The 6 most exciting announcements from PlayStation's June State of Play
Release dates and surprises from PlayStation's latest showcase
Sony officially kicked off this year's summer gaming showcase season with a packed June State of Play that leaned heavily on big first-party projects, long-awaited updates and a handful of genuine surprises.
While there weren't quite as many announcements as some fans had hoped for, the show still delivered plenty to get excited about, including the reveal of an entirely new God of War game, a substantial gameplay showcase for Marvel's Wolverine and the unexpected return of Until Dawn.
Throw in some impressive-looking action RPGs, a cult classic revival and one of the most unsettling horror games we've seen in a while, and PlayStation has given players plenty to talk about ahead of what's shaping up to be a busy few years for PS5 owners.
1. God of War: Laufey
The biggest announcement of the night came right at the end, with Santa Monica Studio unveiling God of War: Laufey.
Rather than putting players back in control of Kratos or Atreus, the new game stars Faye, Kratos' late wife and Atreus' mother, who fans have only previously encountered through flashbacks and stories. The extended gameplay demo opens with Kratos seemingly cremating Faye's body, before she awakens in a strange afterlife populated by creatures, gods and mythological threats from multiple worlds.
Deborah Ann Woll reprises her role as Faye, and the footage showcases the same brutal, cinematic combat the series is known for, albeit with a much faster and more agile protagonist. There was also, somewhat unexpectedly, a talking gelatinous cube voiced by Jack Quaid.
No release date has been announced yet, but it's already shaping up to be PlayStation's next major blockbuster.
2. Marvel's Wolverine
After a period of relative silence, Insomniac finally gave fans a substantial new look at Marvel's Wolverine.
The gameplay reveal showed Logan tracking down a group of kidnapped mutants, carving through enemies in gloriously bloody fashion while proving this is very much not another Spider-Man game. The combat looks heavier, nastier and significantly more violent than anything Insomniac has tackled before.
There was also a surprise appearance from Jean Grey, hinting that Wolverine's adventure could have wider X-Men implications than previously expected.
Most importantly, the showcase confirmed a release date. Marvel's Wolverine launches on the 15th of September 2026.
3. Until Dawn 2
One of the night's biggest shocks came with the reveal of Until Dawn 2.
The sequel swaps snowy mountains for a seemingly idyllic tropical island, where a group of ghost hunters quickly discover they've made a terrible mistake. Judging by the trailer, players can expect masked killers, supernatural horrors and plenty of opportunities to accidentally get everyone killed.
The original Until Dawn became a cult hit thanks to its branching storylines and choice-driven gameplay, and it looks like the sequel will be doubling down on that formula.
Until Dawn 2 is currently scheduled for release in 2027.
4. Phantom Blade Zero
We've seen Phantom Blade Zero before, but every new trailer somehow manages to make it look even more impressive.
The latest footage showcased its lightning-fast sword combat, acrobatic martial arts and horrifying supernatural enemies, blending wuxia action cinema with dark fantasy horror. It remains one of the most visually striking games currently in development and could become a serious contender among action RPG fans.
Following the showcase, developer S-Game confirmed Phantom Blade Zero will launch on the 29th of October 2026 for PlayStation 5 and PC.
5. Stuntman Hollywood
Perhaps the most surprising reveal of the entire showcase was the return of Stuntman.
The cult driving franchise, which first launched back in the PS2 era, is being revived with a new entry that appears to recreate iconic moments from famous films and television shows. Footage shown during the presentation included sequences clearly inspired by Back to the Future and Knight Rider.
It's a niche revival, but exactly the kind of unexpected announcement that State of Play showcases often do best.
6. ILL might be the most disturbing game Sony showed
If Resident Evil and body horror movies are your thing, ILL is worth keeping an eye on.
The trailer was packed with grotesque creatures, disturbing transformations and some genuinely stomach-turning imagery. Set in a world overrun by horrifying monsters, the game appears to lean heavily into realistic physics and graphic dismemberment, creating some of the most unsettling enemy encounters shown during the event.
There's still plenty we don't know, but based on this latest footage, ILL could end up being one of the most talked-about horror games of 2027 and makes the list because the trailer is absolutely minging.
State of Play didn't have quite the volume of announcements some fans were hoping for, but between God of War: Laufey, Marvel's Wolverine finally getting a release date, and the surprise reveal of Until Dawn 2, Sony certainly delivered a few major talking points. The biggest winner, though, was arguably God of War. We've been waiting for some time to find out where we will be going next after Ragnarok, and Laufey looks like a good evolution for the series. You can check out the full showcase below:
![State of Play | June 2, 2026 [English Subtitles] - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/RvyezhN16IU/maxresdefault.jpg)
Skip the search — follow Shortlist on Google News to get our best lists, news, features and reviews at the top of your feeds!
