We have made it to the top of 2024, so now is an ideal time to replicate on the final 12 months. As all the time, we made some predictions approach again in January, and so now we should look to see which ones got here true, and which had been a load of garbage. Editor Sammy Barker and assistant editor Liam Croft got here joint first for 2023, however who’s within the lead this time? Let’s have a look.
Sammy Barker, Editor
“Kingdom Hearts helps Disney overcome the darkness at D23.”
Sadly for Sammy, Kingdom Hearts 4 was a no-show on the 2024 D23 expo, so no factors for this prediction. It wasn’t a foul one to make, although — we’re due for an replace on that recreation quickly. Effectively, hopefully.
“Zenless Zone Zero completes the holy gacha trifecta on PS5.”
As anticipated from our resident gacha skilled, Sammy was proper on the cash with this. Zenless Zone Zero has certainly turn into one other smash hit for HoYoverse, and the element about it being a console unique on PS5 has additionally confirmed true — in the interim, anyway.
“Stellar Blade turns into a cult PS5 traditional.”
This can be a tough prediction to nail down, as a result of it most likely wants a bit of extra time earlier than it might actually be declared a cult traditional. Nevertheless, Sammy most likely ought to get the purpose right here as a result of Stellar Blade has accrued a following, and whereas it did fairly nicely critically, it has been considerably forgotten through the awards season. It kind of suits the invoice, then — we’ll give it to him. It is Christmas in spite of everything.
2/3 factors
Liam Croft, Assistant Editor
“Sony redeems itself with one of the best PlayStation Showcase in years.”
Whereas we now have had some respectable exhibits from Sony this yr, it is tough to name any of them “one of the best in years”. There have been undoubtedly some highlights from some 2024 exhibits, together with the announcement of Astro Bot and Ghost of Yotei, but it surely’s tough to argue anybody presentation has been higher than in earlier years.
“Silent Hill 2 releases this yr, and it is higher than anticipated.”
Liam noticed this one coming all the best way again in January. There was undoubtedly trepidation concerning the Silent Hill 2 remake from Bloober Staff earlier than it arrived, however as soon as the critiques dropped, it was clear the staff had nailed it. Receiving nice critiques from critics, the PS2 traditional actually did get the remake it deserves.
“Naughty Canine pronounces one among its new single participant initiatives.”
Amazingly, Liam was confirmed proper about this prediction proper on the final potential second. Throughout The Recreation Awards 2024, Geoff’s massive one-more-thing announcement was the reveal of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Naughty Canine’s subsequent recreation. It does not get extra clear-cut than this!
2/3 factors
Robert Ramsey, Assistant Editor
“Sony will launch a brand new recreation from a traditional PlayStation property.”
The phrase “traditional PlayStation property” is considerably nebulous, however we do not really feel as if this got here to move. Sony did convey us the wonderful Astro Bot, although that does not actually match Rob’s description, so we’re gonna withhold the purpose right here. Sorry, Rob — perhaps subsequent time.
“Tekken 8 will get a DLC visitor character from Ultimate Fantasy.”
This prediction, nonetheless, was pinpoint correct. Rob’s suggestion of a Ultimate Fantasy character coming to Tekken 8 got here true, however he even went as far as to recommend it may very well be Clive from FF16, and that is precisely who we obtained. Bravo!
“Baldur’s Gate 3’s inevitable enlargement would be the highest rated launch of 2024 (on Metacritic).”
Oh expensive, it is all come crashing down once more. Baldur’s Gate 3 did not get that “inevitable” enlargement in spite of everything. Whereas the sport has acquired numerous updates including to and enhancing the large RPG, an precise enlargement is nowhere to be seen.
1/3 factors
Stephen Tailby, Assistant Editor
“Third-party hits will carry Sony via a quiet yr for PlayStation Studios.”
This can be a tough one to pin down; Stephen’s actually speaking about first-party groups right here, relatively than externally-made stuff like Rise of the Ronin and Helldivers 2. In that sense, he is sort-of proper, and whereas Astro Bot is an absolute banger, there wasn’t a lot different pleasure from inside groups this yr. Perhaps half some extent right here.
“Sony will announce and launch at the very least one PlayStation Studios PSVR2 recreation in 2024.”
Uh oh. Stephen’s put a bit of an excessive amount of religion in Sony right here, and whereas the corporate’s work on PSVR2 is not achieved but and it is nonetheless getting a gentle stream of video games, there wasn’t a single PS Studios recreation for the headset in 2024. By no means thoughts!
“Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will not be the whole catastrophe many have determined will probably be.”
The much less stated about this, the higher, actually. It was an entire catastrophe.
0.5/3 factors
Aaron Bayne, Video Producer
“2024 is the yr of latest IP [for Sony].”
Whereas Sony did publish one or two new IPs with Stellar Blade and Rise of the Ronin, we’re not sure in the event that they’re fairly what Aaron was getting at with this prediction. He appears to be speaking particularly about new first-party collection, such because the freshly introduced Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we clearly did not get something new on that degree in 2024. We’ll give him half some extent seeing as we did get some new IPs, however perhaps not those Aaron was after.
“PS5 Professional might be introduced and launched this yr.”
Ding ding ding! Good one, Aaron — PS5 Professional was certainly introduced and launched in 2024. It launched in November for an eye-watering $700/£700, boasting an enhanced GPU, AI-driven tremendous sampling, and higher ray tracing, making all of your PS5 video games that little bit sparklier.
“2024 might be a quietly respectable yr for PSVR2.”
You already know what? It has been a quietly respectable yr for PSVR2. Particularly within the latter half of 2024, PSVR2 has had some cracking video games arrive, providing you with loads of good causes to mud it off. Particularly, we are able to suggest Toy Trains, Spin Rhythm XD, Vendetta Endlessly, Arizona Sunshine Remake, Metro Awakening, and Trombone Champ: Unflattened — all excellent digital actuality experiences.
2.5/3 factors
Khayl Adam, Information Reporter
“Baldur’s Gate 3 will get a correct enlargement, introduced and launched in 2024.”
Sorry, Khayl, no cube. Baldur’s Gate 3 by no means did get an enlargement in 2024, so it is a massive thumbs down for this prediction. Each you and Rob had been satisfied about this, and it is allow you to each down. Lesson realized: by no means put religion in Larian Studios. (This can be a joke.)
“PlayStation Portal seems to be a shocking success story for Sony.”
Cannot argue with this one! The PS Portal actually has turned out to be a hit, and this yr its worth was elevated additional nonetheless with the introduction of cloud gaming. Now you can’t solely hook as much as your PS5 through Distant Play, you may also simply beam a choice of software program straight to the Portal. We think about this machine will solely proceed to do nicely for Sony over the following few years.
“Focus shifts again to single-player, and reside service video games begin to go away.”
An attention-grabbing prediction, this one. Khayl is speaking particularly about Sony right here, and if we zoom in on the platform holder, it is had some critical highs and lows with GaaS video games in 2024. Helldivers 2 continues to be an enormous success, however Harmony was such a disaster it was faraway from existence simply days after launch. Astro Bot was a beacon of hope later within the yr, and two of Sony’s massive 2024 bulletins — Ghost of Yotei and Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet — are single participant titles, so there could also be some fact to Khayl’s prediction.
1.5/3 factors
So, our winner this time is Aaron Bayne! Congratulations in your nice predicting prowess. Deal with your self to a mince pie or one thing.
Within the new yr, we’ll be making some predictions about 2025, so be careful for these. For now, have fun our various levels of success within the feedback part under.
