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 at 2021, it is almost impossible to imagine what the future holds. The show must go on, however, and our annual PlayStation predictions are part of the New Year ritual here at Push Square. Here’s what we expect from the next 12 months.
Sammy Barker, editor
E3 is over. Who knows what the world will be like next summer? Not me, that’s for sure. However, even if It’s safe to hold conventions in June – I don’t think so – I think E3 is over. You must remember, before the coronavirus pandemic finally shut down, that many companies were giving up on E3 2020. I argued at the time that it may have been a blessing in disguise. But now I think the show is done forever: the editors this year have proved that it is better to announce games on their own terms, and there is simply no longer any real purpose for this event. COVID-19 will ultimately determine whether there will be a show in 2021, but I think that in the future this annual industry bonanza has had its day.
Starfield receives a full price PS5 release a month after the Xbox. The point is that, at the time of writing, Microsoft had not yet officially acquired Bethesda, and I believe Starfield is scheduled to launch in 2021. With Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, the company did not officially debut before six. months before launch, so my guess is that it’s almost done. And, until a few months ago, the company planned to launch it on the PS5 – there were even rumors that Sony was trying to guarantee it as a timed exclusive – so I think a lot of the work has already been done. The result? The game will still be released on PS5, it will arrive just a month later, with minimal marketing support, and you will obviously have to pay the full price for it, instead of getting it as part of a subscription. Better than nothing?
It is a great year for Uncharted. Oh, do you think Sony ended up with Uncharted? You are totally crazy. This is one of the most popular intellectual properties on the PlayStation, and it’s not like there’s a new one every year – hell, the previous edition released in 2017, which is a lifetime in this industry. A new Uncharted game is sure to be announced this year for both PS5 and PS4, and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it was released in time for the holidays. I hope your marketing is closely associated with Uncharted Movie, which will rank below 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, but will be relatively well received by fans. Speaking of the film, by the way: don’t be surprised if it is available to rent exclusively on the PS Store at the same time it is in theaters.
Robert Ramsey, Deputy Editor
Final Fantasy VII Remake receives an expanded relaunch on PS5 (and other platforms). I’m not sure what this really involves, but I think Final Fantasy VII Remake will have some kind of enhanced PS5 reissue in 2021. Maybe there’s a section where you play as Sephiroth or something – a real one to please fans. I just feel like Square Enix has been suspiciously quiet since the release of Remake in April. Obviously, that team will have moved on to the sequel at this point, but I still can’t imagine leaving Remake alone – not when the publisher can capitalize on other platforms.
Final Fantasy XVI will have a release date in November 2021 and then be postponed to 2022. Look, I don’t want to be depressing, but Square Enix is going to sell us a Final Fantasy XVI release date that ends up being too early. Although reports have said that the game has been in some form of development for at least four years, I think there is still time. But that will not stop the publisher from launching trailers and showing the gameplay until the summer, before telling us that it will arrive in November 2021. A few months later, it will be postponed until spring 2022, and we all shake our heads in unison. I can’t wait to see more of the game, however.
We will see Kratos riding a giant wolf in the gameplay of God of War Ragnarok. Here is my super-specific prediction that will make me look like a prophet if I get it right. Although I am not convinced that it will actually be released this year, I think we will see a little gameplay from God of War Ragnarok. And in this gameplay, we will, at some point, see Kratos riding a giant wolf. Probably Skoll or Hati – the wolves that chase the sun and moon in Norse mythology – but let’s not start too specific. The game is going to sound crazy, by the way.
Stephen Tailby, Associate Editor
The Bloodborne remaster is real and will be announced and released in 2021. I will confess, I am not the biggest Bloodborne fan. I am very grateful – the combat, the art direction, the bosses – but it is not quite my face, personally. Even so, I understand the desire for a remastering (or even a sequence). This is one of the most loved games on PS4 and deserves a complete treatment. Do you want to know why Sony is so quiet in this game for so long? It’s because you’re getting a PS5 remaster, it’s been in the works for years and incorporates everything you want; 60 frames per second, very short load times and beautiful 4K visuals. Reserve, it’s happening.
Spyro comes with a brand new game. Activision has released beautiful remakes of its beloved franchises, but in 2020, it took it a step further with Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. Given that Spyro’s retro collection followed the N. Sane Trilogy, I think a new title starring the little purple dragon is coming. I expected him to follow a similar pattern. This will be a numbered sequence after the events of Year of the Dragon, and its gameplay and structure will be similar to the original trilogy, albeit with some new features. I think Activision will announce this new Spyro game sometime in 2021.
MLB The Show 21 is released on multiple platforms, and there will be memes. The celebrated San Diego Studio baseball simulator has been exclusive to the PlayStation for many years, but as we know, that is changing with the next game in the series. Show 21 will be multiplatform, appearing on Microsoft and Nintendo systems, as well as on the 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 under private scrutiny because the series has always been of a high standard and any flaws found in a version of the X Series or Switch will be separated and spread online. I’m sure the game will be another great sports simulator, but I can’t see the first multiplatform iteration coming out totally unscathed.
Liam Croft, senior writer
Elden Ring finally returns, but it will not be released in 2021. This has to be the year, right? The latest FromSoftware title has been missing in action for a long, long time at this point. I think a proper revelation will take place in the first six months of 2021, although Elden Ring is not quite ready to hit stores yet. A launch window in early 2022 will be confirmed before a final release date is announced at The Game Awards. To add a little more spice to this prediction, the Chalice Dungeons seen in Bloodborne will return after a complete overhaul of their mechanics and design. Do it, George RR Martin.
CD Projekt RED will release the first main piece of the Cyberpunk 2077 DLC for free. It is almost impressive how the Polish studio managed to completely destroy its reputation in the space of a single week. As a result, the developer will do almost anything to win the hearts of his formerly devoted followers – this includes distributing the first major expansion for Cyberpunk 2077 for free. I’m not talking about the little bits of DLC that complemented The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt at launch. This will be a major expansion focused on history that presents a whole new story for Night City. You will not pay a cent to access it and the PS5 update will be released the same day.
Sony offers a new subscription service that hosts PS Plus and PS Now under one roof. The Japanese giant recently said it has news waiting on the wings that provide a response to Microsoft’s Game Pass service. This will be a new optional subscription that combines everything PlayStation Plus has to offer with the complete PlayStation Now library. Sony will commit to adding more PS4 and PS5 games to the service on a faster basis, but its original titles will not do. part of the subscription from day one.
What do you think the future holds for PS5 and PS4? What are your big game predictions for 2021? What do you expect to shock and surprise us next year? Clarify everything in the comments section below.