Okay, let’s face it. Two years on from its initial release, the PlayStation 5 doesn’t really have a catalogue of games that truly take advantage of everything the console has to offer. The PS5 is a powerhouse of a console that boasts a lot of impressive under-the-hood upgrades, but sadly, there aren’t enough PS5 titles that can put the next-gen hardware to the test. That may soon be about to change. A host of gaming developers are putting their best feet forward, unveiling new trailers for titles that promise to deliver what PlayStation fans have been waiting for. And no, we’re just talking about God of War: Ragnarok.
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10 Most Anticipated PlayStation Games
As Sony attempts to get more PS5s out the door this holiday season, there are some excellent next-gen exclusive games set to launch in the near future that will surely put the new hardware to use. Sony and other third-party publishers have an incredible lineup of PlayStation 5 games planned to launch during this holiday season and in 2023 that players should be excited and hyped for. So, we have put together a list of some of the hottest and most anticipated PlayStation 5 releases scheduled to come out in the second half of 2022 and beyond. Let’s dive in.
1. God of War: Ragnarok
So, this one should be a no-brainer. The sequel to 2018’s God of War is among the hottest upcoming PS5 releases and the hype is through the roof for this one, which isn’t surprising at all. Sony has some of the best first-party studios under its belt and franchises like God of War are big money makers for the company.
God of War: Ragnarok will pick up the story three years after the previous game’s events as Fimbulwinter, a prolonged winter spanning three summers comes to an end, marking the advent of the foretold Ragnarok. Players will get to visit all the nine realms, something which wasn’t possible in the previous title, and as per a blog post by the developers themselves, it’s revealed that the realms will be more gruelling with new adversaries roaming the lands. The game will also wrap things up storywise, so be ready for some major revelations.
Developer: Sony Santa Monica Studio
Publisher: Sony
Release date: November 9, 2022
PlayStation Exclusive: Yes
2. Forspoken
Next up, is Forspoken, a game “designed for PlayStation 5” from Luminous Productions, a subsidiary of Square Enix, the fabled company loaded with developers who formerly worked on Final Fantasy 15. This new title is the team’s debut project and a lot will be riding on the game, especially after all the delays. In the game, you play as Frey Holland, a young woman living in New York City about to turn 21 years old. However, everything changes when she mysteriously gets teleported to the stunning and harsh world of Athia, “where fantasies and nightmares are suddenly very real.” You will get to learn different magical powers and need to fight off monsters as you traverse through the lands and try to find a way to return home safe and sound.
Developer: Luminous Productions
Publisher: Square Enix
Release date: January 24, 2023
PlayStation Exclusive: Yes
3. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Square Enix has some truly exciting projects in the pipeline for the PS5, including Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second game in the three-part Final Fantasy 7 remake project. Importantly, the game is currently all set to launch in winter 2023 and will be a PS5 exclusive. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth seems to kick things off right from where the last game left, with Cloud reaching the village of Kalm and Zack going into the Sector 5 church in pursuit of Aerith. Not much is currently known about the plot or what locations players will get to explore. However, new players who haven’t played either Final Fantasy 7 or Final Fantasy 7 Remake will be able easily to pick up the game and enjoy the whole adventure, if creative director Tetsuya Nomura is to be believed.
Nomura said, “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is being designed so that people can enjoy this game whether they know the original game or not. In fact, new players might even enjoy starting their Final Fantasy 7 journey with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Cloud and his friends embark on a new journey in this game, and I believe that the scenes that they witness after leaving Midgar will give players a fresh, new experience.”
Developer: Internal team
Publisher: Square Enix
Release date: Winter 2023
PlayStation Exclusive: Yes
4. Final Fantasy 16
Another much-awaited game from Square Enix slated to arrive in the summer of next year is Final Fantasy 16. It will be a PlayStation-only title launching exclusively for the PS5, produced by Naoki Yoshida (Final Fantasy 14 director) and directed by Hiroshi Takai. Final Fantasy 16 will take place in Valisthea, which, as per the game’s official website, is “studded with Mothercrystals – glittering mountains of crystal that tower over the six realms around them, blessing them with aether.”
Over the course of several generations, people have visited the beacons “to take advantage of their blessing, using the aether to conjure magicks that let them live lives of comfort and plenty.” However, things have started going sideways as the rapid spread of the Blight poses a big danger and “threatens to destroy their dominions.”
