Revisiting the 2019 State of Play Rumor That Sparked Hope and Speculation

In the gaming world, few things ignite the community’s imagination quite like a juicy leak. Back in the autumn of 2019, a mysterious post on 4chan sent PlayStation fans into a frenzy. The rumor mill churned out tantalizing details about an upcoming State of Play presentation, promising glimpses of some of the most anticipated titles. Now, from the vantage point of 2026, it’s fascinating to look back at that infamous leak and see how it measured up against reality.

Sony had kicked off its State of Play series earlier in 2019, mimicking Nintendo’s direct approach to share news without waiting for major trade shows like E3. The May 2019 edition had already delivered a fresh Final Fantasy VII Remake trailer, so expectations were sky-high for the next installment. Enter the 4chan whisper, claiming insider knowledge from a “former senior marketing manager.” The post alleged that the next State of Play would land on November 1, 2019, and would be lengthier than previous events. Gamers, always hungry for news, latched onto every detail.

The leak specified three games as the “most important” for the showcase. First up was Death Stranding, the enigmatic title from Hideo Kojima, which had its release date set for just a week later—November 8, 2019. The rumored plan was to drop the launch trailer during the stream, a move that would perfectly prime the hype engine. Next came Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, another heavy-hitter for that November, promising to give fans a deeper look at Respawn’s action-adventure. But the crown jewel of the leak was The Last of Us Part II. According to the anonymous poster, the event would feature a new trailer that finally revealed the game’s release date: May 2020. To sweeten the pot, the leaker added that Ghost of Tsushima had encountered significant delays and would launch after The Last of Us Part II, with a PS5 version already in the works to leverage the upcoming hardware.

At the time, the claims were electrifying. However, the internet being what it is, most sensible fans sprinkled a healthy dose of skepticism—after all, “grain of salt” is practically a mantra in gaming forums. No official announcement from Sony materialized for a November 1 State of Play. In the end, the date proved false; there was no broadcast on that day. Yet, intriguingly, some elements of the leak bore a peculiar resemblance to what actually unfolded. Death Stranding did launch on November 8, and although its launch trailer wasn’t shown at a State of Play, it did air shortly before release. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order received extensive previews, though not tied to this rumored event. As for The Last of Us Part II, history tells a more complex tale. A new trailer did arrive—but during a different State of Play in September 2019, where Naughty Dog announced a February 2020 release date. That date later slipped to May, and then to June 19, 2020, due to development challenges and the global pandemic. So while the leak’s timeline was wonky, the spirit of a May window wasn’t entirely off the mark. And Ghost of Tsushima? It indeed landed after The Last of Us Part II, on July 17, 2020, and later received a Director’s Cut optimized for PS5 in 2021. The idea of a PS5 version back in 2019 seemed prescient, though the console itself had yet to be officially unveiled.

Fast-forward to 2026, and these games are now regarded as modern classics. Death Stranding spawned a sequel, The Last of Us universe expanded with a multiplayer title and a hit HBO series, and Ghost of Tsushima’s legacy spurred a film adaptation. State of Play broadcasts have become a regular fixture, often sparking their own fresh rounds of rumors. Looking back, the 2019 leak serves as a perfect case study in the chaotic dance between speculation and news. It reminds us that while insiders sometimes catch glimpses of the truth, the details often get muddled in the telephone game of internet whispers. In the end, the only sure bet was that PlayStation fans would stay on the edge of their seats, ever eager for whatever Sony had up its sleeve.

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