Like Xbox and Nintendo,PlayStationusually hosts a digital presentation of some kind at the start of each year. In 2024, for instance, the company held a State of Play right at the end of January, where it showed off several big releases from both first- and third-party developers. Not only did the event include new trailers for multiple majorPlayStationexclusives, such asStellar BladeandDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach, it also highlighted a handful of multiplatform titles, likeDragon’s Dogma 2andSonic x Shadow: Generations. This State of Play was arguably one of PlayStation’s better events of the last few years, and it set a high bar for the company’s future presentations.
With January 2025 coming to a close, there is a pretty high chance that PlayStation will host a new State of Play in the coming weeks, and it could potentially happen sooner than some might expect. The credible insider NateTheHate, who recently leaked the announcement date for the Nintendo Switch 2, suggested a few days ago thatPlayStation’s next State of Playwould be held sometime during the week of Valentine’s Day, from February 10 to February 14. Nate didn’t provide any clues about what publishers would participate in the event, but given the current state of the industry, it’s possible, if not likely, that Microsoft will have a major presence here.
For the First Time Ever, Xbox Could Have a Major Presence at a PlayStation State of Play
In Recent Months, Xbox Has Become a Major Publisher on PlayStation Consoles
Microsoft and Sony used to be direct competitors that fought tooth-and-nail to get gamers into their ecosystems, but in recent years, the dynamic between the two companies has changed dramatically. Since early 2024, Microsoft has beenporting its Xbox exclusive games to PlayStation consoles, including major titles likeSea of Thieves,Forza Horizon 5, andIndiana Jones and the Great Circle. In spite of the concern that many Xbox fans have expressed regarding this new multiplatform push, Microsoft has shown no sign of changing course. On the contrary, it’s been doubling down on this controversial strategy.
Recent comments from Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer suggest thatXbox is no longer interested in making exclusive gamesfor its console, and that pretty much any (and every) Xbox game is being considered for a multiplatform release, including tentpole titles likeHalo. Phil’s statements align with previous reports from several insiders, such as Windows Central’s Jez Corden, who alleged that Microsoft intends to release all of its future games on PlayStation and/or Nintendo consoles on day-one, whenever possible.
Some Major Xbox Games Could Be Announced for PS5 at the State of Play
Currently, rumors suggest that there are a multitude of Xbox games in development for PlayStation 5, including flagship exclusives likeHalo: The Master Chief Collection,Fable(2025),Starfield,Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, and evenPerfect Dark. If these reports are accurate, then maybe Microsoft will make an appearance at Sony’s upcoming State of Play to announce some of these games for PS5. Even if the company doesn’t have any new news to share on PS5 ports, it can, at the very least, confirm a release date forthe PlayStation version ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circleat the event, since it’s supposedly launching on Sony’s current-gen console in the spring.
Despite its platform-agnostic strategy, Microsoft has never really had a presence at PlayStation events before. Most of the multiplatform ports it has announced so far have either beenrevealed at Nintendo Directsor Geoff Keighley showcases, like the Summer Games Fest and The Game Awards. Considering the company’s current trajectory, though, it wouldn’t be too surprising if 2025 ends up being the first year that Xbox makes an appearance at aPlayStationState of Play, whether in a big or small way.
