While we support constructive feedback, the ongoing conversation surrounding Sony’s State of Play livestreams is becoming increasingly tiresome.

Before accusations of hypocrisy arise, we acknowledge that we’ve contributed to this narrative on occasion. We’ve expressed concerns regarding the company’s overall engagement with its community and the inconsistency observed in their presentations.

In truth, we believe that Sony has struggled to create a livestream format that effectively excites PS5 enthusiasts.

However, it’s become apparent that we now understand the direction Sony is taking with its events and how they aim to build anticipation for their games.

The name itself offers a hint: State of Play is not designed to be an extensive showcase like past PlayStation events. It is, quite literally, a status update on the ongoing situation in the gaming realm, echoing the definition provided by Google.

For years, there has been a gap between fan expectations and Sony’s offerings. As a result, the company is not operating in the way many fans desire. With the decline of E3 and the absence of PS Showcases, Sony seems more inclined to provide glimpses rather than fully-fledged reveals.

This was evident in the recent livestream where Sony offered a sneak peek of Housemarque’s upcoming title, Saros, while keeping other projects under wraps. This doesn’t imply that titles like Ghost of Yotei and Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet are nonexistent; rather, they are at different stages in their promotional timelines.

One clear example is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which Sony recently highlighted as a key first-party title to its stakeholders. Although age ratings suggest its release is near and Hideo Kojima is actively sharing trailers on social media, a major unveiling is set for SXSW in three weeks.

Would the State of Play have benefited from an inclusion of the much-anticipated sequel? Certainly, but as previously mentioned, it follows a different timeline. The game is slated for more exposure at SXSW, ensuring that PlayStation fans will always have news to look forward to.

Moreover, it’s evident that Sony prefers not to reveal games too early. While there are exceptions, such as Marvel’s Wolverine, last year at this time, players were unaware of what would eventually become the Game of the Year, Astro Bot. Although clues could be inferred from Team ASOBI’s activities, a significant period elapsed between the official revelation of the critically acclaimed platformer and its actual release.

Consequently, if you’re making judgments about the PS5’s entire 2025 lineup based on a single presentation in February, you may be misinformed. We recognize the anxiety following the cancellation of Bend Studio and Bluepoint’s projects; however, the current chatter surrounding a shortage of first-party software seems premature, especially considering that PS Studios excelled at the DICE Awards for its 2024 contributions.

This is not an attempt to dismiss all criticism. We generally agree that a more open and interactive PlayStation, similar to the PS4 era, would be welcome. However, the company has shifted its strategy, and fans likely need to adapt accordingly.

It’s become tiresome to witness the same monotonous discussion following each State of Play; with E3 2016 nearly a decade ago, Sony appears uninterested in returning to that style.