Elden Ring: Nightreign

“New” might sound like a misnomer for Nightreign, a spin-off of FromSoftware’s massive open-world action RPG into a co-op experience. Nevertheless, it’s something truly unprecedented from the studio – one or three players survive through multiple days, nights and bosses (including some from Dark Souls) to take on the Night Lord. Select a class, scope out areas with valuable loot, face the night, and try to survive. It’s out later this year for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC, and we’re intrigued to see how it fares.

Marvel’s Wolverine

Insomniac Games has been pumping out hit after hit this generation with Ratchet and Clank and Spider-Man, and the developer is hard at work on its next project Marvel’s Wolverine. Not a lot has been revealed at this point, but the reveal trailer does paint a grim tone for the story which has us salivating to know more. No release has been revealed as of yet, but it will be coming out for PS5 sometime in the near future.

Other titles include first-party games like Astro Bot, Horizon Forbidden West, and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, alongside Arrowhead Game Studios’ Helldivers 2. Various upcoming third-party games are also playable, like S-GAME’s Phantom Blade Zero, Papergames’ Infinity Nikki, SNK’s Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, NetEase Games’ Rusty Rabbit, and more. Kuro Games’ Wuthering Waves is also present, perhaps to show off the next big update.

There will be several titles from Western developers and publishers, from Elden Ring (and potentially the recent Shadow of the Erdtree expansion) to Immortals Fenyx Rising. ChinaJoy 2024 runs from July 26th to 29th in Shanghai, China. Check out Sony’s full list of titles below (courtesy of Gematsu), and stay tuned for more details from the event.

PlayStation China Hero Project

• AI-LIMIT (CE-Asia / SenseGames)
• AWAKEN: Astral Blade (ESDigital Games / Dark Pigeon Games)
• Convallaria (Sony Interactive Entertainment / Loong Force)
• Daba: Land of Water Scar (Dark Star)
• Evotinction (Astrolabe Games / Spikewave Games)
• EXILEDGE (Enigmatrix)

First-Party

• Astro Bot (Team ASOBI)
• Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studio)
• Horizon Forbidden West (Guerrilla Games)
• Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (Insomniac Games)

Third-Party

• EA Sports FC 24 (Electronic Arts)
• Elden Ring (Bandai Namco Entertainment / FromSoftware)
• Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (SNK)
• Gundam Breaker 4 (Bandai Namco Entertainment / Crafts & Meister)
• Immortals Fenyx Rising (Ubisoft / Ubisoft Quebec)
• Infinity Nikki (Infold Games / Papergames)
• Let’s School (PM Studios / Pathea Games)
• NBA 2K (2K / Visual Concepts)
• Phantom Blade Zero (S-GAME)
• Rusty Rabbit (NetEase Games / NITRO PLUS)
• Strinova (iDreamSky)
• Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream (Bandai Namco Entertainment / Dimps Corporation)
• That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ISEKAI Chronicles (Bandai Namco Entertainment / ZOC / Monkeycraft)
• Wuthering Waves (Kuro Games)

With the new year finally here, it’s time to check out all the big titles(with the occasional releases also coming to PC and PS4) that PS5 owners can look forward to in 2024 and beyond. So, without further ado, let’s get into it, starting with…

Rise of the Ronin

Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja are no strangers to releasing PlayStation-only titles. However, none of us imagined it had Rise of the Ronin in its pocket and ready to release on March 22nd for PS5. Set in feudal Japan during the Bakumatsu, you play as a Veiled Edge with his own backstory who meets up with various historical figures, including the legendary Sakamoto Ryoma. Based on the decisions made and bonds formed, there are different outcomes and endings to unlock.

There’s plenty to look forward to with the gameplay, with the open world having three major cities – Edo, Yokohama and Kyoto – along with the countryside and other areas to explore. You can undertake side quests and earn reputation, and there are even some Souls-like mechanics like Karma to recover upon death. A lot has yet to be revealed for the title, but thus far, the thought of gliding across cities and unleashing death from above or parrying a flaming arrow back at an enemy to ignite your blade and devastate other foes looks great.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

After over three years since its PS4 launch, The Last of Us Part 2 is getting the “Remastered” treatment…which is a fancy way of saying that an official PS5 version is finally launching. Out on January 19th for $50 ($10 if you already own the PS4 version), it features three Lost Levels cut from the final game, with developer commentary to provide more details. Director Neil Druckmann and narrative lead Hally Gross will also provide commentary for all the in-game cutscenes, with Troy Baker, Ashley Johnson, and Laura Bailey offering their own insight. There’s also Guitar Free Play (with other instruments to unlock), Speedrun Mode, DualSense support, new accessibility options and two graphics modes – Fidelity and Performance.

However, the biggest addition is No Return, a roguelike survival mode where players progress to various locations, battling the infected. There are different objectives, like Holdout, where you must survive with an AI companion against the Infected. Though upgrades, weapons and skills disappear after every run, you can unlock new outfits that persist between runs. With challenges, random Mods for encounters and Gambits to complete for more resources, No Return could be as endearing as God of War Ragnarok’s recent Valhalla DLC.

