PlayStation’s February 2025State of Playwasn’t a total wash, but it didn’t meet everyone’s expectations. Sure, there were a few big reveals:Borderlands 4got a release date,Lies of Pconfirmed upcoming DLC, Housemarque announced its new gameSAROS, et cetera. But a lot of things that fans had hoped for were missing. There was noDeath Stranding, noGhost of Yotei, and thatMetal Gear Solid Deltatrailer leaked last week. There’s a lot that can be said about expectations versus the reality of events like these, but the fact is that many fans left disappointed.
But one game stood out from the pack, in spite of - or perhaps because of - the fact that it was a total surprise. It wasn’t a world premiere, butLost Soul Asidehas been so long in the making, and gone so long without providing any major updates, that many assumed it was dead. Butthe State of Play provedLost Soul Asideis still coming, debuting a full trailer, featuring real gameplay footage actually captured on a PS5, and a release date of May 30 -the same day asElden Ring Nightreign.
Lost Soul Aside Is Already Getting A Lot Of Hype
State Of Play’s Biggest Surprise
The announcement has caused a well-deserved uproar among fans and newcomers alike. Few expectedLost Soul Asideto make an appearance at the State of Play, but it’s already garnered a lot of attention. For a while,even after the show, it was the number one topic trending on X (formerly Twitter) alongside the State of Play itself. That arguably makes it one of the most talked-about reveals of the night.
From its explosive trailer and its almost immediately trending status, it’s clear thata lot of people have a lot of opinions aboutLost Soul Aside. But if you haven’t been following it from the very beginning, it can be hard to understand the full context surrounding why.
What Kind Of Game Is Lost Soul Aside?
An Action RPG With A Hero’s Story
From everything in the trailer, it’s clear thatLost Soul Asideis a fairly standard action RPG with some pretty flashy combat. Its protagonist, Kazer, is seen swinging a fiery sword, dodging enemy blasts, and even, at one point, fighting an enormous, stony dragon. Its traversal mechanics are also on display in this trailer: Kazer is also seen sprouting wings, dancing along platforms, and riding a spectral surfboard. Earlier previews seemed to confirm thatLost Soul Asidewould be an open-world game, with lots of exploration. That’s not directly confirmed here, but it does show off an impressive variety of locations.
All Reveals From PlayStation State Of Play (February 2025)
Check in for the latest news from the PlayStation State of Play in February 2025, where players should see some big reveals and new updates.
The story ofLost Soul Asideappears to revolve around Kazer and a group of allies, who live in what looks like a contemporary fantasy setting. In a voice-over, a woman speaks of monsters attacking their world. Kazer will be forced to defend it against both the monsters and the humans that stand in his way.He’ll also travel between worlds- several are shown here, including futuristic cities, dreamlike floating islands, and remote snow-capped mountains - as he attempts to “reunite lost souls.”
Why People Are Hyped For Lost Souls Aside
Excellent Gameplay & A Storied Legacy
A major reason for all the excitement around it is thatLost Soul Asidehas been in development for almost a decade. Previously the passion project of solo developer Yang Bing,Lost Soul Asidewas revealed way back in 2016. It’s since received support from PlayStation’s China Hero Project, which supports Chinese development teams in the development, worldwide distribution, and marketing of their games. Since then,Lost Soul Asidehas expanded to include a larger team: the debut studio UtiliZero Games. Some players, like @xDevilNeverCryare simply excited about it because they’ve been waiting so long.
For others, like @CaliGirlxoxoxoLost Soul Asideis tantamount tothe second coming of the canceledFinal Fantasy Versus XIII. Originally presented as aFinal Fantasyspinoff mixingKingdom Hearts-style gameplay with a darker, more mature modern fantasy setting,Final Fantasy Versus XIIIwas subject to its own hype cycle after its reveal way back in 2006. The game was subject to a tumultuous development cycle, with several of its core elements scrapped, and was eventuallyreleased asFinal Fantasy XV.Lost Soul Aside’s creator has never been shy about discussing his influences, andFinal Fantasy XVtops the list.
And some, whether they’re aware of its legacy (like @MoreLimitless_) or not,just thinkLost Soul Asidelooks cool. It’s hard to argue with them. The combat looks flowy and exciting, the traversal mechanics look like a lot of fun, and there’s enough great character and enemy design to get you wondering about the story.
It’s always good to see entirely new IP from unknown developers thriving, so this early look atLost Soul Asideisn’t just encouraging - it’s heartwarming, too. The game looks incredible, and its developers apparently have a lot to be proud of, even at this early stage. The rest will have to wait untilLost Soul Aside’s full release.
Sources:PlayStation/YouTube, @xDevilNeverCry/X, @CaliGirlxoxoxo/X, @MoreLimitless_/X
