PlayStation State of Play February Recap
- Matthew Rondina
- 5 days ago
- 11 min read
The PlayStation State of Play delivered plenty to get excited about, my full recap covers every announcement, trailer, and more.
Clocking in at just over an hour, PlayStation State of Play offered an incredible array of titles and a few surprises to get excited about. From long-awaited remasters to bold new IP and a God of War double feature bomb shell. Sony ran the gauntlet of first-party heavy hitters, exciting indie games and exciting third-party partnerships.
Below you’ll find every announcement, complete with release windows and everything you need to know about PlayStation’s exciting upcoming road map of games releasing in 2026 and beyond.
Kena: Scars of Kosmora
Platform: PlayStation 5, PC
Release Date: TBA 2026
Ember Lab kicked things off in style with a stunning new chapter that looks bigger, deeper, and far more emotionally layered than its predecessor. Kena, now a seasoned Spirit Guide, travels to the mysterious island of Kosmora seeking both a cure for her affliction and answers tied to her past. She is met with a corruption powerful enough to fracture her staff. To survive, she must embrace a dangerous, forgotten form of elemental Spirit Guiding that expands combat strategy in exciting ways. New spirit companions grow alongside you, unlocking abilities that enhance exploration, puzzle-solving, and boss encounters across a hauntingly beautiful island filled with secrets.
Ghost of Yōtei Legends
Platform: PlayStation 5 Release Date: March 10th, 2026 (Free DLC)
Ghost of Yōtei Legends launches March 10th as a free 1.5 update, adding a supernatural co-op layer to the samurai experience. Players can choose from distinct character classes, earn cosmetics, tackle three mission types, and prepare for an upcoming Raid in the months ahead. The combat looks fast, coordinated, and designed for squad synergy, with spectral enemies and mythic elements shaping the battlefield. It feels like Sucker Punch doubling down on community-driven swordplay and I’m ready with my blade sharpened.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (PC Announcement)
Platform: PC
Release Date: March 19th, 2026
Kojima Productions confirmed that Death Stranding 2 is heading to PC on March 19th, with ultra-wide monitor support, enhanced upscaling, and additional features, launching alongside a PS5 update. Pre-purchase is already live on Steam and Epic Games Store. The PC version promises visual fidelity enhancements that should make its vast landscapes even more immersive. Whether you’re revisiting Sam’s journey or stepping into it for the first time, this release aims to deliver the definitive experience. You can check out my full Death Stranding 2 review on PlayStation 5 here.
4: LOOP
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: TBA
Bad Robot Games delivered a deeper dive into 4: LOOP, a four-player co-op shooter built around emergent combat and replayability. Director Mike Booth outlined a gameplay structure where dynamic encounters, player decisions, and environmental shifts ensure every run feels fresh. The core loop is built around teamwork, strategic synergy, and adapting on the fly to unpredictable enemy behaviors. If you love co-op shooters that reward communication and smart positioning, this one looks designed to keep squads coming back.
PRAGMATA
Platform: PlayStation 5 Release Date: April 24th, 2026
Set in a lunar research facility in the near future, protagonists Hugh and android companion Diana must combine hacking systems with combat mechanics to survive. The interplay between action and tactical hacking is the game’s defining hook, and you’ll be able to try it out for yourself with a demo arriving on the PlayStation Store shortly after the State of Play. Visually sharp and tonally mysterious, PRAGMATA feels like a bold new pillar for Capcom’s lineup.
Resident Evil: Requiem
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: February 27th, 2026
Capcom delivered another haunting look at Resident Evil: Requiem, further spotlighting its dual-protagonist structure. Players will alternate between Leon S. Kennedy, whose path leans into tighter gunplay and high-intensity combat encounters, and Grace Ashford, whose sections emphasize vulnerability, psychological tension, and slower, resource-driven survival. The contrast in playstyles creates a compelling rhythm, one that I can’t wait to experience. The shifting between explosive action and suffocating dread will be an interesting balance for the series. With PS5 Pro support enhancing lighting and environmental detail, Requiem is shaping up to be one of the series’ most atmospheric entries yet.
Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered
Platform: PlayStation 5, PS4
Release Date: March 3, 2026
Return to Nosgoth in a remaster that modernizes visuals, camera control, and gameplay flow while preserving the soul of the original. Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered brings Kain and Raziel’s clash of fate and free will back to center stage. Alongside graphical upgrades, players get archival bonuses and a playable demo of the cancelled sequel Dark Prophecy in the Deluxe Edition. For fans of dark fantasy storytelling, this is a resurrection worth celebrating.
Brigandine Abyss
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: 2026
Brigandine Abyss marks the return of the classic hex-grid strategy RPG franchise. Building on the foundation laid in the original PlayStation era and refined in Runersia, this new entry focuses on large-scale tactical battles and kingdom management. The grid-based combat appears thoughtfully layered, encouraging careful positioning and long-term planning. Strategy fans who appreciate deep, methodical gameplay should keep this on their radar.
Dead or Alive 6: Last Round
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: June 25, 2026
Celebrating 30 years of 3D fighting, Dead or Alive 6: Last Round arrives June 25th, 2026 with both standard and free-to-play editions. Featuring 29 fighters and optimized performance for PS5, the definitive edition also adds a new photo mode for capturing high-impact moments. The combat looks smooth and responsive, with beloved characters returning in updated form. It’s a celebration of the franchise’s legacy and a reminder that DOA still hits harder than ever.
New Dead or Alive Title in Development
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: TBA
Team Ninja confirmed that a brand-new Dead or Alive installment is officially in development. While details remain under wraps, the teaser suggests the series is evolving beyond its current iteration. After three decades, it’s exciting to see the franchise looking ahead.
Control Resonant
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: 2026
Remedy arrived at the State of Play to offer a more in-depth look at its supernatural universe with Control Resonant. You play as Dylan Faden, battling through Manhattan, which has been warped by gravity anomalies and otherworldly distortions, creating unpredictable traversal and combat scenarios. Dylan’s shapeshifting weapon adds versatility, encouraging aggressive playstyles that blend melee attacks and psychic abilities. It looks like a bold evolution of Control’s reality-bending formula it’s another game that is on the top of my list for 2026, especially after the absolutely incredible experience I had with Alan Wake 2.
Crimson Moon
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: 2026
Crimson Moon introduces a gothic action-RPG experience where you embody a Nephilim warrior battling demonic forces. Combat appears brutal and souls-inspired, with melee abilities and supernatural powers working in tandem. Replayable runs and two-player co-op amplify both intensity and challenge scaling. Dark, stylish, and atmospheric, it’s shaping up to be a standout new IP.
Beast of Reincarnation
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: August 4, 2026
Set in a devastated far-future Japan, Beast of Reincarnation follows Emma and her canine companion Koo. Players alternate between real-time sword combat and issuing tactical commands to Koo, creating a layered combat system. The emotional bond between human and beast appears central to both gameplay and story. It’s equal parts action-RPG and heartfelt journey.
Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: February 13, 2026
Digital Eclipse delivers a lovingly crafted anniversary edition of Rayman featuring five versions of the original game. Over 120 additional levels, enhanced features, and an interactive documentary round out the celebration. Composer Christophe Héral contributes a reimagined soundtrack that breathes new life into the classic. This is a definitive tribute to one of platforming’s most iconic heroes.
Mina the Hollower
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: Spring 2026
Yacht Games showcased new gameplay for Mina the Hollower, promising its largest adventure yet. With over 25 bosses, dozens of trinkets, weapon upgrades, and modifiers, depth is clearly the goal. A limited-time PS5 demo gives players an early taste. Retro inspiration meets modern design ambition here.
