The June 2026 State of Play, held by PlayStation on June 2, delivered exactly what many fans were expecting: a presentation packed with highly anticipated games, the return of beloved franchises, and a handful of new intellectual properties that managed to steal the spotlight.
Although the event delivered both quality and quantity, it also left the impression that many of its biggest reveals had already been on players' radar through rumors and leaks circulating for months.
Even so, it was a presentation that painted a very promising picture for PlayStation's future over the next few years.
Wolverine Finally Appears and Lives Up to the Hype
After years of waiting, we finally got a much more substantial look at Marvel's Wolverine, developed by Insomniac Games. The game showcased brutally intense combat, stunning animations, and a significantly darker atmosphere than anything seen in the studio's Spider-Man titles.
Visually, the project looks like one of the most impressive games of the current generation and was undoubtedly one of the announcements PlayStation fans had been waiting for the most. It wasn't exactly a surprise, but it was an important confirmation that the project is alive and looking extremely promising.
Ace Combat 8 Returns After Seven Years
One of the most unexpected moments of the presentation was the reveal of Ace Combat 8. The last mainline entry in the franchise launched roughly seven years ago, and fans have been eagerly waiting for any news about the series ever since.
The trailer featured cinematic aerial battles, impressive weather effects, and the kind of military spectacle that has made Ace Combat one of the most respected franchises in the genre. For long-time fans, this was easily one of the best announcements of the night.
God of War: Laufey, the Game Dividing Opinions
If Wolverine was the most anticipated announcement, God of War: Laufey was probably the most controversial. The game places Faye (Laufey), Kratos' wife and Atreus' mother, in the leading role.
The footage shown during the State of Play suggests a journey connected to the afterlife and an expansion of the events explored throughout the Norse saga. Visually, the game is stunning and appears to maintain the exceptionally high production values of its predecessors.
However, it's impossible to ignore the strong spin-off vibe the project gives off. The choice of protagonist will likely reignite a debate that has existed within the community for years, between fans of the "Old Testament Kratos" — the ruthless warrior from the Greek trilogy — and those who embraced the more emotional direction introduced in God of War (2018).
The concept could work very well from a narrative standpoint, but it also has the potential to divide the fanbase even further.
Tomb Raider and Onimusha Reinforce the Event's Strength
The new Tomb Raider adventure was another major announcement of the night. While not all details were revealed, the game appears to continue the franchise's modern evolution while bringing Lara Croft's visual identity closer to the classic era of the series.
Meanwhile, Onimusha: Way of the Sword once again demonstrated why it is one of Capcom's most promising upcoming projects. The sword combat remains impressive, the art direction looks fantastic, and the supernatural feudal Japan setting continues to be one of the franchise's biggest strengths.
For many players, Onimusha was easily one of the best-looking games showcased during the event. It's also worth mentioning that Capcom is having an incredible year filled with strong releases and exciting announcements. Hopefully, the company can maintain this momentum moving forward.
The State of Play Wasn't Just About Sequels
One of the most positive aspects of the presentation was the presence of brand-new IPs. In an industry increasingly dependent on sequels, remakes, and established franchises, seeing fresh ideas receive significant attention is always refreshing.
ILL Was the Biggest Highlight of the Night
The creature designs and heavy emphasis on body horror strongly evoke memories of The Thing, John Carpenter's legendary horror classic. Grotesque physical transformations, unpredictable monsters, and a constant sense that something is terribly wrong help create an atmosphere of unease that few trailers manage to communicate so effectively in such a short amount of time.
The combination of disturbing creatures, graphic violence, claustrophobic environments, and a persistent sense of vulnerability turned ILL into one of the most memorable moments of the entire State of Play. Every new scene seemed to raise the tension even further, reinforcing the idea that the game intends to rely on psychological fear just as much as visual horror.
For fans of survival horror, ILL has the potential to become one of the biggest surprises of the coming years. In an event packed with sequels, established franchises, and familiar names, the game achieved something rare: it stood out through its own ideas and immediately established a strong identity.
More than just another announcement, ILL was the title that best communicated its personality, atmosphere, and vision in only a few minutes of footage, leaving the impression that we may be looking at one of the most promising new horror IPs in development.
The Lost Wild Continues to Impress
Another absolute standout was The Lost Wild. The game embraces a very different approach from most dinosaur-themed titles. Instead of focusing on fast-paced action and constant combat, the experience appears to revolve around survival, constant tension, and a feeling of vulnerability in the face of prehistoric creatures that pose a genuine threat.
The atmosphere showcased in the trailer was excellent and demonstrates enormous potential for The Lost Wild to become one of the most interesting new IPs of the coming years. Among all the new projects shown during the event, it was one of the games that sparked my curiosity the most.
That said, there is one aspect of the project that personally keeps me from being completely sold on it: the first-person perspective. While it makes perfect sense within the type of experience the developers are trying to create—enhancing immersion, tension, and the sense of danger—I've always preferred third-person games. Even so, that doesn't take away from the strength of the concept. On the contrary, The Lost Wild conveys a clear identity and a strong creative vision, something not every game at the event managed to achieve. If the execution lives up to the concept, we could be looking at one of the biggest surprises of this generation.
Kemuri Brings Its Own Personality to the Event
Another game that deserves recognition is Kemuri. With an anime-inspired visual style, striking art direction, and a gameplay concept centered around adventure and cooperative action, the title managed to stand out among so many established franchises.
There are still plenty of questions surrounding its gameplay, but the project already demonstrates a unique identity—something increasingly rare in major industry showcases.
Rayman Legends Retold Is a Very Welcome Return
One of the most pleasant surprises of the event was Rayman Legends Retold. The original game is widely regarded as one of the greatest platformers ever made.
If this new version manages to preserve everything that made the original so beloved while introducing visual improvements and additional content, there's a strong chance we'll once again have one of the best platforming experiences available on modern systems.
Expansions and Established Franchises Also Made an Appearance
Beyond the major reveals, the event also dedicated time to titles that had already been announced previously.
Among them:
- Marathon
- Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls
- Updates and expansions for existing games
- New trailers for previously announced projects
While important, these announcements ultimately took a back seat to the night's biggest reveals.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the June 2026 State of Play was a solid event. We saw major announcements, long-awaited games finally reappear, and several new intellectual properties that look genuinely promising.
That said, the showcase lacked that one truly shocking moment capable of redefining the entire presentation. Many of the biggest reveals had already been the subject of rumors for quite some time, which inevitably reduced some of their impact.
For PlayStation fans, the biggest highlights were undoubtedly Marvel's Wolverine and God of War: Laufey. However, for those looking for fresh ideas and entirely new experiences, the real winners of the night were ILL and The Lost Wild, two projects that immediately established their own identities and generated genuine excitement.
And what about you? What did you think of this State of Play? Which announcement was your favorite of the night? Was there a game you expected to see but that never appeared during the presentation? Let us know in the comments and join the discussion about the biggest highlights of the event.
