PlayStation’s Latest God of War and The Last of Us Announcement Proves Why It Has Destroyed Xbox This Generation With Incredible Concert Offering

The Last of Us is one of the strongest first-party franchises operating under the PlayStation Studios banner and it is only fitting that the game to be featured in this upcoming global live tour. Some may not realize how vital original soundtracks have been for the PlayStation brand and it is high time to celebrate these works of art in the way they deserve.

The composers of each project realized these games deserved a legendary score and utilized their skills in order to create that. A powerful score has always amplified the visuals, gameplay, and acting taking place onscreen, becoming a staple for the PlayStation brand.

The Last of Us Is One of Many Iconic Franchises to Be Featured in the Upcoming PlayStation Concert

When Sony Interactive Entertainment announced that the company would be rolling out a global tour for the PlayStation Concert, the gaming community was hyped. Music has always been a staple of the brand and it is great to see these impressive musical pieces given recognition and praise.

The gaming company has everything planned with an official schedule of when and in which cities the concert will be taking place in Europe. Meanwhile dates for cities in the United States are yet to be confirmed at the time of writing.

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) October 15, 2024

This event will become another legendary moment for the PlayStation brand and fanbase as everyone comes together to celebrate the music behind each iconic franchise.

Music has become an integral part of the identity of each respective title. It is an aspect sometimes underappreciated by the average player; however these scores can keep a player grounded in the game’s reality and allow them to feel as if they are in the shoes of characters like Kratos as he listens to a majestic choir before charging into Asgard or Ellie feeling immense grief after losing herself in her quest for vengeance.

PlayStation and Sony treated these games as if they were films and some might argue these projects have surpassed the quality of a Hollywood blockbuster to certain degrees. Every mentioned franchise will receive a live-action adaptation at some point, and Gustavo Santaollala even worked on the soundtrack for HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us.

Music Is Another Department Where Xbox Is Lacking

PlayStation has always treated each original major first-party franchise with the utmost passion and care. The original soundtracks of the games play a crucial role in the story and can elevate a scene to new heights. During the good old days of E3, the company kicked off its panel with a bang and a live orchestra featuring music from a new project.

E3 2016 was a memorable event for the gaming community after seeing composer Bear McCreary walk out to the stage and play the original score of the new God of War game. Director Cory Barlog had to play a brief segment simultaneously with the orchestra which was an impressive feat. The score did wonders for the demo and fans were convinced that this moment was when Xbox lost the console wars for good.

In the 2022 sequel, McCreary dialed everything to an eleven by composing an original theme for Atreus, bringing another layer to the character and the story. These pieces of music amplify the scene being played and give the performances the extra push to reach an unprecedented level of emotional depth.

PlayStation Knows How to Make the Most of Their Strongest Assets

Composers like Ilan Eshkeri and Joris de Man perfectly captured the right melody to score feudal Japan in Ghost of Tsushima and then managed to transport players decades into a future that is overrun by machines in the Horizon games.

While the games are successful in their own right, the soundtracks are just as important. This concert is an opportunity to raise awareness of what music can bring to a creative vision and inspire young aspiring composers and musicians to pursue their dreams in this craft.

The official blog post also mentioned that other games will be featured in the upcoming concert. This could be a rare moment in PlayStation history when older games are acknowledged which would be excellent for nostalgic purposes.

The company is celebrating its 30th anniversary and throughout the years, many impressive original franchises have come and gone and this concert could bring them back as a reflection of how far PlayStation has come.

Game development has come a long way too in the past three decades. Producers and developers now have access to work with advanced technology. Through this, developers are achieving movie-level quality regarding visuals and performance, and music is the final puzzle piece.

Sony has reached a point where games alone no longer have to shoulder the weight and keep the brand afloat, especially with the great musical scores backing them. This concert is another show of strength proving the PlayStation brand is a force to be reckoned with.

While Xbox may not be in the same ballpark in the music department, the rival company has shifted its focus elsewhere. The spirit of competition is slowly dying out which could have serious ramifications for the gaming industry’s future.

Sony is focused on pushing the boundaries of each major first-party title and highlights every department while Microsoft seems intent on doing its own thing. Will you attend the PlayStation Concert to listen to the music of God of War and The Last of Us live on stage? Let us know in the comments section below!