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E3 2016 Predictions: Sony
Sony’s E3 press conferences are almost always chock full of surprises – from new game announcements to hardware bombshells. This year’s event should be no different. PlayStation VR will obviously be a big focal point for Sony, but we also suspect the company has plenty of new games to show, as several of its big development studios have been quietly working on projects for years.
We looked at what these studios have been up to, read over the big rumors and leaks on the internet, and compiled some of our best wild guesses to formulate a potential roadmap for Sony’s E3 press conference. Keep in mind, all of this is speculation at this point. None of it is confirmed. We could swing and miss with all of it. There’s also a chance we hit on a few of them.
Let us know what you think of our ideas, and give us some of your own in the comments section below. No matter what happens, this should be a fun press conference for PlayStation fans.
A New Console Introduced
For months, the internet has been abuzz with rumors of Sony developing new hardware. According to sources, the new hardware is codenamed PlayStation Neo (also nicknamed PS4K and PS4.5 by reporters), and is believed to offer an improved GPU, more memory, and Ultra HD Blu-Ray support to take advantage of 4K TVs. We believe Sony will show off the machine for the first time at E3, but will not give a release date. That will likely happen closer to the holiday season at Gamescom in August.
A New Spider-Man Game Debuts On PlayStation 4
Although Activision holds the movie and television rights for Spider-Man through 2018, evidence points to Sucker Punch (a Sony-owned studio) working on a new Spider-Man title. The timing lines up for an E3 reveal and a July 2017 release to coincide with the upcoming Marvel film. If the game is shown, it’ll be interesting to learn who is publishing the project. If it’s Activision, there’s a good chance the game could also be coming to Xbox One and PC. If it’s jointly between Sony and Activision, it could remain a PlayStation 4 exclusive.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare DLC First On PlayStation 4
Of all of our predictions, this one has the highest chance of happening. This is a deal Activision has been offering to console manufacturers for years. Sony locked up the exclusive window for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’s DLC, and we believe the same deal will be in place for the upcoming Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. 
No Man’s Sky Gets PlayStation VR
The unexpected delay that hit No Man’s Sky a month before its release may in fact have been needed to further polish the game, but we have a sneaking suspicion Sony asked Hello Games to implement PlayStation VR support. It pushes the game closer to the busy holiday season and opens the door for early VR adopters to buy No Man’s Sky – a win/win proposition for Hello Games.
New Final Fantasy VII Remake Footage Shown
We know Final Fantasy VII Remake is coming first to PlayStation 4, and Sony will likely bang this drum again at E3 with new footage of the game in action. We expect to see more familiar characters make their high-end debut. We’re also crossing our fingers for a look at the snowboarding minigame. Yes, that’s a joke.
Knack 2. This is Not a Joke
There’s always a point during an E3 press conference where people are confused by what is happening on stage. If Knack 2 gets announced, this will likely be the time for that to happen. Knack 2’s name appeared on an animator’s LinkedIn profile, potentially pointing to the game being in development. The first game wasn’t received well, but showed plenty of potential. We’d like to see Sony take another shot at it.
Hearthstone Console Version Shown First On PlayStation 4
Blizzard appears to be committed to the console space, with Diablo III and Overwatch finding great success on Xbox and PlayStation platforms. Why don’t we have Hearthstone on them yet? We think we’ll see that happen this year, starting with an E3 reveal at Sony’s press conference, along with a couple of cards that are exclusive to the PlayStation 4 version.
Rise of the Tomb Raider Better On PlayStation 4
Microsoft’s exclusive timing window with Rise of the Tomb Raider expires this year, and we bet we see the PlayStation 4 version at E3 with a bevy of new content in it to lure fans back to it for a second time. We wouldn’t be surprised if it’s called Rise of the Tomb Raider: The Definitive Edition.
Ape Escape VR
The world needs more Ape Escape. While we would like to see a straight-up sequel hit PlayStation 4 first, our gut tells us Sony would likely use this goofy franchise as a test subject for PlayStation VR.
Hideo Kojima Takes Stage
We know Hideo Kojima and his new take on Kojima Productions partnered with Sony for an upcoming video game. Odds are Sony reminds us of this partnership at E3. Kojima will likely take the stage in some capacity. Will he just be there to verbally tease something? That’s the likely scenario, but he’s also a master of visual riddles. We wouldn’t put it past him to reveal something similar to PT or the masked man from Moby Dick Studio.
Sony Bend’s Next Game Shown
Sony Bend has been working on an unannounced game for years, and recent domain registrations hint at Sony potentially having a game called Dead Don’t Ride. The name has also appeared on the resume of a stunt woman who worked with Sony on The Last of Us and Infamous: Second Son. Could this be Sony Bend’s new title? We’ll have to wait and see, but it’s time for the studio to show us what it has been working on.
Detroit: Become Human Gets a New Name
Quantic Dream’s upcoming Detroit: Become Human is a name few people can recite correctly. Even if it fits the game well, we wouldn’t be surprised if Sony punches it up at E3 with something that rolls off of the tongue a little better. We also anticipate getting our first good look at the title with a live on-stage demo.
God of War Returns…But Without Kratos
We believe we’ll see a short look at a new God of War PlayStation 4 game. Set in Norse mythology, it would make sense for the game to feature a new protagonist. Much like The Crow movies, we believe this new god killer will bear the same markings as Kratos, but will act differently on the battlefield, with new weapons and more of a lumbering aggressiveness. 
Naughty Dog Shows Next Game
What better way for Sony to close out its press conference than with Naughty Dog’s logo appearing on screen, and giving way to a look at the studio’s next project. All signs point to that being The Last of Us 2, but we’d also like to see Naughty Dog venture into new IP territory again. We’d also like to see those scrapped Jak & Daxter concepts become a legitimate game.
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