PS4 Game Exclusives Confirmed for 2016
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This Year's Exclusives!
Now that 2016 has arrived, it's time to take a look at all the big exclusive games coming to the PS4. From larger releases like Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Horizon: Zero Dawn to smaller games like Firewatch and Alienation, there's a lot to look forward to. Join us as we run you through all the upcoming games in Sony's lineup. Keep checking back as we'll update you further on more exclusives as they get announced.
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
The conclusion to Nathan Drake's saga draws near. New to this entry is an added flexibility in combat towards stealth and the introduction of dialogue choices. While it was initially announced for release in 2015, its development cycle had been hit by multiple delays to better refine and polish the experience. Currently, the game is now slated to release this April.
Release Date: May 10
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Guerrilla Games' new open world action-RPG Horizon: Zero Dawn grabbed our attention when it was announced at E3 2015. With its fantastic blend of pre-historic and modern post-apocalyptic visuals, the game's world is one that we can't wait to transport ourselves to.
Release Date: Delayed to 2017
The Last Guardian
The much-anticipated The Last Guardian is finally hitting PS4 this year. Originally announced as a PS3 exclusive during E3 2009, the game suffered numerous delays over the years due to technical challenges in its development. It was also consistently absent from events and trade shows, leading gamers to question if the project was still in-development. However, that all changed when Sony re-announced the game for the PS4 at E3 2015. It's currently being worked on by SCE Japan Studio and genDESIGN, a studio consisting of staff that worked on the critically acclaimed and iconic PS2 games: Ico and Shadow of the Colossus.
Release Date: December 2016
Gran Turismo Sport
Racing simulator fans have a new game to look forward to in the upcoming Gran Turismo Sport. The latest entry stands outs out from its predecessors, featuring two official FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) online racing championships where players can compete to be awarded special prizes. The game will also feature PlayStation VR support.
Release Date: Delayed to 2017
Gravity Rush 2
The sequel to 2012's Gravity Rush won't be defying gravity on PS Vita this year; rather, it'll be doing so on PS4 instead. Developed for the console, it'll feature new combat upgrades and power-ups, as well as a Tag Battle System that allows you to switch between protagonist Kat and a new character named Raven.
Release Date: Delayed to 2017
Drawn to Death
Drawn to Death is the newest project directed by Twisted Metal and God of War creator David Jaffe. It's a four-player third-person arena shooter that features a distinct visual style inspired by juvenile drawings found inside a teenager's composition notebook. It’ll launch as free-to-play sometime this year.
Release Date: Delayed
Ratchet & Clank
To coincide with the upcoming animated film release, a new Ratchet & Clank game is set to ship this year. As a reimagining of the 2003 original, it'll put you back in the shoes of both its titular characters as you travel the galaxy and fight to thwart the plans of Supreme Executive Chairman Drek.
Release Date: April 12
The Tomorrow Children
The Tomorrow Children is an online, open world sandbox adventure where you and others must cooperate to build a town and defend it from giant monsters. It takes the collaborative building mechanics from Minecraft and fuses it with cartoonish visuals inspired by a Soviet Union-themed dystopia.
Release Date: Q1/Q2 2016
Street Fighter V
The upcoming Street Fighter V is aiming to change up the series’ classic formula, featuring a roster of 16 playable characters with both new and revamped move sets. It's worth noting the game will be an exclusive to PC as well as PS4.
Release Date: February 16
Firewatch
Firewatch is a first-person adventure that puts you in control of Henry, a volunteer fire lookout working at the Shoshone National Forest who is drawn towards a series of mysterious occurrences in the surrounding wilderness. Unique to the game is its use of a walkie-talkie--Henry’s only form of communication with his supervisor and the outside world--to deliver narrative and initiate dialog choices.
Release Date: February 9
Dreams
Dreams is an ambitious open-canvas sandbox game where you can play, create, and share "dreams," user-generated levels that can be anything, be it games, films, music, or something in-between. Developer Media Molecule, also responsible for Little Big Planet and Tearaway, is working to ship the game's beta this year. Whether the final game releases in 2016 has not been confirmed.
Release Date: TBD
What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch is a first-person adventure game that takes place in a towering house owned by a family that has lived there for generations. It puts you in the role of Edith--a member of this family--as she explores and discovers its numerous secrets.
Release Date: TBD 2017
Hellblade
If you’re a fan of Ninja Theory's Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, and DmC: Devil May Cry, then you’ll want to keep up with its latest project, Hellblade. It's a narrative-focused action game based on Celtic myth, and it puts you in control of Senuna, a goddess on a personal journey through a hellish underworld.
Release Date: TBA 2017
Nier Automata
Platinum Games is developing the sequel to the cult classic Drakengard spin-off Nier. Subtitled Automata, the game takes place in a world where humanity is forced to flee to the moon after an invasion of machine-like beings from another world. It focuses on an elite android that is sent to Earth by humanity to help drive off the invasion and end it for good.
