We begin anew: 2021 and beyond
The new year brings players a host of new announcements and things to be excited for
The PlayStation 5 finally has a release date for India — February 2 (pre-orders from January 12) and we can expect the series X to be restocked as well. As new devices and hardware will become the norm, the transition of next-gen becoming current will happen rather quickly.
On the games front, there should be a lot of new titles and as developers begin to redesign games with the new hardware in mind, we will begin to witness the trajectory that gaming as an activity will take for the next decade.
However, it will be a few years before conscious design decisions by developers will utilise all what the hardware has to offer. 2021 should be a year of refinement, adoption and redesign if things go as per plans.
This week we look at six games that should create most buzz this year. Please keep in mind though, launch dates can change and not all of these may arrive this year.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
(Expected in March 2021 on PC, PS4 and PS5): The first of the picks, is a game with a unique design and premise. Built around a protagonist that is the bridge between the spirit world and the physical, Kena looks like a gazillion bucks. The beautifully designed worlds, abilities to infuse life and the spectral combat are all things that need to be experienced first-hand.
Deathloop
(May 21, 2021, on PC and PS5 time exclusive): This one is an interesting choice, the trailers and marketing materials showcase Deathloop as the video game version of Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt’s Edge of Tomorrow. Funnily, the movie itself was based on the video game dynamic of respawning, thus I expect the meta narrative to be either incredibly unique or downright disappointing. The buzz does seem incredibly positive though.
Scarlet Nexus
(Summer 2021, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X and S): Making a choice between this and the incredibly promising Ghostwire: Tokyo is extremely difficult. Scarlet Nexus edges it out in anticipation levels though. A game that promises a unique narrative that links two characters across one story and revolves around the Japanese red strings of fate (Black Clover anyone?) is something that definitively warrants a try. Add into the mix that the hack ‘n’ slash action is reminiscent of Devil May Cry, this could be a surprise winner.
God of War: Ragnarok
(Late 2020, PS5 exclusive): A sequel to one of the best games from last gen, we all wait for Kratos and Atreus’ journeys to continue. Building on the fantastic foundations of the last game, Norse mythology and developments from the last game, it looks like a showdown with Thor is inevitable. Predictably, expectations are high with this one. Time to collide with lightning, que Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant please.
Halo Infinite
(December 2020 on PC, and Xbox Series X, S, and One): Microsoft’s trump card and a game that must revive a franchise on the verge of being forgotten, there is a lot riding on Infinite. The reveal left people polarised and the delay, a little dismayed. However, all will be forgiven if Halo makes a mark. A game that could shape the way this console generation is headed.
Horizon Forbidden West
(Late 2020 PS4 and PS5): The last on this list is probably the one that left the largest mark during its reveal. Aloy’s journey continues and this time the game moves to the coast. Spectacular ray tracing reflections of beaches bathed in soft golden hues as they are washed by frothy seas, this one will be a visual extravaganza. If Forbidden West offers a playable experience that matches its visual appeal, then the rest will be history.
