Everything Announced at the PlayStation State of Play Japan Event 2025
The State of Play Japan 2025 showcases the latest Japanese games and DLCs, giving players a head start on 2026 releases.
The inaugural PlayStation State of Play Japan 2025 wrapped up after forty packed minutes of new trailers, updates, and announcements celebrating games from Japan and across Asia. The showcase was hosted by voice actor Yuki Kaji and spotlighted everything from Elden Ring: Nightreign and Dragon Quest VII Reimagined to Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls.
It was a presentation that balanced blockbuster excitement with creative variety, featuring remakes of beloved classics, experimental indie titles, and expansions for ongoing franchises. From cozy storytelling games to psychological horror, PlayStation’s lineup proved that its Asian studios are building not just for local fans, but for a global audience hungry for fresh ideas.
Below are the biggest highlights and reveals from State of Play Japan 2025, plus a look at PlayStation’s new PS5-themed hardware.
Oluwaseun Bamisile
/1. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Returns With New Life
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined got a fresh gameplay trailer and a solid release date of February 5, 2026, for the PS5. The remake takes the classic JRPG and gives it new life with updated visuals, a new episode where you reunite with adult Keifa in a new area, and refined battle scenes. It’s a signal that Japanese classics are being treated not just as nostalgia, but as modern premium releases aimed at both domestic and global audiences.
/2. InKonbini & Coffee Talk Tokyo Bring Everyday Stories to Life
A slice-of-life game coming in April 2026 where you run a Japanese “konbini” convenience store and interact with humans and yōkai. Furthermore, this also ushers in Coffee Talk Tokyo, which comes live on March 5, 2026, on PS5. The game is set in a Tokyo café players are the baristas listening to stories from humans and yōkai. These titles serve two functions: they diversify the lineup beyond blockbuster action, and they reinforce PlayStation’s commitment to games rooted in Japanese culture with international accessibility.
/3. BrokenLore Expands With Unfollow and Ascend
The horror fans had their moment, too. The series BrokenLore revealed two major entries: Unfollow and Ascend. Unfollow a story themed around the dark side of social media is available for pre-order today and launches January 16, 2026. Ascend, a surprise reveal, is set for summer 2026. Both titles lean into psychological horror with strong Japanese context—one dealing with the dark side of social media, the other set in Tokyo with climbing mechanics and survival-horror vibes. This section shows that PlayStation Japan isn’t just about remakes but also fresh IPs with local flavour.
/4. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake Gets 2026 Release Date
Koei Tecmo’s remake of the 2003 classic Fatal Frame II arrives March 12, 2026. With the same haunted-village setting and its signature Camera Obscura mechanic, it reclaims its place as one of Japan’s most enduring horror experiences.
/5. Dynasty Warriors Origins – Visions of Four Heroes DLC
Live-service meets classic warrior spectacle. The DLC for Dynasty Warriors Origins titled Visions of Four Heroes arrives January 22, 2026, with new story content, new allies, new weapons, and massive 1 vs. 1,000 battles. Koei Tecmo again flexes its muscle in the Japanese action genre, giving players long-term content beyond the base game.
/6. Gran Turismo 7 Players Get Spec 3 and Power Pack Trailer Ahead of 2025 Launch
Racing fans weren’t left out. Gran Turismo 7 producer Kazunori Yamauchi took the stage to unveil the Power Pack add-on, set for December 4, 2025, as it will be available on PS4 and PS5. The pack introduces a “real-racing” mode, including a full 24-hour endurance race and complete race weekends. PlayStation clearly wants to keep premium titles growing, not just releasing.
/7. Bandai Namco Brings a Wave of DLC
Beyond full releases, a strong theme in this event was DLC. Here's a roundup: Once Upon a Katamari: Katamari Dance Dance Remix Pack (Nov 2025) and Neo Remix Pack (this winter), Pac‑Man World 2: Re‑Pac: Sonic the Hedgehog crossover DLC available today, Digimon Story: Time Stranger: Episode Pack 1–Alternate Dimension (winter) with new Digimon and story, and Super Robot Wars Y: Collaboration DLC featuring titles like Galactic Whirlwind Bryger, The Big O, Fuuto PI. The prevalence of DLC announcements shows PlayStation and its Japanese partners are doubling down on content ecosystems rather than one-time drops.
/8. Monster Hunter Wilds Sets Free Title Update 4 Release Date
From Monster Hunter Wilds, we got Title Update 4 arriving December 16, 2025, featuring the Giant Halberd Dragon Gogmazios, new end-game content and seasonal events. Capcom may have shown less footage than others, but the update underlines longevity and support for big-budget titles.
/9. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds – NiGHTS, Super Monkey Ball, SpongeBob Pack DLC
Crossover racing gets looser and more fun. In Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds: SpongeBob SquarePants Pack launches November 20, 2025. Free characters scheduled: NiGHTS (Dec 2025), AiAi from Super Monkey Ball (Jan 2026), Tangle & Whisper (Feb 2026). This section shows how PlayStation is leveraging playful, broad-appeal titles alongside the heavy hitters.
/10. Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse Gameplay Trailer Sets 2026 Release Date
Indie-meets-horror-action. Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse was revealed with a gameplay trailer and a release date of March 5, 2026. Developed by Pocketpair and Frontside 180, this Metroidvania roguelike promises animated action, thematic boss battles, and branching mechanics. It’s another signal that the event wasn’t just about big studio titles.
/11. Fate Trigger Blends Animated Visuals With Tactical Hero Shooter Gameplay
A new IP surfaced: Fate Trigger, a tactical hero-shooter built in Unreal Engine 5, heading to players in 2026. Two new heroes were revealed (Fari and TaTa) and a map, “Pale Blight Outpost.” This one looks to position PlayStation competitively in the multiplayer-shooter space with Japanese aesthetic flair.
/12. Octopath Traveler 0 Demo Out Today Ahead of December Release Date
Clocking in a smart move: Octopath Traveler 0 launched a free demo today, ahead of its full release on December 4, 2025. The demo lets players try the first 3 hours with carry-over progress.
Square Enix’s move here is a good example of engagement strategy: hook players early, lock them in for the full launch.
/13. New 27″ Gaming Monitor
PlayStation’s 27-inch Gaming Monitor with DualSense Charging Hook was revealed for the U.S. and Japan: QHD 2560×1440 resolution, HDR, VRR up to 120 Hz (240 Hz on PC/Mac), built-in DualSense charging dock. Launch in 2026.
With these, PlayStation shows it’s also thinking about how gamers play (desktop, PC/monitor setups), not just where.
Conclusion
PlayStation’s State of Play Japan 2025 wasn’t just about dropping a bunch of trailers and dates; it was about showing how Japan and Asia-rooted games can have a global impact, bridging genres from horror to slice-of-life, remakes to live-service updates, indie charm to major IP crossovers.
Whether you’re after deeper story experiences, new content for long-running franchises, or fresh multiplayer arenas, this show laid down a broad and promising roadmap for what’s next
Emmanuel Umahi
