Super Stardust HD

Super starry eyes

We know that Housemarque’s set to announce its first PS4 project at some point during GamesCom, and we’d be gobsmacked if that didn’t happen during the platform holder’s press conference. The Finnish developer – which is actually working on two games for the next generation console – has said that it will only show one of its titles, which we expect to be its previously announced Super Stardust HD successor. In a recent interview, the company teased that it’s looking at ways of expanding the online aspects of its games, so we wouldn’t be surprised if the title didn’t have some kind of competitive or co-operative multiplayer aspects.

We also can’t help but wonder whether the Japanese giant may have a bigger announcement to make regarding its partnership with the developer. We’re not expecting the firm to have purchased the outfit, but we certainly wouldn’t be surprised if it had signed the company to a long-term exclusivity arrangement similar to Novarama and Tarsier. Considering that the studio has indicated that it enjoys concentrating on a single platform, we think that there’s a good chance of the team going PlayStation exclusive for the foreseeable future. It would certainly beat cranking out Angry Birds ports for Activision, anyway.

The Order: 1886

The power of four

Since riding out of E3 on cloud nine, it’s been a quiet couple of months for the PS4. The system’s continued to perform extremely well, exceeding pre-order allocations in Europe and North America, but the platform holder’s been uncharacteristically quiet. While its closest competitor has been busy changing many of its policies and putting out as much positive press as possible, Sony’s largely maintained its silence, and let Microsoft’s own missteps and knee-jerk reactions dominate the headlines. That’s allowed the Japanese giant’s console to fall to the wayside a touch, something that we expect it to rectify at GamesCom.

We predict that we’ll be seeing lots more of all of the firm’s previously announced games. We already know that Evolution Studios is planning to debut a new DriveClub demo on the showfloor, which will need to impress in the wake of the game’s weak E3 demo. Sucker Punch has also been hinting at some kind of inFAMOUS: Second Son reveal, which is likely to encompass a new set of powers for hero Delsin Rowe. But we’ve personally got our fingers crossed for some gameplay footage of Ready at Dawn’s upcoming The Order: 1886, which made a brief appearance during E3. Of course, there’s also a chance that the firm may announce some new first-party titles, too, with the likes of London Studio yet to reveal anything for the next generation platform.

PlayStation 4 - User Interface

TV, TV, TV

Sony’s focused on the gaming qualities of the PS4 thus far, but the company’s stressed multiple times that it considers the entertainment aspects to be equally important. With the device’s hardcore status already solidified – and likely to be boosted at GamesCom – we suspect that it may dedicate a portion of its press conference to some of the broader uses of the next generation console, specifically in relation to the European market. The confirmation of catch-up services such as the BBC iPlayer and 4OnDemand would be well received, as would some clarification regarding the future of applications such as VidZone.

It would also be nice to get a proper look at the console’s user interface. Aside from a few seconds of the development kit and a cheesy lifestyle trailer, we’re still yet to see a proper demo of the console’s main menus and system-level functions. A walkthrough of the console’s dashboard may seem like a drab inclusion during a press conference, but this is information that we’ve been craving since the platform’s debut in February. A more detailed look at Remote Play would also be welcome, if only to allay any fears regarding the quality of the experience when streaming titles from the PS4 to the Vita.

Killzone: Shadow Fall

Annihilate the ISA

Despite being the flagship launch title, we can’t help but feel that Killzone: Shadow Fall has fallen out of the spotlight in recent weeks. The title’s oversaturated introduction was one of the highlights of the platform holder’s colossal PlayStation Meeting press conference in February, but the title endured a rather quiet E3 by contrast. We suspect that that won’t be repeated at GamesCom, with Guerrilla Games almost certain to pull back the curtain on the first-person shooter’s hotly anticipated multiplayer mode. In addition to being playable on the show floor, we’re fully expecting Sony to spend a few moments demoing the online component during its presentation in Cologne.

While Killzone 3 refined many aspects of the franchise’s multiplayer, many felt that it lost a lot of the soul that was present in Killzone 2. Fortunately, the second game’s lead multiplayer designer is back on board for the PS4 sequel, so that should please long-term fans of the franchise. In addition to the typical array of Deathmatch and Warzone modes, we’re actually hoping for an expansion of the brilliant Operations playlist. This mixed objectives mode implemented some very simple narrative elements, but was restricted to just three maps in the series’ most recent instalment. We’d like to see it expanded in Shadow Fall.

PlayStation 4 - Release Dates

You’ll be able to buy the PS4 on...

It feels like an eternity since the PS4 was first announced, but we’ll finally get a date during Sony’s GamesCom press conference. The company has said that it intends to share “release plans” during the show, with both Europe and North America in line to receive the system this year. The platform holder’s been pretty coy with timeframes thus far, meaning that the console could theoretically deploy at any point before the end of 2013. We suspect that it will be targeting October or November, though, for maximum impact.

Given that the manufacturer’s trumped Microsoft in almost every area of the next generation race thus far, we wouldn’t be surprised if it beat the firm to store shelves, too. As speculated in an earlier article, the 29th October looks like a solid choice, as it’s the day that both Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Battlefield 4 are set to launch in North America. However, the 12th November (formatted 11/12/13 in the United States) would certainly provide a great branding opportunity, and still offer ample time to replenish stock ahead of the all-important Black Friday shopping window. Whichever date the platform holder plumps up for, though, we’ll know by this time next week.

What are you hoping to see during Sony’s big GamesCom press conference next week? Do you want the focus to be on the PS4, or would you like the Vita and PS3 to share the limelight, too? Which games are you most excited for, and are there any titles in particular that you’re desperate to be announced? Let us know in the comments section and poll below.

Which of the following GamesCom reveals would get you most excited? (14 votes)

  1. I’d love for the PS3 to reach a more mainstream price point  0%
  2. Just show me what’s next for the Vita – I’m getting worried21%
  3. Tell me about more indie titles than I can possibly afford  0%
  4. Housemarque’s fiddling with my flight stick at the minute  0%
  5. I want to know which non-gaming applications the PS4 will offer21%
  6. Gameplay footage of The Order: 1886 would be great, guvnor14%
  7. Killzone: Shadow Fall’s multiplayer mode is on my wishlist7%
  8. I’m tired of waiting – just tell me when I can buy a PS436%

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