The usual round of next-gen re-releases is revving up for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Xbox is taking a unique approach by providing next-gen performance upgrades through its backward compatibility boost program. PlayStation is doing this as well, but not en masse like Xbox. For a while, Sony gave its biggest games next-gen patches over the course of a few months, and that was it. For other games, players could import their game data or disc from their PS4 to their PS5 and play somewhat enhanced versions that way. It was a good enough system, but Microsoft’s commitment to giving large framerate boosts to their biggest games to keep them on par with high-end PC gaming was much more impressive.
However, Sony’s true plans are finally coming into perspective. Not only is it edging into the PC market, but Sony has also announced a new line of Director’s Cut games. These new releases, currently consisting of Death Stranding: Director’s Cut and Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut, will not only bring enhancements to the PS5 versions but, at least in Ghost of Tsushima’s case, will act as an expansion to the PS4 version. Both of Tsushima’s versions will be gaining a number of new features, including a whole new chapter taking place on Iki Island. Death Stranding: Director’s Cut is more mysterious, but it also seems to be adding new features. There are plenty of other big-name PlayStation exclusives that deserve this treatment, and hopefully, fans will see them in the coming years.
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When it comes to "deserving treatment," it's only natural to think of Bloodborne. FromSoftware's gorgeous horror-action game is in contention for the best Soulslike, and it's not hard to see why. The gothic atmosphere alone pushes Bloodborne farther than many other titles, and the superb action gameplay is viscerally satisfying. Fans would be hard-pressed to ask for any improvements apart from the framerate, and perhaps a PC port. A Director's Cut of Bloodborne could grant all that and more; not only would the frame pacing be fixed, there may also be a new area to explore in this classic game. The possibilities are exciting to think about, and rumors are already mounting about the possibility of such a re-release.
God of War PS4 is possibly the most popular entry in the long-running God of War franchise, marking a new beginning for its epic story. Instead of Greek gods, Kratos and his son Atreus are now forced to deal with the machinations of the Norse pantheon alongside their own familial troubles. The game was notable in that it was a major AAA Sony release in 2018 with no paid DLC, a rarity these days. It told the story it wanted to and stuffed an impressive amount of side content into the package. A Director’s Cut presumably wouldn’t add much, but it could give room for a native PC port, and perhaps a short interactive teaser for the upcoming God of War: Ragnarok.
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This one is rather odd. Knack 1 is known for being a bad game, and perhaps Sony’s largest software misstep of the PS4 generation. The beat-’em-up combat is mediocre and inconsistently difficult, the 3D platforming is almost non-existent, and the story is bland and forgettable. What most people don’t know is that the sequel fixed those first two problems, and is a decent action-platformer. A Director’s Cut has the chance to backport the improved gameplay from Knack 2, and perhaps add a lead-in for a third game made by Team Asobi. Knack may have been underwhelming to many players, but this series still has a chance to impress.
One of the PlayStation 4’s most popular, if not controversial, exclusives was The Last of Us Part 2. This game showed Ellie’s progression as a protagonist and an adult, and also took the time to build out the expanded world of The Last of Us. The game is already in a pretty good state on PS4 and PS5, but it could have its Director’s Cut release alongside the promised multiplayer mode. It could also be the version eventually released on PC. Some fans would love for some things in the story to be framed a little differently, and perhaps for there to be an extended ending that shows more of TLoU's future. Still, as it is the Director’s Cut, that’s all for the directors at Naughty Dog to decide.
Media Molecule’s Dreams has been a surprise success. This game-building platform has produced thousands of games, assets, and other such community-driven projects. It is available on PS4 and PS5 right now, though fans would love to see it expanded further. A common criticism is that the game is a walled garden, and it can’t be used as an engine to build commercialized games. That’s a massive can of worms, especially given the prominence of sharing assets, but perhaps something could be worked out involving a special Director’s Cut upgrade.
The Last Guardian is another oddity of the last console generation. After years of trailers, hype, and uncertainty, the game finally came out to a general consensus of “it’s alright.” The Shadow of the Colossus remake, a game that had originally been made by the same team as The Last Guardian, ended up being a lot more exciting. A second pass would do this game some good, and a Director’s Cut could smooth over a lot of the rough technical edges while also adding some more compelling puzzles to later parts.
The last Uncharted game, as well as its expansion Lost Legacy, was big, fun send-off to the Uncharted franchise. Whether or not the movie actually releases, the Uncharted franchise is supposedly over for now, as Naughty Dog shifts their focus over to The Last of Us and other projects. However, thanks to a Sony investor presentation, it is known that an Uncharted 4 PC port is on its way. This could easily coincide with a Director’s Cut, perhaps adding a bit more of the Drake family’s adventures, or a revamp for the multiplayer. Whatever the case, this series deserves the best send-off it, and Nathan Drake, can get.
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