2020 is set to be a bumper year for the gaming industry. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has led to delays and problems with development, it hasn’t impacted the release of next-gen consoles. Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are still due to launch later this year. Of course, that means that players will also get their hands on plenty of new titles.
Just like with any console launch, the focus often turns to the games in the run-up to release. After all, it doesn’t matter how good new hardware is if it doesn’t have great games to go with it. Sony and Microsoft have revealed plenty of upcoming titles over the last few weeks. Ranging from first-party games to exciting third-party projects, there is plenty to get excited about.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
One of the most surprising announcements during Sony’s PlayStation 5 event was Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Although not technically a standalone title, it has quickly become one of the most anticipated games. Focusing on the story of alternate Spider-Man hero Miles Morales, it is an expansion to the 2018 game. Developed by Insomniac Games like its predecessor, it will include new characters and locations as well as fresh villains. Sony also detailed how the new game would be a Holiday 2020 launch title for the PS5.
Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West is yet another exclusive that has been announced for the PS5. Also revealed during Sony’s recent live stream event, it is a sequel to Guerrilla Games’ 2017 game. It will continue the story of Horizon Zero Dawn, with players once again taking on the role of Aloy. This time around, she’ll journey to California as she continues her struggles against the ruling machines. Fans are already looking forward to getting back into the superb gameplay that made the action RPG so distinctive. It is expected to release in 2021.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was first revealed during the Xbox Series X official reveal in May. It acts as a sequel to the successful Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, which was released in 2017. The story looks set to continue the story from the first game. Microsoft purchased developer Ninja Theory not long after this, gaining the exclusive rights to the second installment. Players can expect the same dark themes and refined combat when the action-adventure game arrives on the Xbox Series X during the launch window. This means it could release anywhere from November 2020 to March 2021.
Hitman 3
The next entry in the critically acclaimed Hitman series was announced in the middle of June. It will be a direct sequel to the second game and continue the story from the trilogy so far. IO Interactive has promised it will bring a conclusion to the plot arc that started back in 2016. Hitman 3 will also take players to brand new locations around the world, such as in Dubai. All previously released content will also work with Hitman 3, which is set to release in January 2021 for PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One
Over the last few years, Frogwares has released a number of successful Sherlock Holmes games. With the release of next-generation consoles, the developer has announced a brand new game called Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One. Judging from the information released so far and the name, this looks to be a reboot of the series. It will detail the origins of the famous detective and take place on a Mediterranean island. This is very different from the other entries in the franchise, which have focused on Victorian London. It is set for release in 2021 on current and next-gen consoles, as well as PC.
Demon’s Souls
Sony also announced a remake of the 2009 game Demon’s Souls, to be released exclusively on PS5. The remake is being handled by a completely new studio called Bluepoint Games. This is nothing new for the series, as FromSoftware has previously outsourced remasters to other developers. Unlike the later Dark Souls series, which began in 2011, it is a more experimental and less grim experience. Everything will be built from the ground up to create the best game possible using the PlayStation 5 hardware. No release date has been announced.
Dragon Age 4
Although it isn’t exactly clear what the new Dragon Age game will be called, its existence was confirmed recently. EA revealed the title during their recent presentation along with a range of others. Unfortunately, very few details were revealed about the title. All we do know is that it won’t be coming for quite some time yet (April 2022 at the earliest). The main reason for this is that development is just not very far along compared to other games. But fans are sure to be happy to get back to the fantasy RPG that first began life in 2009.
Star Wars: Squadrons
Star Wars: Squadrons was something of a surprise announcement at EA’s recent presentation. No one had previously known about the game before its reveal during the livestream. The mainly multiplayer title will put players into the role of starfighter pilots. Unlike similar Star Wars games, it will focus more on realistic piloting and combat. EA also detailed how the game will be set shortly after Return of the Jedi. While it was never officially announced to be coming to next-gen consoles, its October 2, 2020 release date makes this an almost certainty.
Which next-gen game are you most looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!
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