Yesterday, we got down to brass tacks to discuss what each of the platform holders need to do this year at E3. We've picked apart Microsoft's E3 2014 performance and delivered our expectations. Today, we look at what Sony needs to do to raise last year's grade.
Last year, Sony gave a middling performance designed to hold its lead, but not grow it. Since then, Microsoft has gained ground, putting Sony in a challenging position.
After E3 2014, we called Sony's lineup "shallow." Since then, the company has self-described its first-party offerings for this year as "sparse." Last year brought us a first look at Bloodborne, The Order: 1886, LittleBigPlanet 3 (by Sumo Digital, not Media Molecule), The Last of Us Remastered, DriveClub, and Infamous: First Light. Two of those failed to live up to expectations.
No Man's Sky had a strong showing, almost stealing the press conference if not for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (since delayed out of 2015). Other indies were featured, but just like with Microsoft, many of them still haven't emerged.
PlayStation TV was announced for North America and has since died on the vine due to miserable support. Retailers have dropped the price by over half from its original $99.
Here's how we summarized Sony's presentation last year:
For now Sony seems to be content with not blowing its lead, with third parties doing most of the heavy-lifting for the PS4 in the short term. While the system will see plenty of titles this year and beyond, Sony refrained from overly pressing its advantage over the Xbox One. Even a symbolic price cut, or perhaps including the PlayStation camera for free as a dig at Microsoft having to drop the Kinect, would have been an alpha-dog assertion of superiority.
With titles like The Order: 1886 and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End in 2015, next year should be a great one for the system in regards to Sony’s first-party studios – an area where the company has an advantage over Microsoft. In fact, Sony’s E3 2015 presentation could be packed with titles like The Last Guardian, and new offerings from Guerrilla Games (which is working on a non-Killzone title), Media Molecule, Polyphony Digital, and Sony Santa Monica (God of War) – but that’s an E3 press conference for another time.
Sony's final grade for its E3 2014 presentation?
Sony needs to improve that, but not in the same ways as its direct competitors. It's time to hit the books.
First-Party Exclusives
There should be some first-party exclusives.
Sony, you say "sparse." We say "understatement." While we don't expect that needle to move much through the end of Sony's fiscal year (March 31, 2016) except for Uncharted 4, a vision for the future is crucial.
Own up to mistakes made with DriveClub.
Apologies on the E3 stage are rare, but if Sony doesn't have something to say about the PlayStation Plus version of DriveClub, it's going to look terrible. If there's anything that has a shot of being an "... and it's available right now" announcement, it's this.
You've announced three remasters for this year already, and that's enough.
God of War III and the PlayStation 3 Uncharted titles are coming to PlayStation 4 this year, as is a version of Tearaway (originally released for the Vita). While the first-party lineup is thin, filling the channel with more remasters than have already been announced looks desperate.
Show us what Guerrilla has been working on.
We're coming up on two years since the release of Killzone: Shadow Fall. We're extremely interested to see what that studio has been working on in the meantime. While we would be thrilled to see gameplay, a tease is the bare minimum.
Whatever happened to David Cage's old man?
Remember E3 2013 and Quantic Dream's "dark sorcerer" demo? We've heard very little from the studio since Beyond: Two Souls. It's not good to bottle up all that emotion.
Media Molecule is more than Tearaway and LittleBigPlanet.
When last we saw Media Molecule's PlayStation 4 project, it was at the console reveal event in New York City. Whether that studio is working on its funky air band game or something else, we're eager to see what it's up to.
Extra Credit
It's time to Last Guardian or get off the pot.
The Last Guardian is turning into the next Duke Nukem Forever. It's great that Sony wants to keep hope alive by denying it's been canceled, but it's time to show some proof. If The Last Guardian is real, let's hear about it. Proof of life would be a huge boost for the publisher.
Hold onto Bloodborne for dear life.
Bloodborne has been a boon for Sony this year. We know an expansion is coming, and if Sony is smart it has a DLC plan similar to Dark Souls II (three meaty chapters). Even more bonus points will be awarded if new content is an "... and it's available right now" announcement.
Ratchet and Clank is delayed, but that doesn't mean we can't get a long look at it.
Ratchet and Clank is one of the most beloved Sony properties of the past two generations. We know a new game that re-envisions the original is coming. We'd love to get a good look at side-by-side gameplay. Points will be subtracted if too much time is devoted to the upcoming animated film.
Stay focused on games.
Powers is getting a second season, and the first was gritty, violent, and fun. That doesn't mean it should get the same amount of time it did last year. We won't be surprised if Sony talks programming, between Powers and PlayStation Vue, but it should be a footnote, not a bullet point.