Summary
PlayStationhas clearly staked its claim as one of the juggernauts of gaming, but the company and console seem to be going through a rough patch. The company has been aiming at embracing a live service approach, and although this landed incredibly well withHelldivers 2, its big expectations forConcorddid not pan out as expected. In the past, single-player narrative games have been the bread and butter ofPlayStation, and there will hopefully be a pivot back to this formula.
Sony boasts some of the biggest exclusives in the industry. FromGod of WartoThe Last of Us, PlayStation franchises tend to offer stellar stories. Now thatAstro Botoffers a wonderful ode to PlayStation franchises, the platformer has made many fans feel nostalgic about some of Sony’s best exclusives. One of these many cameos in the platformer is Cole MacGrath fromInFamous.Astro Botfeaturing a nod to this franchise is exciting enough, but it also makes one think about the series as a whole. When looking atInFamous, one underrated DLC could actually be the key to making PlayStation franchises set themselves apart.
A Bold InFamous DLC Should Inspire Future Franchise Expansions
InFamous: Festival of Blood Brings a Fun “What If” Scenario to Life
The mainline stories of theInFamousfranchise focus around protagonists who are given superhero-like powers. In the first two games, Cole MacGrath must choose to use his powers for good or evil.The beginning of theInFamousfranchisemay seem far away at this point, butInFamous 2’sFestival of BloodDLC needs to inform other PlayStation games. InFestival of Blood, Cole is bitten by a vampire and has only one night to find and kill the head vampire. It’s a completely standalone story that simply presents a fun alternate reality scenario for the franchise.
This DLC was not only bold, it was incredibly fun. An alternate universe version of Cole MacGrath’s world brought beloved characters into a shockingly different scenario. Using this method forother major Sony titles, likeGod of War,The Last of Us, and theHorizonfranchise would likely work wonders for each series. This would allow the games' developers the chance to explore fun story ideas without having to commit them to a mainline narrative. Throwing popular characters into outlandish scenarios offers a treasure trove of post-launch content possibilities.
The most recent game in theInFamousfranchise is 2014’sInFamous: First Light.
A scenario whereThe Last of Ustakes place in an alien invasion or aGod of Warside story is presented from the perspective of one of Kratos' many enemies could be the perfect way to see games in a new light.PlayStation has an incredible roster of titles, and flipping their narratives on their heads may be just crazy enough to pay off in spades.
Allowing InFamous' Legacy to Live On in a Unique Way
It has been a full decade since a newInFamousgame has seen the light of day.Developer Sucker Punch has made a name for itselfin the industry with great franchises. Now thatGhost of Tsushimais likely the studio’s main focus, continuing theInFamousIP seems unlikely at this moment. However, using this DLC method for other PlayStation titles could serve as a subtle way to honor the underrated legacyInFamoushas made.
As PlayStation and Sony possibly reconsider how to move forward after the launch andshutdown ofConcord, there will hopefully be a newfound emphasis on single-player narratives. Returning to an experimental and fun approach with expansions could reignite excitement for these exclusive titles.InFamousmay feel long gone at this point, but the bold risk-taking ofFestival of Bloodis something to be admired.