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Release date: Summer 2023
PlayStation Exclusive: Yes
5. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after games of 2023. Insomniac Games hit the ball out of the park with their 2018’s Spider-Man and are back at it again with its spiritual successor. The game was first shown off during the September 2021 PlayStation showcase and is coming exclusively to PS5 sometime in 2023. A short announcement trailer accompanied the reveal, setting the stage for what lies ahead for our Spidermen, yes, you heard that right! The trailer shows both Peter Parker and Miles Morales fighting crime side by side when suddenly the duo notices a familiar face lurking in the dark.
The camera then zooms in towards a dark alley where we catch our first glimpse of Venom, who appears to be probably one of many antagonists in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Word on the street is that the main villain for the sequel will be Kraven the Hunter, but nothing is guaranteed for now. Apart from all the foes that we will encounter, there will also be a ton of new suits, abilities, and more to check out, as confirmed by Sony and Insomniac Games.
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release date: TBC 2023
PlayStation Exclusive: Yes
6. Marvel’s Wolverine
Our old man Logan is finally getting a AAA game treatment (something that was long overdue) in the form of Marvel’s Wolverine, a PS5 console exclusive built from the ground up. The game is being developed by none other than, Insomniac Games, who already have shown their creative calibre in two previous Marvel games.
The studio has been tight-lipped surrounding the game and the only thing we have so far is a quick CG trailer. Brian Horton has taken the role of the creative director and Cameron Christian is acting as the game director for the upcoming Wolverine game. Furthermore, the studio also mentioned that it aims to “respect the DNA of what makes the character so popular, but also try to make it feel fresh” by giving the character their own spin. Right now, it’s hard to say what the game will be like (an open-world or a linear-driven adventure) or the game’s plot. That said, we are confident that Logan is in very safe hands.
Developer: Insomniac Games
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release date: TBA
PlayStation Exclusive: Yes
7. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League lets you jump into the shoes of some of the most wanted criminals in the DC universe. Rocksteady Studios, the same people behind the Batman: Arkham series, are leading the game’s development. The new game is set in the same universe as the Arkham games and takes place sometime after the events of Batman: Arkham Knight and promises a brand new story with a 1-4 player co-op, and four playable characters to choose from. These include the infamous Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark. We also got a glimpse of Evil Superman, The Flash, and Green Lantern, all of whom are under the control and influence of Brainiac, who intends to take over the Earth. The game was originally slated to release in 2022 but was later pushed to spring of next year.
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Publisher: Warner Bros
Release date: Spring 2023
PlayStation Exclusive: No
8. Hogwarts Legacy
Get ready to explore the magical castle of Hogwarts or the neighbouring village of Hogsmeade with Hogwarts Legacy, a brand new AAA game from Avalanche Software. The game’s story takes place during the late 1800s and puts you in the shoes of a totally customizable character who’s joining the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry late as a fifth-year student. Hogwarts Legacy is being touted as an open-world RPG, meaning players will have the full freedom to go anywhere and do anything. After suffering a delay last year, the game is currently on track to release during the 2022 holiday season. We already have seen a decent amount of gameplay and hope that the game comes out this year.
Developer: Avalanche Software
Publisher: Warner Bros. Games
Release date: TBA Holiday 2022
PlayStation Exclusive: No
9. Project 007
Alright, here’s an interesting one. Our favourite spy, James Bond, is making its video games return in a big way with IO Interactive’s upcoming and ambitious Project 007. The upcoming game’s title is still in the works and according to IO’s announcement on their official website, “Project 007 (working title) is a brand new James Bond video game featuring a wholly original Bond story, players will step into the shoes of the world’s favourite Secret Agent to earn their 00 status in the very first James Bond origin story.” So, it’s clear that we will get to see a young Bond different from what we have seen in the movies, someone who is still learning the ropes. There’s still no timeline on when to expect this one, but until then, you can get your Bond game fix courtesy of the cunning mods who turned GoldenEye 007 into a full-scale The Spy Who Loved Me title.
Developer: IO Interactive
Publisher: IO Interactive
Release date: TBC
PlayStation Exclusive: No
10. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Fans of the Star Wars franchise will be happy to know that the sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is on track to release sometime next year. The sequel takes place five years after the original game and will see the return of both Cal Kestis and our beloved droid BD-1. The last we saw of Padawan Cal Kestis was when he sacrificed the opportunity to rebuild the Jedi Order in order to save Force-sensitive children from the Empire. With Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, developers Respawn Entertainment is going for a darker tone as Cal will need to do “whatever it takes to stay alive,” since he is one of the last remaining Jedi in the galaxy.
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Publisher: EA
Release date: TBA 2023
PlayStation Exclusive: No
General FAQs
According to developer Sony, God of War: Ragnarok will release on 9 November 2022.
Video game developer Sony Interactive Entertainemnt has yet to confirm when Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will release, however, the title is expected to drop sometime in 2023.
