PS4 E3 2014 Expectations

Everyone loves an underdog. The plucky pretender that fends off match point against the future Wimbledon champion is always treated to the biggest applause on Centre Court, and the same is true in almost all other walks of sporting life. This mentality appears to extend to the gaming industry, too, with Sony’s troubles with the PlayStation 3 seemingly prompting a pent-up desire for the system’s successor to succeed. However, now that the PlayStation 4 has surpassed some seven million units, we’ve noticed the mood starting to change, with that early optimism replaced by deep rooted ire around the web.

A lot of that probably stems from the platform holder’s secrecy over the past six or so months. Criticism of its past console’s never-ending spate of firmware updates has led to a distinct lack of action in the system software department, with Microsoft’s monthly Xbox One refreshes making the manufacturer look tardy as a result. Moreover, the firm’s been plagued by speculation regarding cancelled projects and employee departures, with its first-party offering for the end of the year looking worryingly scant now that Ready at Dawn’s historical shooter The Order: 1886 has been pushed into 2015.

PlayStation 4 E3 Hype

But even with those concerns consuming sites such as this, it’s strange to see expectations for the Japanese giant’s E3 press conference at astronomically low levels. LittleBigPlanet maker Media Molecule and Killzone creator Guerrilla Games recently announced their absence from the big show, and, while it’s possible that they may merely be pulling a David Jaffe-esque prank, this prompted a minor backlash around the web. “What could Sony possibly have to show?” concerned commenters regurgitated in unison around the web. Apparently, people expect the mega company to publicly twiddle its thumbs for 90 minutes straight.

Hype is a funny thing, because it skews perspectives; if you go into a press conference expecting Half Life 3 and Final Fantasy VII HD to be revealed, their inevitable absence will make even The Last Guardian look underwhelming. And that’s why this current cavalcade of cynicism that’s consuming the PlayStation maker’s pre-E3 build-up may actually work in the firm’s favour. Typically it strides into the big show on the back of a slew of different announcements – the likes of Killzone 3 and MotorStorm Apocalypse were unveiled prior to its stage show one year – but on this occasion, its silence suggests that we may actually be surprised for once.

Sony PS4 E3 2014 Anticipation

It’s possible, of course, that the company could have very little, but that ignores the fact that it’s streaming the conference in dozens of major theatres around North America. Naturally, it’s a move designed to give back to the fans that champion the brand every single day, but it’s also a gigantic endeavour that the manufacturer would not be undertaking if it was merely going to entertain attendees with a PlayStation Now release date and a montage of multiformat games. It’s safe to assume that you should expect some kind of worthwhile announcements – even if they come from third-party outfits.

Alas, we don’t think that the platform holder will be too bothered if everyone goes into next week’s press conference anticipating the worst. Last year, many expected the PS4 to be overpriced and subject to the same silly digital rights management policies as the Xbox One. Instead, ex-PlayStation executive Jack Tretton used that negative perception to drop one of the biggest reveals in E3 history. This time, the stakes won’t be anywhere near as high – but we’re sure that at the firm’s head office in Foster City, a gaggle of executives are currently staring at a press conference plan that counters the astronomically low expectations currently attached to Sony’s big show.


Do you think that the lack of hype surrounding Sony’s E3 press conference could work in the firm’s favour? Are you worried that the company really will have very little content to show? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.