October 18th is the proposed date by which the Microsoft – Activision Blizzard deal is expected to close. This is after jumping through several hoops, such as legal challenges put forth by the regulating agencies of several countries such as the USA and UK.
Sony, Microsoft’s direct competitor through its PlayStation consoles, was understandably against the deal owing mainly to the Call of Duty franchise. Recently, the two gaming giants reached a new deal that would keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for at least ten more years, till 2033. But Call of Duty isn’t the only series that Activision Blizzard publish. In fact, they’re responsible for several other iconic games that could vanish from PlayStation in the years to come, albeit not immediately.
Here is a list of games that could potentially not be on PlayStation in the future:
1. Diablo
The Diablo series are action RPGs (role – playing games), dungeon crawlers and hack and slash set in a dark fantasy world. Players control characters of different types, or “classes”, such as Warrior, Sorcerer, Rogue and more. A highly popular series with four main games, the series has sold over a 100 million copies across the globe.
The latest game in the series, Diablo IV, launched amidst much fanfare having been a long awaited game. While it launched on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in June 2023, and will likely receive any planned DLC, the future of the series on PlayStation consoles remains uncertain.
Also read: Activision isn’t Playing Games with Diablo 4 as Thousands Banned
2. Overwatch
Overwatch is a series of two live service games, Overwatch and Overwatch 2, which are both first person shooters (FPS) and hero shooters. A multimedia franchise spanning animated shorts, comics and more outside of the games, the franchise became popular enough for Blizzard to launch esports competitions around Overwatch.
Similar to Diablo, Overwatch 2 also just launched officially, having left early access on 10th August 2023, but met with a lukewarm reception from fans and critics. The game supports cross – platform play which allows PlayStation players to play with their Xbox counterparts. Overwatch 2 will presumably receive support on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 for the game’s lifespan, but as for a potential sequel, it’s anyone’s guess.
Also read: Overwatch 2 Season 6 Brings New Maps and New Hero
3. Crash Bandicoot
Although the Crash Bandicoot games are now available on a variety of platforms, they were originally a PlayStation exclusive created by famed developer Naughty Dog. A platformer series where players control the titular Crash Bandicoot, there are also several spinoffs which are of the racing or party genres.
While the last core entry and the latest spinoff were released on PlayStation platforms, it will be interesting to see if Crash Bandicoot still has a home on PlayStation following the acquisition, especially since this a franchise long associated with PlayStation.
4. Spyro
Just like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro also started off on the original PlayStation console in the late 1990’s, before gradually becoming available on other platforms. Spyro is a series where players play as Spyro, a young purple dragon.
Despite not seeing a release in the franchise since 2018, many gamers hold a soft spot for Spyro because of the nostalgia factor. Again, just like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro is a franchise with strong ties to the PlayStation family of consoles; while it might not be the most high profile series around, even on this list, fans won’t be pleased if any future release skips PlayStation.
5. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
A series based on skateboarding and the tricks and stunts associated with it, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was one of the most popular series in the days of the original PlayStation and PlayStation 2. It launched on several other platforms as well alongside the PlayStations, and the second game in particular is the second highest rated game of all time on Metacritic, scoring 98/100.
The latest launch in the series was a remake of the first two games released in 2020, and was successful both critically and commercially. It even became the fastest selling game in the franchise. The gaming landscape has changed since Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater’s heyday, and while it isn’t as popular as it once was, there will be several disappointed gamers if sequels don’t make it to PlayStation.
6. The Elder Scrolls 6
Arguably the most high profile series on this list, The Elder Scrolls are an action RPG set in a fantasy open world. Freedom of choice for the players, whether it be combat, exploration, dialogue or story, are of paramount importance to developer Bethesda. This series is so popular that some games have even been modded numerous times to add a plethora of new content.
Also read: “That may be the last one I do.” – Will The Elder Scrolls 6 Be Todd Howard’s Last Game?
Though it technically launched in 2011, the latest main game in the series (not counting The Elder Scrolls Online) was The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which has been rereleased several times with some updates. This has been done to the point that it has become something of a running joke by now. Last we heard, Xbox Boss Phil Spencer said that he wasn’t sure on which consoles The Elder Scrolls 6 would launch, though previous reports said that it would be an Xbox and PC exclusive. If that is indeed the case, there will no doubt be some very sad PlayStation fans.
Source: Dot Esports