Release Date: Delayed to March 2017
Shadow of the Beast
Shadow of the Beast is a 2.5D remake of the classic 1989 Commodore Amiga side-scroller of the same name. You play as monstrous warrior named Aarbron as he embarks on a quest to seek revenge against an evil lord that murdered his father. The game is aiming to expand on the classic platforming and action mechanics seen in the 1989 original by introducing an in-depth combat system.
Release Date: May 17, 2016
Alienation
Alienation is an isometric twin-stick shooter by Housemarque, a studio best known for its recent work on Resogun. It’s a spiritual successor to its previous game Dead Nation, placing you and up to three others in an intense battle against an alien invasion.
Release Date: March 2
Boundless
Boundless--formerly known as Oort Online-- is a Minecraft-inspired survival game with a procedurally generated world where up to four players can join up to explore and craft resources. It features a unique mechanic where you can freely lay down a portal that grants easy access to other worlds. The game is currently already available in Early Access on Steam.
Release Date: TBA
Persona 5
After the positive critical reception of Atlus’ RPG Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4, gamers have been eagerly waiting for the next entry in the series. Luckily, it’ll finally be arriving this year. It puts you in control of a group of teenagers that moonlight as supernatural cat burglars to explore The Palace, an otherworldly castle created from the warped desires in people's hearts.
Release Date: September 15, 2016 [Japan] | April 4, 2017 WW
No Man's Sky
After nearly three years of waiting, No Man's Sky is finally releasing in June 2016. The game is an open world adventure where players can explore and discover uncharted planets across a massive procedurally generated star system. It will launch on the same day as its PC version.
Release Date: August 9
The Witness
The Witness is the long-awaited project by Jonathan Blow, the creator of the critically acclaimed Braid. Inspired by Myst, it has you exploring an open world island, solving numerous puzzles spread across its various areas and structures.
Release Date: January 26
Paragon
Epic Games, the studio behind Gears of War, is developing a new MOBA called Paragon. Similar to Smite, the game plays from a third-person perspective and retains many of the iconic conventions the genre is known for, such as lanes, jungles, towers, etc. It was previously announced only for PC, but was confirmed to launch on PS4 as well during Paris Games Week 2015.
Release Date: Open beta, August 16, 2016
MLB The Show 16
This years brings a new entry in the critically acclaimed MLB: The Show series. This time around, the game will feature the addition of dive plays, refined bat control, and the ability to react at the hot corner. But one of its standout features is Showtime, a new tool that lets you slow down time mid-gameplay for better control during a game's more critical moments.
Release Date: March 29
Let It Die
Let It Die is the latest project from cult favorite Japanese designer Suda 51 and his team at Grasshopper Manufacture. It's a free-to-play Dark Souls-esque dungeon crawler that tasks you with ascending a demonic tower, defeating the psychotic foes and terrifying monstrosities that inhabit each floor. It's a stylish romp filled with the quirky and absurd scenarios and characters that Suda 51 is known for.
Release Date: December 3
100ft Robot Golf
100ft Robot Golf is a game in which the name perfectly describes its premise. Control a giant robot and swing your golf club across a multitude of fully destructible courses. With a story-driven single-player campaign and a multiplayer mode supporting up to four players, this upcoming golf "simulator" is bound to please those looking to cause chaos and tee off.
Release Date: October 10
Rez Infinite
The cult classic rhythm shooter Rez receives the remastered treatment. This new version, titled Rez Infinite, sports PSVR support, which helps to immerses you in its rhythmic beats and minimalist visuals. Whether you decide to play in VR or not, experiencing Rez Infinite is an absolute must.
Release Date: October 13
Wild Guns Reloaded
The cult classic arcade shooter Wild Guns returns in the form of the remake Wild Guns Reloaded. The game is developed by the team behind the original and features new playable characters, stages, weapons, and up to 4-player co-op.
Release Date: December 20
World of Final Fantasy
World of Final Fantasy is a light-hearted spin-off of the much beloved RPG series. It tells the story of a brother and sister looking for their mom, while along the way encountering some of the series' most iconic characters and creatures.
Release Date: October 25
The King of Fighters XIV
The King of Fighters XIV continues in the series' legacy, updating its classic 2D plane fighting engine with 3D visuals and approachable mechanics. The result is straightforward, complex, and substantial on all fronts, making it one of the most satisfying entires in the series yet.
Release Date: August 23
Gravity Rush Remastered
Gravity Rush was a charming, high-flying adventure that up until this year had only been exclusive on Vita. However, it's now remastered for PS4, giving console players the opportunity to experience it for the first time. Take command of the amnesiac Kat as she fights to figure out who she is while using her gravity manipulation powers to ward off evil creatures.
Release Date: February 2