Neva: Prologue
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: February 19th, 2026
This emotional DLC explores how Alba and Neva first met, years before the original story. Players guide the wolf cub through new environments filled with fresh enemies and environmental hazards. New gameplay mechanics deepen the bond between the pair. It looks like a heartfelt expansion that enriches the core narrative.
Yakoh Shinobi Ops
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: TBA 2027
Yakoh Shinobi Ops delivers four-player isometric stealth action with a heavy emphasis on teamwork. Players combine ninjutsu abilities to infiltrate guarded territory while evading traps and an unstoppable Pursuer. The dynamic between coordination and survival looks intense. Solo play is possible, but this looks like a game that clearly shines with a squad.
Project Windless
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: TBA
Inspired by The Bird That Drinks Tears novel series, Project Windless is a dark fantasy open-world RPG. You play as a Reikon, a humanoid bird warrior known for immense strength. Set thousands of years before the source material, it promises deep lore and expansive exploration. The concept alone feels refreshingly unique.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Window: TBA 2026
Star Wars: Galactic Racer reinvents racing within the lawless Outer Rim. Gameplay footage showcased multiple planets, vehicles, and racers competing in unsanctioned circuits. The pace looks fast and frantic, with personality infused into every competitor. It’s a Galaxy Far, Far Away but with pedal-to-the-metal intensity and I can’t wait to get into the driver’s seat.
007 First Light
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: May 27th, 2026
IO Interactive gave us a deeper look at its original James Bond origin story, and it’s shaping up to be something special. Set in part across the icy terrain of Iceland, the new trailer shows Bond being recruited into MI6’s revived 00 programme, where he crosses paths with former agent John Greenway while hunting rogue operative 009. The tone leans into cinematic espionage, stylish infiltration, and globe-trotting intensity. If Hitman’s sandbox precision meets full-blown Bond spectacle, we could have something truly iconic on our hands.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: August 27, 2026
Metal Gear fans, this is big new. Master Collection Vol. 2 is coming bundling Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (HD), and the portable classic Metal Gear: Ghost Babel into one enhanced package. Alongside performance improvements and customizable controls, the collection includes scenario books, master books, and a Digital Soundtrack Vol. 2 packed with legendary tracks. It’s both preservation and celebration, and a must-have for tactical espionage action enthusiasts.
Darwin’s Paradox!
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: April 2, 2026
Darwin’s Paradox! might just be the most unexpectedly charming reveal of the show. You play as a curious octopus thrown into a world-saving adventure, and yes, there’s a Tactical Octopus Action demo inspired by Metal Gear Solid dropping immediately. The gameplay leans into stealth, traversal, and creative environmental interaction in surprisingly clever ways. It looks quirky on the surface, but there’s real design ambition bubbling underneath.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Window: TBA 2026
Konami, Evil Empire, and Motion Twin are teaming up to revive classic 2D gothic action with Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. This new action-exploration title blends whip-cracking combat with new weapons, traversal abilities, and a bold new art direction. The trailer’s hand-crafted visuals and dramatic cutscenes radiate reverence for the series’ legacy while pushing it forward stylistically. For fans craving classic Castlevania energy with modern polish, this looks like a dream return.
Silent Hill: Townfall
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Window: TBA 2026
Silent Hill: Townfall continues to lean hard into psychological tension and intimate horror. The shift to a full first-person perspective makes exploration feel personal and deeply unsettling, while the portable CRTV device cleverly evolves the franchise’s iconic radio mechanic. Enemies dynamically react to your presence, emphasizing stealth and smart decision-making over brute force. Even with a fresh protagonist and setting, the oppressive atmosphere screams classic Silent Hill.
Rev. Noir
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: TBA
Rev. Noir introduces a haunting JRPG world plagued by a deadly phenomenon known as Lightfall, a force that instantly kills anyone it touches. The story follows an amnesiac boy and a mysterious girl on a journey they believe will save the world, though hints suggest far deeper consequences. The aesthetic feels dramatic and melancholic, with sweeping environments and stylized character designs. It’s a narrative-driven RPG that looks poised to explore themes of hope, destiny, and sacrifice.
