2016 — The Year of PlayStation 4? Console Expected To Thrive During Release Of Several Major Titles
The latest generation of consoles is yet to find its stride in the modern gaming marketplace, so with 2016 around the corner, it’s no surprise that one of the giants of the industry has some best-laid plans to dominate the New Year. Apparently, 2016 is the year of Sony and, more precisely, the PlayStation 4, with the console expected to thrive during the release of several major titles in the coming 12 months.
During an interview with Japanese website 4Gamer — via Techno Buffalo, who provided a welcome translation — Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida confirmed that 2016 is going to be a huge year in terms of major game releases. The company is expecting big things from the platform, which seems to have finally found its stride.
“2016 marks an unprecedented rush of big titles for PS4. It’s also the year of the long-awaited launch of PlayStation VR. It’s the year PS4 users, and those who are on the fence on whether to buy it will absolutely think, ‘It’s good to have a PS4.’ Please look forward to it.”
PlayStation VR. The name has been bounced around quite a bit since the introduction of the PS4, so fans are still very much on the fence in regards to this technology. Nathan Vella, co-founder of Capybara Games and makers of Time Force Ultra, recently spoke about the PlayStation VR experience, which can be combined with a full body vibration suit. He shared his experience of the technology with the Express.
“A short while ago I attended PlayStation Experience 2015 in San Francisco and was lucky enough to be given a shot at playing Rez Infinite wearing the full body vibration suit. Rez by itself is amazing. Rez in VR is wonderful. Rez in VR wearing a suit that provides intense vibration feedback tied directly to the game, its interactions and its music? Now that’s damn memorable. Just look at me!”
So the future of gaming is here? Maybe. With the Oculus Rift pioneering the modern unveiling of VR technology — after all, we all remember the initial rise of VR in the ’90s, one deemed too ahead of the times — there may yet be a market for the PlayStation VR. Only time and money, not to mention the patience of the everyday gamer, will determine its fate. The technology seems suited for many games on the market today, so it should enhance the experience for gamers who have their favourites sat at home. For those doubting the technology will work, a video showing its immense capability can be seen below.
As for the games, PlayStation 4 is expected to see releases of Unchartered 4: A Thief’s End, Persona 5, No Man’s Sky, Final Fantasy XV, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Street Fighter V, Horizon: Zero Dawn, The Last Guardian, and a potential release of Kingdom Hearts III. Let’s not forget about a little game called Mass Effect: Andromeda also. The list is looking to be much larger, but this should give gamers an idea of the scope and ambition of Sony’s 2016 release schedule. A lot of the games above are sequels to well-established game franchises, and the fans have been baying for a new instalment in many of the above series for some time.
And there couldn’t be a better time to usher them in. The next generation of game consoles has already benefited from several beloved releases in recent months, from games like Fallout 4 and The Witcher 3. The next generation is truly the correct platform to showcase the future of gaming, and with the above list, you can expect many happy gamers in 2016.
Overall, the next 12 months look promising, if not a little expensive and insane for the average gamer. Which such a range of games available, and a wave of technology that looks set to provide the ultimate gaming experience, 2016 really is looking like the year of the PlayStation 4.
[Image via Sony]
