Talking Point: Does PS5 Have a Sequel Problem?

There’s a ridiculous idea circulating that the PS5 lacks games, which is, of course, absurd. However, upon taking a step back and examining some of the console’s most prominent titles, a fascinating trend emerges.

Numerous PlayStation enthusiasts cherish the PS4 period, an era where Sony intensified its first-party ambitions.

Long-established franchises like God of War made a comeback to widespread admiration, while fresh series swiftly ascended to become some of Sony’s top sellers — Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Marvel’s Spider-Man are perfect illustrations.

The PS5 showcases a collection of original, Sony-developed titles, such as Astro Bot, Returnal, and Stellar Blade, but a significant portion of its roster has been enhanced by sequels, which is what we aim to emphasize.

Recently launched was Ghost of Yotei, a sequel to the previously mentioned Tsushima. Although it centers around a different lead character in an alternate timeframe, the fundamental gameplay is largely consistent, although superior in nearly every aspect.

It introduces wise enhancements and improvements to the initial design, capitalizes on the PS5’s superior capabilities, and boasts a high level of refinement that players have come to expect from PS Studios.

Interestingly, you could express precisely this for numerous other PS5 sequels, notably God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

All of these are exceptional titles that enhance core mechanics, further their individual narratives, and maximize the potential of the PS5.

Nonetheless, a common critique among them all is that they are relatively risk-averse.

They all reinforce a formula that resonated previously, augmenting it with new or refined elements, but not necessarily advancing the medium in a significant manner.

It’s entirely sensible for Sony to create these sequels; they are more-or-less assured to perform well commercially, and they are unlikely to disappoint anyone since, for the most part, they’re revisiting the same successful formulas from before.

However, the issue is that, despite their caliber as games, they can seem somewhat lacking in edge. All four titles are certainly worthwhile, but unlike the preceding entries, one could argue that they aren’t truly moving forward.

Saros is scheduled to be released in March 2026, and technically speaking, it isn’t a direct sequel to Returnal, yet all we’ve heard anyone comment on is that it is effectively Returnal 2.

To clarify, that’s not inherently a negative; Returnal continues to be a favorite here at Push Square. However, there’s concern among dedicated fans that we may be facing yet another iterative sequel that merely adheres to proven concepts.

It’s complicated; relying on what is successful is the strategic choice, as it tends to yield favorable reviews and positive responses from loyal fans eager for more of what they enjoy. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, truly.

We suspect that part of the issue lies in the extensive time required to develop games of this magnitude nowadays. There was nearly a two-year gap between the debuts of PS2’s God of War and God of War II; the interval between God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok exceeds twice that duration.

Sequels that would evolve and enhance in this manner used to arrive much sooner, creating a stronger sense of momentum. Game development is taking progressively longer, potentially diminishing their overall impact.

Additionally, Sony has a reputation as a publisher known for exploring new avenues and developing engaging new IPs. This emphasis hasn’t entirely vanished, of course — indeed, we might finally be witnessing a resurgence of this in the upcoming years.

We’ve already mentioned Saros (technically a new IP), but also on the horizon are Marvel’s Wolverine and Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which means we’re delving into uncharted territory, and that’s exhilarating.

We should also mention that these cautious sequels aren’t exclusive to PlayStation; it’s a trend observable among various major publishers.

We are currently in a notably risk-averse era; triple-A titles are extraordinarily costly and time-consuming to produce, therefore they must resonate with their target demographics.

The approach to achieve that is to keep appealing to fans’ existing preferences, which results in thoroughly enjoyable but formulaic sequels such as Borderlands 4, The Outer Worlds 2, and Assassin’s Creed’s recent trajectory.

Anyway, what are your thoughts? Have you been enjoying Sony’s major sequels on PS5? Do they feel innovative or have they been sticking to a secure formula? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.