Untitled John Wick Game
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: TBD
Saber Interactive is crafting a brand-new AAA John Wick experience in close collaboration with Chad Stahelski, Keanu Reeves, and Lionsgate. Set within a key chapter of the timeline, this original story expands the franchise’s lore while delivering authentic “gun-fu” combat. The promise of cinematic camerawork, bold environments, intense driving sequences, and brutal close-quarters encounters feels perfectly aligned with the films. As a longtime fan of the franchise, this is one I’m watching very closely.
Marathon
Platform: PlayStation 5 and PC
Release Date: March 5th, 2026
Bungie’s sci-fi extraction shooter Marathon launches March 5, but players can jump in early during the Server Slam weekend from February 26 to March 2. Set on Tau Ceti IV, the game blends high-stakes scavenging, PvPvE encounters, and strategic team play with cross-play and cross-save support. You can squad up, go solo, or form uneasy alliances using proximity chat. With Bungie’s pedigree behind it, this is one competitive shooter that could dominate conversations in 2026.
Big Walk
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: TBA 2026
From the creators of Untitled Goose Game comes Big Walk, a cooperative “walker-talker” launching day one into PlayStation Plus. Set in a sprawling open world, the experience focuses on communication, teamwork, and playful exploration rather than traditional combat. Tools and toys help you stay connected, and sometimes hilariously disconnected, from your friends. It looks equal parts charming and chaotic in the best possible way.
Saros
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: April 30th, 2026
Housemarque’s next single-player action title, Saros, launches April 30 and looks fiercely ambitious. Set on the planet Carcosa under the threat of an ominous eclipse, players control Arjun Devraj as shifting biomes and escalating corruption reshape the battlefield. Armor upgrades, Carcosan Modifiers, fast travel systems, and evolving enemy threats promise high replayability. If Returnal was any indication, Saros will not be for the faint of heart.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Platform: PS5 and PC
Release Date: August 6, 2026
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls punches onto PS5 and PC August 6, bringing the Unbreakable X-Men front and center. Storm, Magik, Wolverine, and Danger headline the roster as Episode Mode delivers a fully voiced original story crafted alongside Marvel Games. The fusion of American comic book energy and Japanese manga style creates a striking visual identity. Fast, flashy, and competitive, this one looks built for both hardcore fighters and Marvel fans alike.
God of War Trilogy Remake
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: TBA
In one of the night’s biggest bombshells, Santa Monica Studio confirmed that the original Greek saga is being remade for PlayStation 5. While still early in development, the announcement alone sent shockwaves through the community. Hearing TC Carson involved in the reveal added a nostalgic punch longtime fans won’t forget. It may be a while before we see gameplay — but the return of classic Kratos is officially underway.
God of War: Sons of Sparta
Platform: PlayStation 5
Release Date: Available Now
Closing the show with a surprise drop, God of War: Sons of Sparta is a 2D action platformer exploring Kratos’ brutal Agoge training alongside Deimos. Developed in partnership with Mega Cat Studios and written by the Santa Monica Studio team behind the Norse saga, this canon story expands Kratos’ backstory. TC Carson returns as the voice of adult Kratos, lending authenticity and emotional weight. Pixel art visuals meet spear-and-shield combat, divine relics, and mythological foes — and it’s playable right now.
PlayStation State of Play Wrap Up
From emotional story-driven adventures and long-awaited remakes to competitive fighters, co-op chaos, and surprise shadow drops, February’s PlayStation State of Play made one thing clear: 2026 is absolutely stacked. Sony balanced nostalgia with new IP, giving longtime fans plenty to celebrate while introducing fresh experiences to look forward to. If this showcase is any indication, the road ahead is packed with ambition, variety, and some serious “drop everything and play” moments.
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