Skip to main content

Everything announced at Sony’s February 2023 State of Play

Following shows from Nintendo and Microsoft, Sony held its first major showcase of the year on Thursday. PlayStation has had a busy 2023 so far with Forspoken’s release in January and the February 22 launch of the PlayStation VR2. The February 23 State of Play serves more as a stopgap, highlighting many notable third-party games and indies coming to the PlayStation 5 and PSVR2 over the next several months. The presentation ended with a lengthy segment dedicated to Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, giving us our clearest look yet at Rocksteady Studios’ next game.

State of Play | February 23, 2023 | [ENGLISH]

It was a pretty packed show, although none of the announcements were quite able to match the ones made at Nintendo and Microsoft’s early 2023 game showcases. Regardless, there are still plenty of reveals that PlayStation fans should know about from this State of Play. That’s why we rounded up everything announced during the event right here.

5 games announced for PlayStation VR

Key art for PSVR2 game Synapse.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The February 2023 State of Play started with a look at five upcoming PlayStation VR2 games. The first was a supernatural shooter called The Foglands. After that, we got a look at the PSVR2 port of Green Hell VR. Then, nDreams announced a first-person shooter where players can manipulate gravity called Synapse. That was followed up by a trailer for the sci-fi shooter Journey to Foundation, based on Issac Asimov’s creation. Finally, we saw Before Your Eyes in VR. These games will launch throughout 2023. 

March’s PlayStation Plus games revealed

Key art for March 2023 PlayStation Plus games Battlefield 2042, Minecraft Dungeons, and Code Vein.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

During the presentation, Sony revealed the three games that will be free with the basic version of PlayStation Plus. They are Battlefield 2042 from EA and Dice, Minecraft Dungeons from Mojang and Xbox Game Studios, and Code Vein from Bandai Namco Entertainment. These games will all be available on PS Plus from March 7 until April 3. 

Baldur’s Gate III is coming to PS5

Baldur's Gate 3 - Reveal Trailer | PS5 Games

Originally a Stadia and PC exclusive, Larian Studios announced that Baldur’s Gate III would come to PS5. We got a new trailer that showed a mix of cinematics and cRPG gameplay. For those looking for a classic-feeling RPG experience to sink their teeth into, this definitely looks like it’ll scratch that itch. Baldur’s Gate III will release for PS5 on August 31.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice gets an extended gameplay showcase

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League - Official Co-Op Gameplay | PS5 Games

To conclude this State of Play, we got our best look so far at Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Its showcase segment begins with a confrontation with The Flash, who knows where the Squad’s target, Lex Luthor, is. We then see Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, and King Shark jumping across Metropolis’ rooftops, fighting lots of enemies along the way. Overall, it looks like a third-person shooter with large fighting arenas and fast-paced movement. They find Luthor, but The Flash intervenes, before he can do anything, though, a noncorrupted Wonder Woman intervenes.

After that gameplay segment, several game developers discussed Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, providing more context for the title’s premise, characters, gameplay, gear system, multiplayer mode, and post-launch support. Those post-launch updates will include new missions, and new playable characters Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be released for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on May 26.

Everything else

  • The showcase started with a sizzle reel of announced and upcoming PSVR2 games.
  • Destiny 2: Lightfall got a new cinematic trailer.
  • Tchia got a March 21 release date. It will be on PlayStation Plus Extra on day one. 
  • Humanity for PS5 and PSVR2 had a demo. It will be released in May 2023.
  • Goodbye Volcano High got a new trailer and June 15 release date.
  • Naruto X Baruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections was announced, and will launch on PS4 and PS5 this year.
  • Wayfinder got a gameplay trailer ahead of a February 28 beta.
  • Zangief, Lily, and Cammy were revealed for Street Fighter 6.
  • Resident Evil 4‘s remake got a new trailer ahead of its release and a demo announcement.

Editors' Recommendations

Tomas Franzese
Tomas Franzese is a Staff Writer at Digital Trends, where he reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…
Helldivers 2 PC players are furious over this controversial change
A Helldivers 2 player fires a laser canon.

Helldivers 2, February's surprise multiplayer hit from Arrowhead Game Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment, is now getting bombarded with negative reviews on Steam. That's because the game will soon require all PC players to link their Steam account to a PlayStation Network account.

Anyone who plays Helldivers 2 for the first time after May 6 will have to link a PlayStation Network account to Steam. Those who already own the game will also be required to do so by June 4 or they will no longer be able to access the game.

Read more
If you’re not using PlayStation Stars, you’re missing out
Three phone screens with the PlayStation Stars app.

I wouldn't blame you if you forgot PlayStation Stars existed. In fact, I would guess the majority of people out there have no idea what that even is, but PlayStation's reward program deserves more attention than it's getting.

Launched in the summer of 2022, PlayStation Stars is a program meant to reward players for engaging with the PlayStation ecosystem. You can take on challenges to earn digital collectibles and, more importantly, coins that can be redeemed for games, store credit, and some premium in-game currencies.

Read more
I was a PlayStation Portal hater. Now it’s one of my go-to gaming devices
A PlayStation Portal plays Marvel's Spider-Man 2.

In November, I reviewed the PlayStation Portal. I was mixed on Sony’s streaming handheld at the time, frustrated with a corner-cutting execution of a good idea. It seemed like a poor value compared to simply slapping a cheaper Backbone controller on a phone. As is often the case with tech reviews, though, I only had a short window to test it out where I was more focused on the more objective side of what the Portal does and doesn’t do. Would my feelings change when I was using it naturally?

I’ve gotten the answer to that question over the past few months. While I barely touched my Portal after reviewing it in 2023, it’s quickly become a go-to device in my home as of January. I’m now breaking it out at least once a week, finding some practical use cases for it. Though my overall assessment of it hasn’t changed, I have a more tangible understanding of where it can be a useful -- if superfluous -- PS5 companion. It’s a needless luxury, but one that I’m finding that I'm happy to indulge in.
Second screen
The PlayStation Portal’s launch just so happened to come right before a major life change that would shift my perspective. After living alone for three years, my girlfriend moved into my apartment last December. It’s been a natural change that’s working great so far. That shift does come with some lifestyle changes, though. We’re both crammed into a one-bedroom apartment, which means we’re sharing a tight space. We remotely do our jobs feet apart in the same room, and most evenings are spent lounging on the couch.

Read more