State of Play: Sony Tries Something Never Seen Before on September 3
Usually, State of Play events follow a familiar script. Not this time. On Thursday, September 3, PlayStation is rolling out two back-to-back showcases—including one entirely dedicated to Japanese and Asian studios—a format they’ve never tried before.
Just a week after Gamescom 2026, Sony is firing up the hype machine again. The company confirmed last night that a regular State of Play will be immediately followed by State of Play Japan, hosted by voice actor Yuki Kaji. It all kicks off at 3:00 PM French time—a far cry from the usual 11:00 PM slot. This event lands right in the middle of an already jam-packed 2026 fall season and promises to close with an extended look at Final Fantasy VII Revelation.
Image credit: Sony
A first: two showcases, one after the other
PlayStation has never pulled off a move like this. On September 3, two separate shows will air back-to-back on the same channels. The classic State of Play will open with announcements from PlayStation Studios and third-party partners. Then, without missing a beat, State of Play Japan takes over, led by anime-favorite Yuki Kaji. This segment, focused on Japanese and Asian studios, will feature brand-new gameplay and fresh reveals—a first in PlayStation showcase history.
State of Play returns on September 3, followed immediately by State of Play Japan ! Full details on the back-to-back broadcasts : https://t.co/qP8dscEuP5 pic.twitter.com/9O99ezdLOj
— (@PlayStation) date
The timing of this announcement is no accident. Just hours after confirming the double showcase, Naughty Dog revealed it has wrapped cinematic filming for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The studio hadn’t shared any updates since early 2025, and fans are already speculating about a fall 2027 release. Naughty Dog’s message was clear: “That’s a wrap on the ambitious cinematic shoot for Intergalactic! This cast absolutely crushed it! We can’t wait to show you their incredible work when the time comes!” Hard not to see this as a calculated tease, especially with Sony just announcing the September PS Plus lineup.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation takes the spotlight
The main State of Play will close with the moment everyone’s been waiting for: an extended look at Final Fantasy VII Revelation. Square Enix already wowed fans at Gamescom by showing off its massive open world, and this new segment promises to go even further. The game wraps up the remake trilogy that began with Final Fantasy VII Remake in 2020 and continued with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in 2024.
By making Final Fantasy VII Revelation the grand finale, Sony is making it clear just how important this title is to their release calendar. The following State of Play Japan should round things out with more Japanese productions, though no other titles have been officially confirmed for Yuki Kaji’s segment yet.
Schedule and where to watch
PlayStation’s chosen time slot is a major break from tradition. Usually set for 11:00 PM in France (2:00 PM PT), this State of Play will air right in the middle of the European afternoon. Here’s the full schedule by region:
- 6:00 AM (Pacific) / 9:00 AM (Eastern) for North America
- 3:00 PM for France and Central Europe
- 2:00 PM for the UK
- 10:00 PM for Japan and South Korea
This time slot, much friendlier for European and Asian audiences, probably explains the dedicated Japan segment. Both shows will stream live on YouTube and Twitch via PlayStation’s official channels. The main State of Play will be in English with French subtitles, while State of Play Japan will be in Japanese, also subtitled. No need to switch streams between shows—everything runs on the same broadcast. A smart move, especially after Rockstar’s controversial GTA 6 pay-per-view stunt, proving that accessibility still matters.
So mark your calendars for Thursday, September 3 at 3:00 PM for a double feature that could redefine how PlayStation showcases its games. With Intergalactic breaking its silence, Final Fantasy VII Revelation closing out the show, and a mysterious Japanese segment in the mix, PlayStation’s fall season is looking packed—and it’s only just getting started.
