🇧🇷 Leia este artigo em português
September 2026's State of Play delivered a presentation that differed from the traditional format. Instead of a single event, PlayStation held two consecutive broadcasts on September 3: the first featuring announcements and updates from studios around the world, followed shortly afterward by State of Play Japan, primarily focused on games developed in Japan and other parts of Asia.
With more than 30 games featured, the event had one particularly clear characteristic: rather than focusing solely on major new announcements, Sony dedicated much of the presentation to new trailers, updates, and release dates for games we already knew about. Even so, several announcements managed to stand out.
Resident Evil Opens State of Play
The presentation opened with a new trailer for the Resident Evil movie, directed by Zach Cregger. The video showed more of protagonist Bryan's arrival in Raccoon City during the beginning of the viral outbreak.
One of the most interesting scenes shows bodies apparently falling throughout the city, reinforcing the sense of chaos that will dominate the movie. The film arrives in theaters on September 18, 2026.
PLATFORMS: Cinemas
Marvel's Wolverine Gets a Launch Trailer
Marvel's Wolverine received a new trailer showing more of Logan's adventure, his allies, and some of the characters involved in the story. Jean Grey and members of Team X also appear in the new presentation.
Insomniac Games' title is getting closer to release and will launch exclusively on PlayStation 5.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
Ghost of Yōtei Gets Two Major Content Updates
Sucker Punch returned to showcase Ghost of Yōtei, this time highlighting two new pieces of content arriving with the Complete Edition.
Ghost of Yōtei: Most Wanted will be a roguelike-inspired survival mode, while Ghost of Yōtei: Echoes of Sekigahara will be a narrative expansion exploring Atsu's past and the Battle of Sekigahara.
One of the biggest highlights was the return of Jin Sakai as a playable character in Most Wanted.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance
Capcom revealed a new trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, showcasing new monsters, the Skybound Eyrie region, and new combat mechanics.
The expansion also introduces the Boost Bracer, which can temporarily enhance the characteristics of all 14 weapon categories. The expansion is scheduled for 2027.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5 • Xbox Series X|S • PC
Metro 2039 and Maneater 2
Metro 2039 received its first major gameplay footage on PlayStation 5 Pro, highlighting exploration, combat, survival, and stealth in a post-apocalyptic Moscow.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5 • Xbox Series X|S • PC
Maneater 2 introduced a new aquatic adventure, once again putting players in control of a shark inside a massive theme park. The game is scheduled for 2027.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
Crimson Desert Gets an Expansion
Crimson Desert: Charting the Unknown promises to expand the world of Pywel with a new adventure starring Kliff, Oongka, and Damiane. The trailer showcased an even wider variety of environments and exploration possibilities.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
LEGO PlayStation Celebrates the Original Console
In between the game announcements, Sony and LEGO revealed a set based on the original PlayStation. The model contains 1,911 pieces and recreates the original console and controller at nearly 1:1 scale, while also hiding several references to PlayStation history.
PLATFORMS: LEGO
Final Fantasy Resonance
Square Enix showed more of Final Fantasy Resonance, an HD-2D RPG that combines classic elements of the franchise with a modern presentation. The trailer also revealed Sephiroth as a special challenge.
Another highlight is that the game's first chapter can already be experienced through the demo, with progress transferable to the full version.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5 • Nintendo Switch • Nintendo Switch 2 • Xbox Series X|S • PC
Hunter's Moon, Uncanyon and Keeper
Among the smaller projects, three games stood out for their very different concepts. Hunter's Moon embraces first-person folk horror, while Uncanyon uses reality manipulation to create its puzzles. Meanwhile, Keeper, from Double Fine, puts players in control of a lighthouse in a surreal adventure that is already available.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5 • PC • Xbox Series X|S
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
Rhapsody in Scarlet and Rev. Noir
Konami had a strong presence across both presentations. Rhapsody in Scarlet received new details about its world inspired by 1920s New York, blending jazz, magic, and supernatural creatures.
Rev. Noir, previously revealed, also returned with new footage and more details about its story. Neither game has an exact release date yet, although Rev. Noir is confirmed for 2027.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
PlayStation Plus Gets New Classics
The PlayStation Plus Premium classics catalog is also receiving new additions. Mega Man X: Command Mission arrives in September, while Dino Crisis 2 and the original Ratchet & Clank were also announced for the catalog.
Mycopunk was also confirmed for the PlayStation Plus game catalog later this year.
Gran Turismo 7 Begins Its 30th Anniversary Celebration
Gran Turismo 7 will receive the Spec IV update, divided into two parts. The update will add new tracks, cars, and game modes, preparing the franchise for its 30th anniversary celebration.
The content will be released between October and December 2026.
GTA 6 Gets Special Controllers
Rockstar and PlayStation revealed two Grand Theft Auto VI special DualSense controllers, one black and one white, inspired by the aesthetic of Vice City.
