In this past decade, Sony continued and created support for almost all of its PlayStation consoles. This includes the PS2, PS3, PS4, PSP, and PS Vita. That’s right, even the PS2 got a release as late as 2013 with Pro Evolution Soccer 2014. That means only the PS1 was left out. That’s pretty good for Sony showing how wide a range their platforms can cater to.
The goal of this article is to highlight the biggest franchises that began between 2010 and 2019. On the other side, we wanted to look at what series died. We had a different cutoff for the deaths. If something hasn’t come out in at least five years, chances are slim. These dates are based on the North American launches unless otherwise specified.
10 Began: The Last of Us
The Last of Us launched on June 14, 2013, for the PS3. Naughty Dog, the developers, released DLC The Last of Us: Left Behind in 2014 along with a PS4 port.
Even though the sequel The Last of Us Part II won’t release until the next decade, aka 2020, it was announced in 2016, which is why we’re counting this as an actual series that began in this decade. Makes sense?
9 Died: inFAMOUS
inFAMOUS released on May 26, 2009, for the PS3. Sucker Punch, the developer, launched inFAMOUS 2 along with its DLC Festival of Blood in 2011 also for PS3. inFAMOUS Second Son and its DLC First Light debuted in 2014 on PS4. That DLC was the last thing to come out meaning it has been five years and counting.
The PS4 didn’t even get a collection for its tenth anniversary this year. Right now Sucker Punch is making Ghost of Tsushima. That doesn’t mean inFAMOUS is completely dead, but for the foreseeable future, Ghost of Tsushima may be the developers' new golden ticket.
8 Began: Disney Infinity
Disney Infinity launched on August 18, 2013, for a plethora of systems including the PS3. Avalanche Software, the developer released extra figures for the original along with two full-on sequels.
One was in 2014 and the other in 2015. Before the last batch of figures could come out, including content for Star Wars: Rogue One, Disney canceled the series in 2016 along with closing Avalanche Software. This is an example of a franchise both beginning and ending in the same decade.
7 Died: Killzone
Killzone released on November 2, 2004, for the PS2. Guerrilla Games, the developer, launched a multitude of sequels for multiple consoles throughout the years. There were two games on PS3, one on PSP, one on Vita, and one on PS4.
Said PS4 game, Shadowfall, was the last game in the series to debut as of 2013. After that, Guerrilla Games went on to launch Horizon: Zero Dawn on PS4 in 2017. A sequel hasn’t been officially announced yet, but rest assured that is where this developer’s interests will probably rest for the next few years.
6 Began: The Jackbox Party Pack
The Jackbox Party Pack launched on November 19, 2014, for the PS3, PS4, and Xbox One. Jackbox Games, the developer, has since released five sequels with The Jackbox Party Pack 6 releasing just this year.
Each pack has a few games in it meant for party settings. For example, Trivia Murder Party is a twist on the trivia genre wherein not only do players have to guess right, but they also need to not get murdered.
5 Died: Parasite Eve
Parasite Eve released on September 9, 1998, for the PS1. Square Enix, the developer, which was just Square at the time, created a sequel also for PS1 in 2000.
After that, Square Enix lost the rights since it was originally a book, so a sequel was not greenlit for quite a while until The 3rd Birthday came out in 2011 for the PSP thus allowing them to circumvent the title rights. It’s now been eight years and counting.
4 Began: Nier
Nier launched on April 27, 2010 for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Cavia was the original developer for Square Enix while PlatinumGames handled the sequel, NieR: Automata, in 2017 for PS4.
Technically this is part of the Drakengard franchise, but we’ll count it as a sub-series. Despite the long wait for the first sequel, its success will surely lead to a quicker turnout.
3 Died: Resistance
Resistance: Fall of Man released on November 14, 2006, for the PS3. Two mainline sequels made it to PS3 while the PSP and PS Vita both got spinoffs from separate teams other than the creator, Insomniac. The latter of which, Burning Skies, launched in 2012, which was the last game in the series.
After that Insomniac made a plethora of titles including one-off projects like Sunset Overdrive and Fuse as well as more Ratchet and Clank games. After Marvel’s Spider-Man Sony then bought the company due to the game’s success. Suffice it to say look for more Spider-Man and expect Resistance to remain quiet.
2 Began: The Evil Within
The Evil Within launched on October 14, 2014 for a bunch of consoles including the PS4. Tango Gameworks, the developer, made a couple of DLC packs for the original along with releasing the sequel in 2017 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
It, unlike the first game, didn’t receive DLC. Despite that, we remain hopeful that this newly formed survival horror spiritual successor to Resident Evil continues to grow.
1 Died: Syphon Filter
Syphon Filter released on February 17, 1999, for the PS1. Eidetic was the developer of the first game and after that five sequels were made across multiple Sony consoles from multiple developers.
The last of which was the PS2 port of Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow in 2010. Actually technically the last release was the first game being ported to Android phones in 2011. Either way it made the cutoff for our decade of death.