Sony is preparing for a massive year in terms of game releases and have ramped up their marketing budget as a result, at least that’s according to the latest rumors. Apparently one of the reasons the year will be so big is because Sony is gearing up to reveal a major third-party PlayStation exclusive, although nobody seems certain on what it is just yet.
Sony’s Plans for 2022
Sony’s slate of games for 2022 includes PlayStation exclusives like God of War Ragnarok, Gran Turismo 7, and Horizon Forbidden West, as well as multi-platform games like Elden Ring. However, according to the Sacred Symbols PlayStation podcast, there are other games that will mean an increase in promotional budget: “Apparently marketing spending is increasing greatly this year, indicating that Sony is anticipating a large year beyond — I would assume — the games we know imminently most about: Horizon, Gran Turismo, etc.” The one thing that’s causing the biggest increase in budget is “a major, yet unrevealed, third-party exclusive”.
Despite talking to “someone in the know at Sony”, the podcast couldn’t say what this game was likely to be. They speculated that the news could fit in with recent rumors that the next BioShock game would be a timed exclusive, or that there could be an unannounced title from FromSoftware. The most likely option, though, is that it’s the next PlayStation exclusive reveal from Square Enix, whose announcement was reportedly delayed by the postponement of the next big Final Fantasy XVI reveal.
This game will not be a title from the Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, or Kingdom Hearts franchises. We’re going to have to wait until spring at the earliest for this title to be revealed as this is when the next FFXVI is due to happen. Whatever the major third-party PlayStation exclusive turns out to be, the fact the game is part of this year’s marketing budget means at least we know it will be revealed this year too.
In other news, players in several European countries can now sign up to PlayStation Direct to purchase a PS5 console directly from Sony. Elsewhere, a leak seems to confirm that WWE 2K22 is releasing in March, as well as detailing gameplay and the cover star.
