PS store at the same time as the broadcast in cinemas.
Robert Ramsey, Deputy Editor
Final Fantasy VII Remake gets an extended relaunch on PS5 (and other platforms). I’m not sure what that really means, but I think Final Fantasy VII Remake gets some sort of improved relaunch on the PS5 in 2021. Maybe it’ll have a section where you play as Sephiroth or something – a real fan-pleaser. I just feel that Square Enix has been quietly suspicious since the release of Remake in April. Obviously, that team would still be moving at this point, but I still don’t see it leaving Remake alone – not when the publisher can capitalize on other platforms.
Final Fantasy XVI receives a release date in November 2021, then is delayed until 2022. Look, I don’t want to be a downer, but Square Enix will sell us a full release date for Final Fantasy XVI, which gets too early. While reports have said the game has been in a form of development for at least four years, I think it’s still a short time. But this will not stop the publisher from taking out the trailers and showing us the game until the summer, before telling us that it will arrive in November 2021. A few months later, it will be late until the spring of 2022 and we will all shake from head to toe. I can’t wait to see more games.
We will see Kratos riding a huge wolf in the game God of War Ragnarok. Here is my very specific prediction that will make me look like a prophet if I understand it correctly. Although I’m not sure it will be released this year, I think we’ll see some God of War Ragnarok gameplay. And in this game, we will see, at some point, Kratos riding a huge wolf. Probably Skoll or Hati – the wolves that drive away the sun and moon in Norse mythology – but let’s not get also specific. By the way, the game will look crazy.
Stephen Tailby, associate editor
The Bloodborne remaster is real and will be announced and released in 2021. I confess I’m not the biggest Bloodborne fan. I really appreciate it – the fight, the art direction, the bosses – but it’s not really my cup of tea, personally. Even so, I understand the desire for a remaster (or even a sequel). This is one of the most beloved games of PS4 and it deserves the complete treatment. Want to know why Sony has been so quiet in this game for so long? It’s because it gets a PS5 remaster, works for centuries and incorporates all the things you want; 60 frames per second, very short loading times and beautiful 4K images. Book it, it happens.
Spyro gets his turn with a new game. Activision has pumped superb remakes of its beloved franchise, but in 2020, it took a step further with Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. Given that Spyro’s collection of retro remakes followed the N. Sane Trilogy, I think a new title with the role of the little purple dragon is coming. I would expect a similar pattern to follow. This will be a numbered sequel to the events of the Year of the Dragon, and its gameplay and structure will be similar to the original trilogy, although with some new features. I think Activision will announce this new Spyro game at some point in 2021.
MLB Show 21 is released on several platforms and there will be memes. Sim’s famous baseball game in San Diego Studio has been PlayStation-exclusive for many years, but as we know, that changes with the next game in the series. Show 21 will be cross-platform, will appear on Microsoft and Nintendo systems, as well as on PC. My prediction is that the quality of the game will vary from platform to platform, and this will lead to “hilarious” memes. The game will be the subject of a special examination, because the series has always been of such a high standard, and any defects found in an X Series or Switch version will be collected and distributed online. I’m sure the game will be another great sports sim, I just don’t see that the first multi-platform iteration is completely unharmed.
Liam Croft, Senior Staff Writer
Elden Ring is finally back, but will not be released in 2021. This must be the year, right? The last title in FromSoftware was missing in action for a long, long time. I think an appropriate revelation will take place in the first six months of 2021, although Elden Ring will not yet be ready enough to enter store shelves. A launch window in early 2022 will be confirmed before the final launch date is announced at The Game Awards. To add a little extra spice to this prediction, the Chalice Dungeons seen in Bloodborne will return after a complete overhaul of their mechanics and design. Finish, George RR Martin.
CD Projekt RED will release the first major track of Cyberpunk 2077 DLC for free. It is almost impressive how the Polish studio managed to destroy its reputation in one week. As a result, the developer will do almost anything to win back the hearts of his devoted followers – which includes distributing the first major expansion for Cyberpunk 2077 for free. I’m not talking about the little DLC pieces that completed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt at launch. This will be a big, story-driven expansion that introduces a whole new story to Night City. You won’t pay a penny to access it, and the PS5 update will be released on the same day.
Sony offers a new subscription service that hosts PS Plus and PS Now under one roof. The Japanese giant recently stated that it has news in its wings that offers an answer to the Microsoft Game Pass service. This will be a new, optional subscription that combines everything the PlayStation Plus has to offer with the full PlayStation Now library. Sony will commit to adding more PS4 and PS5 games to the service on a faster basis, but its primary titles will not be part of the subscription from day one.
What do you think will have a future for PS5 and PS4? What are your big game predictions for 2021? What are you waiting for to shock and surprise us next year? Share everything in the comments section below.