Pacific Drive

There have been plenty of rogue-lites and roguelikes lately, but Pacific Drive puts a little spin on it all by adding driving. Trapped within the Olympic Exclusion Zone in the Pacific Northwest (hence the name), players must venture into the rapidly changing wilderness with nothing but their wits and station wagon to survive.

The Exclusion Zone contains its fair share of anomalies, some more dangerous than others, but thankfully, you can upgrade the car to boost its survivability. Of course, that means getting out and scavenging those resources by hand. Better hope you didn’t forget to leave the car in park, lest it goes rolling downhill on its own.

Pacific Drive offers an intriguing mix of exploration, lore and supernatural atmosphere, and we can’t wait to see what secrets the Zone holds. It launches on February 22nd for PS5 and PC.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth sees players explore the world outside Midgar, and they’ll happen upon new locations and towns (like Crow’s Nest), brimming with side quests and characters. There are new activities to play around with, from the CCG Queen’s Blood to piano playing and new Summons to bring into battle.

The combat system has also received several revamps with new Synergy Attacks. Those who want to experience the setting can expect a 40-hour-long journey, but much of the playtime is in the side content. You can easily spend another 60 hours getting lost in the world and completing side quests, with 100 hours of gameplay promised. It’s a massive game in scope and scale, and it’s out on February 29th for PS5.

Death Stranding 2

Any Hideo Kojima game is bound to elicit a few questions, and Death Stranding 2 is no exception. Why is protagonist Sam Porter Bridges old? Why was Fragile trying to escape with a BB (and from who)? What’s the spaceship about? How do all the other teased actors play a part? Is Higgs really back? Perhaps most important: When can we expect it to release?

The answers aren’t forthcoming, but Kojima has teased plenty, from “new techniques” allowing for more photorealistic CG” (with actor Elle Fanning saying it’s going to look even better, despite already being outstanding) to changing the meaning of Strand and using music in brand new ways. It’s a lot but also not very much, and we must know more. With Japanese voice recording starting this year, a 2024 launch on PS5 may not happen, but we can still hope.

Silent Hill 2

Among the eagerly awaited remakes is Silent Hill 2, finally revealed in 2022 with The Medium and Layers of Fear developer Bloober Team at the helm. It’s developed on Unreal Engine 5 and looks downright amazing, while delivering revamped combat (with an over-the-shoulder camera) and set pieces. Best of all, there won’t be any changes to the “narrative core” of the experience, as Konami aims to make it as close to the original as possible.

2023 came and went without new trailers, details or footage, but development is still “progressing smoothly.” Based on PlayStation’s trailer for upcoming 2024 releases, it could very well launch this year on PS5 and PC. It’s not official until Konami makes it official, so stay tuned.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – Remake

Remember when Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – Remake was announced in September 2021 and promised a ground-up remake to the joy of many fans? How Aspyr Media was in charge of this big-name PS5 exclusive?

That was less than three years ago, and since then, there have rumors of development shifting to another developer, cancellation, refuting the cancellation, and so on. We know nothing about the remake – how it plays or its visuals outside the first announcement trailer. Here’s hoping for some good news in the coming months.

Marvel’s Wolverine

Insomniac Games ended 2023 with one of the most devastating leaks in gaming history, but that hasn’t dulled our enthusiasm for Marvel’s Wolverine. Helmed by the team behind Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales fame, it promises a mature tone while respecting the character’s DNA.

As a standalone title, it features some top-of-the-line developers and creative team. Regardless of whenever it releases and how it builds on the anti-hero’s mythos while offering some compelling gameplay, it should be as big of a PS5 exclusive as Insomniac’s Spider-Man titles.

Sword of the Sea

When a game offers a Hoversword – a sword crossed with a hoverboard, skateboard and snowboard – do you need much more? Giant Squid of ABZU and The Pathless fame thought so with its next title, Sword of the Sea. Featuring the Necropolis, a vast world of waves, players must revitalize it with the sea while tackling dangerous leviathans. With the ability to execute sick tricks and effortlessly cut through massive landscapes to composer Austin Wintory’s music, Sword of the Sea looks to be another classic in the making from Giant Squid. It’s coming to PS5 and PC with a release date yet to be announced.

Phantom Blade Zero

If there weren’t enough stylish hack-and-slash titles coming to PS5 (and PC) in the future, add S-Game’s Phantom Blade Zero to the list. It’s inspired by Ninja Gaiden with a steampunk aesthetic and easily executable combos (though there’s still parrying and dodging). But wait, there’s more, as it also offers a 30 to 40 hour story with plenty of side quests, an end-game with a roguelike activity and multiplayer dungeons. While it sounds too good to be true, S-Game will release a 30-minute demo this year, so we’ll probably experience Phantom Blade Zero’s blend of action sooner rather than later.

Helldivers 2

Arrowhead Game Studios’ Helldivers has been long overdue for a sequel, one that allows for traveling the galaxy and waging war against aliens for the sake of Super-Earth. Cue Helldivers 2, not only upping the fidelity but going third-person, increasing the immersion as you call down stratagems like airstrikes and chuck explosives at the hordes of bugs (or sentient robots). All the first game’s mechanics, from friendly fire to four-player co-op, are here. Progression is still a bit mysterious, but it seems mission completion and clearing hostile locations will be part of a grand war effort. We’ll find out when Helldivers 2 launches on February 8th for PS5 and PC.