The controllers will be available for pre-order on September 10 and launch on November 19, the same day as GTA 6.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5 • Xbox Series X|S
Final Fantasy VII Revelation Closes the Presentation
The major finale came with Final Fantasy VII Revelation. Square Enix presented an extensive showcase of the third part of the remake, featuring characters such as Vincent, Barret, Tifa, Cait Sith, and Cloud.
The biggest highlight, however, was the scale of the world. Exploration can be carried out using the Highwind, chocobos, and other forms of transportation, turning the new chapter into a much more open experience.
The conclusion of the trilogy will launch exclusively on PlayStation 5 in April 2027.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
State of Play Japan Focuses on Asian Games
Immediately after the main State of Play, Sony presented State of Play Japan, dedicated to Japanese and Asian games. The second presentation featured several previously announced titles, while also revealing some interesting new projects.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3
format(webp) "Aiko Meiko - 3D character model and views")
The event opened with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, arriving in 2027 and once again allowing players to create and develop their own character within the Dragon Ball universe.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
Fate/Extra Record
Fate/Extra Record finally received its release date. The remake focuses on card-based battles and new strategic mechanics.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5 • PlayStation 4
Dragon Quest Monsters and Gundam Rogue Orbit
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World received a new showcase highlighting its cozy atmosphere, while Gundam Rogue Orbit received more gameplay footage and customization details.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
The Eminence in Shadow, Rematch and Where the Seeds Fall
The Eminence in Shadow: Phantom Echoes was announced as the first game in the series for consoles, featuring roguelite action and an original story.
Rematch also received a special collaboration with Blue Lock, while Where the Seeds Fall showcased its action and exploration concept.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
Stupid Never Dies and SlashZero
Stupid Never Dies received a new showcase and confirmed that its demo is already available on PS5, with progress carrying over to the full game.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5 • PC
SlashZero received a limited-time demo, with the full release scheduled for spring 2027.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
Other State of Play Japan Announcements
The presentation also brought new details about Ghost of Yōtei: Echoes of Sekigahara, Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, Rhapsody in Scarlet, and Rev. Noir, showing how closely connected the two events were and reinforcing the presence of major Japanese productions.
Other titles included Echoes of Aincrad: Genesis Maidens, a Sword Art Online expansion, Digimon Story Time Stranger: A Hero's Eternal Legacy, CONQ: Crown of No Quarter, and Daba: Land of Water Scar, the latter representing the growing presence of Chinese studios in the action RPG market.
PLATFORMS: PlayStation 5
Digimon Story Time Stranger: A Hero's Eternal Legacy is also confirmed for 2027, while Echoes of Aincrad: Genesis Maidens arrives in winter 2026.
Was September's State of Play Worth It?
Overall, the September 2026 State of Play was a solid presentation, but not necessarily a surprising one. The event worked better as a major update to the PlayStation release calendar than as a showcase of announcements capable of redefining expectations for the generation.
Marvel's Wolverine, Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, and Ghost of Yōtei were the major highlights, while titles such as Rhapsody in Scarlet, Uncanyon, Keeper, and Daba: Land of Water Scar helped diversify the presentation.
State of Play Japan, on the other hand, was probably the more interesting part for those following the Japanese and Asian gaming market. The presence of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, Fate/Extra Record, Dragon Quest Monsters, Gundam Rogue Orbit, and new Chinese projects demonstrated a variety that often does not appear in PlayStation's Western presentations.
The Elephant in the Room: The End of Physical Media
Despite the number of announcements, one important question remained unanswered. In July, Sony confirmed that starting in January 2028, it will stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games. The decision has sparked criticism surrounding preservation, resale, collecting, and the very concept of ownership in digital games.
Therefore, considering that the State of Play showcased numerous releases and even a commemorative collaboration with LEGO based on the original PlayStation, it would have been interesting for Sony to use the occasion to clarify its strategy for physical media and address the community's concerns.
The silence does not diminish the quality of the announcements, but it leaves the impression that an important discussion is taking place around PlayStation that the company still prefers not to address publicly.
Conclusion
The September 3, 2026 State of Play was not designed to make a major impact through dozens of brand-new announcements. Its goal appeared to be different: to show that PlayStation's release calendar is becoming increasingly packed and prepare audiences for the games arriving between late 2026 and 2027.
For me, Final Fantasy VII Revelation was the biggest highlight, particularly because of the scale of its world and the amount of new exploration footage shown. Marvel's Wolverine also seems ready to finally demonstrate why it has been one of Insomniac's most anticipated projects.
However, the presentation could have been even stronger with some answers about the future of the platform. Among so many announcements, the lack of a clearer position on the end of physical discs in 2028 ended up being one of the most noticeable aspects of the event.
What did you think of the September 2026 State of Play? Which announcement caught your attention the most, and which game do you think was missing?
