Skip to main content

How to watch Sony’s February State of Play and what to expect

PS5 Launch – New Worlds To Explore – Play Has No Limits

After yesterday’s announcements of more games like Days Gone coming to PC and the existence of a PSVR 2, Sony isn’t done making headlines this week. A brand-new State of Play livestream is set to premiere this Thursday, promising updates to upcoming games and even some new title announcements. Settle your expectations, though. The announcement is very specific. Here’s when the stream starts, where to watch it, and what to expect.

How to watch the February State of Play

Like the rest of the industry, the company’s own Twitch and YouTube channels are the places to be when it comes to this kind of showcase. Both video streaming platforms will host the February State of Play at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET. In Europe, that converts to a late start of 10 p.m. GMT.

How long is the February State of Play stream?

According to the announcement blog post, the February State of Play livestream is expected to last around 30 minutes. Ten games across Sony’s two PlayStation platforms are set to take the stage. Given it’s set to be a mix of “new updates and deep dives,” don’t expect each title to have an equal amount of time in the spotlight.

What to expect from the February State of Play

Horizon Forbidden West
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The announcement on the official PlayStation blog was carefully written to avoid overpromising the contents of the livestream. It’s specifically set to feature 10 titles, both new and known, coming to the PS4, PS5, or, presumably in the case of some games, both. Updates on third-party and indie titles featured during the June PS5 showcase will feature, but whether these are specifically part of the 10-title limit isn’t crystal clear.

“We’re focused on great games set to come out in the months ahead” is a line that carries a lot of weight. It means any title focused on during the stream is set to launch sometime this year, presumably up to the Christmas period. Think Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartGhostwire: Tokyo, and Horizon Forbidden West.

What not to expect from the February State of Play

The focus on games releasing in the months ahead means you’re setting yourself up for disappointment if you expect news on games recently delayed into 2022. Gran Turismo 7 and the speculatively delayed new God of War title likely won’t make the cut.

Likewise, the blog post specifically mentions that news on PlayStation hardware and business talk won’t be part of the stream. That means don’t expect any new details on PSVR 2 or any plans to ramp up console production to combat the supply shortages.

Editors' Recommendations

Josh Brown
Josh Brown is a UK-based freelancer with devoted interests in video games, tech, film, and anime/manga. Just don't talk to…
Capcom Showcase 2023: how to watch and what to expect
Key art for the 2023 Capcom Showcase.

Capcom has been on a hot streak this year with the launches of Resident Evil 4's remake, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, and Street Fighter 6. Now, later this month, the storied Japanese game developer and publisher is going to continue celebrating its fortieth anniversary us a look at what's coming next from them. This will come in the form of a new Capcom Showcase, which the company has typically held around this time each year.

While we don't really know if this show will contain many exciting new reveals, it's still probably worth tuning into for Capcom fans. If you're wondering when and where to stream it, we've rounded up all of that information for you as well.
When is Capcom Showcase 2023

Read more
PlayStation Showcase teased Sony’s live service future, but I’m not impressed yet
playstation showcase live service games reveals marathon

Ahead of the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase, I wrote that the presentation needed to “elicit confidence in Sony’s future with live service.” Well, multiplayer-focused live service games did end up being a big part of the show, but I can’t say I’m that confident in them yet.
Between neat looks at single-player exclusives like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Synapse, Sony revealed four live-service games that it's publishing. Those games are Haven Studios’ Fairgame$, Arrowhead Studios’ Helldivers 2, Bungie’s Marathon, and Firewalk Studios’ Concord. The fact that these accounted for almost every major first-party announcements of the show signals that we’re entering a new era for Sony: one where multiplayer rules.
Over the past year or so, PlayStation Studios has made it very clear that it’s trying to break into the games-as-a-service sector now that it’s perfected the single-player adventure with games like Horizon Forbidden West and God of War: Ragnarok. Unfortunately, these early live service announcements raised more concerns than hope, which isn’t a great start when it comes to establishing a new direction for PlayStation.
A live service showcase
Haven’s sci-fi PvPvE heist game Fairgame$ was the PlayStation Showcase’s opening, and honestly, it wasn’t a memorable first showing. The trailer was purely cinematic, but its shots were composed like they were live gameplay. That still feels misleading 18 years after Sony did it with Killzone 2, even if it clarified it at the start of the trailer. It also means I don’t have a good idea of how this game will be structured and when I’ll have a chance to play it. All I know is that this is an anti-capitalist game that will probably also be a heavily monetized live service experience. It wasn’t a strong show opener; at least, like all of the other titles on this list, it’s also coming to PC.

Fairgame$ was followed up by the long-awaited reveal of Helldivers 2, a sequel to an entertaining 2015 PS Plus sci-fi top-down shooter. To Helldivers 2’s credit, it had the most honest-feeling showing of these games, with a trailer that showed lots of impressive third-person action gameplay and even gave a 2023 release window. Even if its anti-capitalist undertones were a bit similar to Fairgame$, this was the style of reveal I was hoping to see from Sony’s live service announcements. Unfortunately, it was the only live service game reveal to feature any actual gameplay.
After a break from live service announcements, Bungie emerged to reveal that it was reviving Marathon as a sci-fi PvP extraction shooter. While it’s very surprising to see Marathon coming back and that Bungie is making something other than Destiny, it was a purely cinematic trailer that leaned into its techno-futuristic aesthetics -- much like Fairgame$’s reveal trailer. A dev diary released after the reveal also says that we’ll need to wait a while to learn more and see gameplay. But you can buy a $77 shirt based on this game we don’t know much about yet, though.

Read more
The most exciting PlayStation Showcase trailers you shouldn’t miss
A planet floats in the sky in Marathon.

Sony returned to its long-form PlayStation Showcase format today with an hourlong reveal stream showing off what's next for the PlayStation 5. The stream was filled with plenty of exciting announcements, from a remake of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater to a spectacular Marvel's Spider-Man 2 trailer. Those were just a few of the games shown off during the stream though, which was packed with trailers.

There was a lot to see and no one would blame you if you missed a few things during the hour. From astonishing indie games from celebrated studios to a mysterious new project from Bungie, these are the trailers you need to catch up on if you missed the show.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 | Gameplay Reveal

Read more