Sony continues to move in the right direction with regards to making sure their platforms are populated with high quality indie games. Last night the company revealed 25 new games for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PS Vita and PlayStation Mobile, and chose GDC to announce that they’re cutting back on the complicated approval process for developers.
“Our team has put a strong focus on independent game developers,” said Adam Boyes, Vice President of Developer and Publisher Relations at SCEA. “Our goal is to continue to work with the independent developer community to provide fantastic games you can’t find anywhere else.”
SCEA played host to a hands-on session with each of the newly announced games.
“We’re expanding our indie support for PS4 with games like Primal Carnage: Genesis and Blacklight: Retribution, which will join titles like The Witness to ensure you’ll have great indie game experiences on your next gaming console,” Boyes added.
Among Dragon Fantasy Book II, above, which is due for PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, are the likes of Blacklight: Retribution (PS4), Primal Carnage: Genesis (PS4), and the hotly anticipated Rain (for PS3). Some of them you’ll be familiar with, some of them might be new to you.
Here’s the list:
- Blacklight: Retribution – PS4
- Primal Carnage: Genesis – PS4
- Rain – PS3
- Divekick – PS3 and PS Vita
- Spelunky – PS3 and PS Vita
- Velocity Ultra – PS Vita
- Limbo – PS Vita
- Metrico – PS Vita
- Sportsfriends – PS3
- Ibb & Obb – PS3
- Guacamelee! – PS3 and PS Vita
- Hotline Miami – PS3 and PS Vita
- Dragon Fantasy Book II – PS3 and PS Vita
- Thomas Was Alone – PS3 and PS Vita
- Luftrausers – PS3 and PS Vita
- Friend Network App – PS Vita
- A Virus Named Tom – PlayStation Mobile
- Beatdown in Treachery City – PlayStation Mobile
- Crumble – PlayStation Mobile
- Crystallon – PlayStation Mobile
- Don’t Wake the Bear – PlayStation Mobile
- Hermit Crab in Space! – PlayStation Mobile
- Oh, Deer! – PlayStation Mobile
- Rymndkapsel – PlayStation Mobile
- Ten By Eight – PlayStation Mobile
In addition, Sony has simplified the process of getting games approved, with Adam Boyes confirming that the company has “just changed the whole concept submission process” – rather than it being two stages, it’s just one, with optional feedback.
“So there’s no greenlighting process, no voting, no weird stuff,” he said.
“So if it’s, hey, these guys are developing content for Vita, and we like the team, so we send them Vita kits as loaners for free. Or waiving patch fees for independent developers, if they need that support, then we’re totally behind it.”
bladesew
So, it looks like Steam indie games on PSN – with games getting added extras, trophies and 100% price hike.
Erroneus
Some news on more countries for PlayStation Mobile, trophy and online leaderboard support would have been nice. PSM is kinda caught in limbo right now.
Klart
I like this new Sony. I hope it really makes a change.
bunimomike
Doesn’t it feel just like that. Yet another article about Sony addressing things properly and leaving me with huge respect slathered all over my face. :-P
hazelam
good move sony, some of the most innovative, and enjoyable, titles are coming out of the indie scene, so anything they can do to bring them to playstation has to be a good thing.
Bilbo_bobbins
Keep it up Sony, from the sound of it you are going in the right direction now.
Kennykazey
There’s some promising games on that list. Sportsfriends seems like the most “out-there”, as it’s got jousting with move controllers without even looking at the screen.
salvodaze
Does anyone know if the game Sega has been teasing is Football Manager for Vita? I heard that just now, and so hope it’s true. PSP versions don’t cut it.
JBoo
So many games, so little time :D
TSBonyman
We already knew about 7 or 8 of those games but still, a promising reveal and they’re showing that they meant it when they said they were going to enable self-publishing by simplifying a process which may have been daunting for a fledgling developer.
Broonba
Nice one Sony :)