Last updated on September 27th, 2026 at 08:59 am
I’ll admit it: when I first heard about the game called State of Play, I thought it was some gaming tournament. Turns out, I was way off.
If you are on Twitter and your screen is showing countdown buttons for PlayStation State of Play, here is what is actually going on.
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What Even Is State of Play?
State of Play is Sony’s announcement of new games, and it doesn’t involve a huge conference. It is like a Nintendo Direct, but PlayStation.
They broadcast on YouTube and Twitch, run for about 35-40 minutes, and show trailers for future PS5, PS4, and PlayStation VR games: no audience, no stage show, and no game- just bare game pitches and gameplay videos.
Sony has been practicing this since at least 2019, and it’s now the primary way PlayStation communicates what’s next.
Why do individuals count down to such things?
The thing is, Sony doesn’t publicize these events several weeks in advance. Typically, Sony drops a State of Play a day or two in advance.
When you put up a countdown, it implies something is coming. And gamers? We lose our minds a little.
I have seen people change their work schedules to watch these live. The hype is real, since you could be watching the first play of a game you have been yearning for for years.
In 2025, we first got a glimpse of Marvel Wolverine action and extended footage of Saros, the game two people have been losing their minds over.
When Do These Happen?
No one has a schedule, which makes the countdown posts even more significant.
In 2021, PlayStation abandoned four large State of Play events: February 12, June 4, September 24, and November 11. Again, timing varies, but it typically begins around 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET.
In the non-US, that would be 10 PM GMT or 11 PM CEST. For people in Asia, it is usually the following day, such as 6 AM JST.
Your chances of being announced are best on the PlayStation Blog and their official Twitter account. When you make the post, set an alarm yourself.
What Can and Does Get Announced?
State of Play is not restricted to major exclusive games only. Yes, there will be first-party content from PlayStation Studios, but they’ll also include third-party games and indies.
The last few announcements showed everything from Crimson Desert (March 2026) to Dragon Quest VII Reimagined (February 2026). They even teased Microsoft Flight Simulator coming to PS5, which was mad.
They also sometimes include hardware announcements, like limited-edition controllers, accessories, and so on. At one of them, they unveiled the Astro Bot Edition DualSense controller.
How to View a Movie Without Arguing With It.
To watch State of Play, you do not need a PlayStation. Get there now; turn to YouTube or Twitch when it is on air.
This is what I have personally found important: make sure you have at least 5 Mbps internet speed. Anything less and you’ll get buffering as the good stuff falls.
Also, if you plan to record or co-stream, pay attention to the music. The background songs are protected by copyright, and your video is likely to be flagged in the future—just a heads up.
Is It Worth the Hype?
It depends on what you expect.
You may not get 40 minutes of PlayStation exclusives as you hope. Recent State of Play events have leaned toward third-party and indie games.
However, would you like to know what is in store with PlayStation Grove in the year ahead? Yeah, it’s worth tuning in.
Now, I have seen a couple of them, and to be honest, the announcements themselves aren’t always the best; part of it is being able to watch them live with the community—the real-time chat responses, the instant Reddit discussion, and the memes that immediately appear after an uncoverageent.
That is where the countdown excitement lies.
Bottom Line
State of Play PlayStation State of Play is a videoconference announcement stream by Sony, lasting between 35 and 40 minutes. You need no tickets or elaborate arrangements; just be there when the counter hits zero and see what PlayStation is bringing next.
Whether you are already a PS5 owner and want to know your next purchase, or you are simply curious about what all those countdown posts are about, now you know.
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