Two Classic PlayStation Franchises Need a Revival Now More Than Ever

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Two Classic PlayStation Franchises Need a Revival Now More Than Ever

Key Takeaways

  • Reviving Killzone and Resistance could fill Sony’s FPS gap left by Concord’s failure.
  • Both franchises were significant on PS3, but have now been dormant for over a decade.
  • A comeback for these FPS franchises could diversify Sony’s predominantly third-person lineup, allowing it to better compete with Xbox, which has several shooters to its name.

As a long-time PlayStation enthusiast who has witnessed the ebb and flow of Sony’s exclusive lineup, I can confidently say that it’s high time for the return of Killzone and Resistance. I fondly remember my late nights huddled around the TV, blasting through levels of these sci-fi shooters during the PS3 era. They were a breath of fresh air amidst an otherwise crowded FPS market, and their absence has left a void that needs filling.

During the seventh console generation, PlayStation underwent significant innovation due to the rocky introduction of the PS3. In response to this setback and intense competition from Microsoft and Nintendo, Sony worked diligently to regain customer trust. The initial years of the struggling system saw fewer notable exclusive releases, but Sony successfully turned things around for the PS3 in its later years. This phase in PlayStation’s history saw Sony focusing on a wide range of first-party games to make their collection attractive to diverse audiences, encompassing both casual and hardcore gamers. As a result, numerous PlayStation titles emerged across various genres, including puzzle platformers, survival games, arcade racers, and action RPGs.

As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but reminisce about some standout Sony properties from the PlayStation 3 era – specifically, the groundbreaking sci-fi first-person shooter series, Resistance and Killzone. These remarkable franchises managed to carve out a niche for themselves amidst a bustling FPS scene, and were consistently praised by critics as some of the best PlayStation-published titles during their time. Regrettably, these cherished Sony IPs have been silent for over a decade now. If given another chance, Killzone and Resistance could easily rejuvenate Sony’s first-party FPS offerings, which are conspicuously lacking in today’s gaming landscape. While they may not have scaled the heights of fame achieved by series like Halo or Call of Duty, a return for these franchises would undoubtedly help bridge the significant void in the modern Sony stable.

It’s Time for Sony to Bring Back Killzone and Resistance

Resistance Was One of the Multiple Sony-Owned Franchises That Debuted on the PS3

Among these two first-person shooter (FPS) franchises, it’s the “Resistance” series that was developed by Insomniac Games, a studio known for hits like “Ratchet & Clank” and “Marvel’s Spider-Man.” The series comprises just five games, with two of them originally released only on Sony’s portable gaming systems. Notably, the initial “Resistance” game, titled “Resistance: Fall of Man,” was one of the launch titles for the PlayStation 3 and was quite successful. Later mainline installments in the series premiered on the PS3 as well and have yet to move beyond that console, despite its aging hardware.

The Killzone Series Was at Its Peak During the PS3 Era

Unlike “Resistance,” the “Killzone” series didn’t debut on the PlayStation 3. Instead, the initial game in the series, “Killzone: Liberation,” released by Guerrilla Games in 2004, was exclusive to the PS2. It wasn’t until the PS3 era that the series truly found its footing, with popular games like “Killzone 2” and “3,” which were seen as significant improvements over the first game in the franchise. However, the quality of the “Killzone” series dipped after the release of the controversial 2013 game “Killzone: Shadow Fall,” which was launched alongside the PS4 and received mixed reviews from fans. “Shadow Fall” was the last entry in the “Killzone” franchise and also the final first-person shooter developed by Sony, excluding VR games; that is, until the release of “Concord.

After The Failure of Concord, Sony Needs a Successful FPS Series like Killzone, Resistance

Initially, “Concord” marked the first flat-screen FPS game from a PlayStation studio in over a decade. Yet, contrary to expectations, this multiplayer title did not signal a triumphant comeback to the first-person shooter genre for Sony; instead, it turned out to be quite disappointing. This hero shooter experienced both critical and commercial flops, leading to its closure by PlayStation just two weeks after its release on August 23, 2024, due to poor sales.

After it appears that Concord has been set aside, Sony is in dire need of a top-tier first-person shooter more than ever. To broaden their selection like they did during the PS3 era, they might want to reintroduce Killzone and Resistance to fill the void left by Concord. These two PlayStation franchises could shine among Sony’s predominantly third-person game library and potentially compete strongly with the numerous FPS series that Microsoft now controls on their console.

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2024-09-21 19:33