The biggest reveal from PlayStation's June 2025 State of Play is actually a new hardware
There are also a lot of new games revealed, including a new 007 game and a Final Fantasy Tactics remaster.
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Sony just held a State of Play for the PS5, revealing a slate of the games to come later this year and next year. We'll be focusing mostly on what was newly announced this round, which run the gamut of long-teased titles finally getting a proper reveal, to some completely new titles popping up.
And joining these is the reveal of a new first-party Sony controller that sees the company entering a crowded hardware product category.
007 First Light
While the James Bond movie franchise stands at a crossroads following its creative control coming under Amazon MGM, the path for Bond-related video game media is clear. 007 First Light is an origin story for the iconic British spy, and comes more than four years after its soft launch as the mysterious 'Project 007', which was first announced back in 2020.
While the James Bond series hasn't exactly been known for producing the best games, many still remember 1997's GoldenEye 007 for the Nintendo64, developed by Rare. 007 First Light has a similarly experienced studio backing it up in IO Interactive, most known for the Hitman franchise. And just judging from the snippets of gameplay from the trailer, it really does feel Hitman-esque.
007 First Light is set to arrive on all main platforms in 2026, including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Marvel Rivals is going to be seeing some competition from within the comic book franchise. Developed by Arc System Works of Guilty Gear fame in collaboration with PlayStation Studios and Marvel Games, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is a 4v4 tag team fighting game that taps on the large cast of Marvel characters for unique team-ups.
A team size of 4v4 is rather rare as far as tag fighters go, but the developers are promising to balance the game such that mastering one character with three assists or regularly swapping your leader and assist characters are both valid play styles.
As for the cast, eight characters were featured in the trailer, including some unique choices like Doctor Doom, Ghost Rider and Ms. Marvel. The character designs are also set to have Arc's distinct art style with cues from Japanese media (see Iron Man's mech-inspired look), which was specifically requested by the team at Marvel Games. More characters are set to be announced as the game continues development.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is set to arrive on PS5 and PC in 2026.
Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles
It seems like no year in gaming is complete without at least one Final Fantasy remaster, though this release is focusing on a game that, having not received much love in a while, is sure to please Final Fantasy diehards.
Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles is a remake of 1997's Final Fantasy Tactics strategy game, which was the genesis of Square Enix's Ivalice Alliance sub-series of Final Fantasy titles. Ivalice Chronicles will feature two distinct versions available as one single package: Classic, which blends the Tactics' original graphics with the English translation from 'War of the Lions', or the PSP version of Final Fantasy Tactics, and Enhanced, which will feature updated graphics, a renewed UI and fully voiced dialogue, among other improvements.
Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles is set to arrive on 30 September 2025 for the PS5 and PS4, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.
Nioh 3
Nioh 3 is the next installment in the Nioh RPG series, set in a more fantasy-coded version of Sengoku Japan, and which will see a young warrior set to become the next Shogun while battling various Yokai.
The announcement focused on the gameplay that Nioh 3 offers. Specifically, while the last two Nioh games primarily focused on direct melee combat, Nioh 3 splits fighting into two different styles: Samurai, which resembles the fighting style that was prevalent in the previous Nioh titles, though this time with more actions, and Ninja, a more nimble fighting style that allows the player to attack an enemy while being outside their range.
Players are able to switch between these two styles at will. Team Ninja, the developer of Nioh 3, also specified that the game will be an 'open field' game, though we'll have to see how that compares to being open world.
Luckily though, we won't have to wait to experience the game, as the demo is out until 18 June, exclusively for the PS5. Otherwise, the game is set to release in early 2026 on both the PS5 and PC via Steam.
Pragmata
If anyone remembers the original PS5 reveal, you might remember a certain new Capcom IP that was supposed to arrive in 2022. That obviously didn't happen, though given the game's premise, perhaps it's more relevant to the current times we're living through.
Pragmata is a sci-fi adventure that puts you in control of two characters, Hugh and Diana, the former a space-faring human and the latter an android girl. You'll be relying on both characters' abilities to steer you through the combat and puzzle elements of the game.
As for the setting, the game takes place on a lunar station, where you'll have to defeat robot enemies powered by what looks to be an antagonistic AI to return to Earth. And judging from the trailer, it seems like commentary on AI is going to be a big (if not central) theme. Apart from that, however, we're left guessing as to what the rest of the game is going to look like.
Pragmata will release in 2026 (according to the cheeky apology card at the end of the trailer) for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.
Romeo is a Dead Man
Romeo is a Dead Man is a new title developed by Grasshopper Manufacture. It's the studio's first original IP in ten years, and promises to be an over-the-top violent action affair. The premise is equally as extreme; you play as Romeo Stargazer, whose life was saved mere seconds before his death by a time paradox, and who is now an FBI Space-Time agent known as 'Dead Man' hunting fugitives across the multiverse.
The game is also angled as a sci-fi action game, featuring both sword and shooting gameplay mechanics. There's also a mystery element as well, as Romeo will see his fugitive-hunting escapades meld with his search for his missing girlfriend, Juliet (no prizes for guessing her name).
Romeo is a Dead Man is set to release in 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store for Windows.
Lumines Arise
This was the announcement that kicked off State of Play, and it was a rather surprising choice. Lumines is a puzzle game with a grid and drop-down mechanic similar to Tetris, but instead of clearing completed lines horizontally, Lumines uses a vertical line that sweeps through the grid and clears blocks of similar colours in contact with each other.
The last Lumines game to release was Lumines Remastered back in 2018, but Lumines Arise distinguishes itself with its aesthetics. It's made and published by the same people who worked on Tetris Effect, and it shows: Dazzling graphics, a bopping soundtrack and all the visual bells and whistle reminiscent of the breathtaking look of Tetris Effect.
Lumines Arise is set to come out in Fall 2025 with a free demo coming out in the summer. The game will release on PS5 with PS VR2 support, as well as PC via Steam.
Project Defiant
Speaking of surprising, this one was an unexpected announcement to come out of State of Play. Project Defiant is a codename for a wireless fight stick designed by Sony for the PS5 and PC.
One of the main features of the main features of the controller is its ultra-low latency wireless connection, achieved with PlayStation Link, which is Sony's proprietary wireless tech that up until now has mostly been used for the company's wireless audio products. It also supports a wired connection.
The controller will also feature interchangeable gates for the stick (in square, circle and octagon shapes) that can be swapped without tools, as well as a touchpad similar to those found on DualSense controllers and a storage compartment for the restrictor gates and PlayStation Link adaptor.
No release dates for this controller, however, and given the short length of time Sony dedicated to this announcement (at just 30 seconds), it might be a while before we see this come to fruition, if ever.
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