Lost Soul Aside

Lost Soul Aside began development in 2014 when solo developer Yang Bin sought to create a hack-and-slash action RPG inspired by modern slashers. As the years progressed, the project grew bigger and joined Sony’s China Hero Project, with a development team, UltiZero Games, established. It’s in development for PS5 and PC, and while a release window still isn’t confirmed, the extensive gameplay from last year looks sharp, with promising combat and boss battles.

Fairgame$

The past year hasn’t been great for fans of heist games with underwhelming titles like Crime Boss: Rockay City and Payday 3. Nevertheless, Haven Entertainment Studios’ Fairgame$ could offer a fresh competitive heist experience for PS5 and PC. As a present-day Robin Hood, you’re part of a movement to rob the rich, venturing into locations to steal as much as possible while presumably dealing with rival crews. There’s a focus on emergent sandbox elements, with the CGI trailer showcasing grappling hooks and using environmental objects as shields, but a release window and gameplay have yet to be revealed.

Concord

If one first-party multiplayer with barely any details to go by isn’t enough, how about two? Firewalk Studios’ Concord is a sci-fi first-person shooter focused on PvP, with players venturing to different worlds and interacting with “colorful characters.” It’s part of Sony’s slate of live-service titles, coming to PS5 and PC in 2024, but that’s pretty much all we know. Firewalk and Sony have partnered since 2021, with the publisher acquiring the developer just last year. There’s a very strong chance of Concord arriving this year, but at this point, we need more details (and maybe a public beta or two to try it out).

EXILEDGE

Many titles in PlayStation’s China Hero Project offer stylish aesthetics and visuals. Enigmatrix’s EXILEDGE has a certain grunge to it, though, taking place on a planet of massive sci-fi constructs and oceans. Players control a tower diver who ventures to these constructs with third-person shooting and abilities. While it’s somewhat reminiscent of Outriders in gameplay look and feel, the movement appears much faster-paced with all kinds of fantastical enemies and creatures to battle. EXILEDGE doesn’t have a release window, but it’s exclusive to PS5.

Daba: Land of Water Scar

Exclusive to PS5, Daba: Land of Water Scar looks very stylish, with some Sekiro-esque parry mechanics and imaginative bosses. The story focuses on a clay puppet Daba, who turns human and must collect water fragments to save the world. Boasting interconnected levels, from ruins to snowy landscapes, and a sharp aesthetic, it could be another worthwhile action RPG for Sony’s catalogue.

Convallaria

Yet another title announced years ago, Convallaria is also a part of PlayStation’s China Hero Project. In development for PS4 and PS5, it’s seemingly an extraction shooter as up to 100 players battle PvE threats and engage in PvP. There are missions to complete, resources to gather and mysteries to solve. The art style mixes sci-fi and fantasy with a large map to explore and over-the-top enemies to fight. It looks fun and chaotic, but again, a release window has yet to be announced.

Project: The Perceiver

Papergames’ Project: The Perceiver is touted as a multiplatform title but has thus far only been confirmed for PS4 and PS5. Based on Lao Zhuang canon, it’s an open-world action game with players controlling the Master of Varietas. You meet different characters and “consolidate their distinctive ideals into masks,” as described by the developer, and combat looks fairly punishing. A release window is still unknown, but hopefully, there will be more details this year.

The Winds Rising

Another title in the China Hero Project, The Winds Rising is a PS5 action RPG with a heavy narrative focus. Players control a girl who meets a monster cub and embarks on an adventure which could shape the kingdom. Promising a “refreshing and smooth combat experience” along with an “immersive and captivating story,” The Winds Rising has yet to receive any gameplay or other details, but it comes from TiGames, who released the underrated F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch. For that reason alone, it’s worth keeping an eye on.

Towers of Aghasba

A gorgeous-looking open world title with surreal flora and fauna, Dreamlit Inc.’s Towers of Aghasba is about exploration and nurturing settlements. Set on the titular island, you can create massive villages and watch them grow with various inhabitants. As a member of the Shimu tribe, you’re tasked with revitalizing the land, interacting with strange creatures and ultimately restoring the ecosystem. There’s even a bit of Animal Crossing: New Horizons mixed in, as you can visit other players’ islands or invite them to your own and explore together. Towers of Aghasba doesn’t have a release date, but it’s coming to PS5 and PC.

Set in a world under threat, Daba is about a clay puppet that’s become human and who sets out to find water fragments within an ancient city. There are various environments to explore, including the aforementioned ancient city, abandoned ruins, a floating settlement, vast snowfields, and more. Levels are interconnected and nonlinear but also teeming with threats (including some massive bosses).

As the puppet collects the water fragments, they learn more about the world and themselves. Combat appears to mix Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty-style counters with Souls-like dodge-rolling. Stay tuned for more details on the action RPG in the coming weeks.