God of War: Laufey Announced, Wolverine Pre-order Available, Shadow Blade Delayed

Earlier today, Sony hosted a State of Play gaming event, focusing on first-party and third-party titles coming to PlayStation 5. Click to see details>>

Let's start with the highlights. Developed by Santa Monica Studio, the spin-off of the Norse saga of *God of War* titled *God of War: Laufey* was unveiled, featuring over 20 minutes of deep gameplay demo footage—plenty to digest. It seems much further along than the Greek trilogy remake announced half a year ago, which only had a logo reveal. The story focuses on the legendary warrior and leader who profoundly shaped the Nine Realms: Laufey, Kratos' wife & Atreus' mother, whose last wishes and will served as a main thread in the new *God of War* saga. As shown in the trailer, *Laufey* is not a prequel about how the two met, but a story set in the afterlife that takes place concurrently with *God of War*. You can also see the game retains the over-the-shoulder perspective, one-shot camera, unique combat feel, and seamless Boss battles spliced with cutscenes—likely making it even more polished than the Norse saga entries.

(Since the actress Deborah Ann Woll also played Karen Page, editor can't help but feel like it's Daredevil or The Punisher rescuing the scene instead of Kratos)

*Marvel's Wolverine*, developed by the prolific Insomniac Games, will be released on September 15 after a rocky road including a hacker leak. It is now available for pre-order, with the standard edition at $69.99/548 HKD and the deluxe edition at $79.99/628 HKD. This 7-minute gameplay demo shows the UI, combat system, and the bloodiness true to the original IP—appropriate for the source material. The story revolves around the conflicts between mutants and humans, with cameos from Logan's classic allies and villains like Jean Grey, Mystique, Sabretooth, and the Sentinels. Click to pre-order the digital version>>

There's some tough news: the Chinese-made action-adventure punk wuxia game *Phantom Blade: Zero* has been delayed from its original September 9 release to October 29. The producer announced that they need more time to polish the game ahead of its final release. Although this game only had a short trailer and the delay announcement, it also revealed that an in-depth demo showing deeper gameplay systems and storyline details will premiere at a dedicated State of Play showcase in the fall of 2026. A dedicated showcase is essentially the same level of treatment as a first-party title, indicating close collaboration with PlayStation to secure the game's performance on PS5 series consoles. This title will launch on PC and PlayStation platforms (console exclusive with no Xbox version for now). The new extended trailer is expected to air later this summer, along with pre-orders beginning.

*Ghost Blade: Way of the Sword* is coming to PS5, Xbox Series, and PC on September 25, with a demo now available.

*Tomb Raider: Ruins of Atlantis* is set to launch on February 12, 2027, with a gameplay demo revealed.

Other news:

*Silent Hill: Townfall* will release on September 24.

*Dynasty Warriors 2 with Xtreme Legends Remastered* releases on October 1.

*Control: Resonance* comes out on September 20.

*Ace Combat 8: Ivory's Rise* launches on October 2.

*Until Dawn 2* is announced for 2027.

All in all, this event packed a ton of info, and most of it relates to games you can play this summer or fall. There's also the upcoming Summer Games Festival and *GTA 6* about to kick off its marketing cycle. Gamers should be absolutely thrilled this year!