With Sony's current financial woes you'd think they’d want to go out all-guns-blazing with this year's E3 presentation – there were rumours they'd be leading the charge with a deal for a cloud gaming service, a revamped Playstation Plus and a host of new games to get gamers' tongues wagging.
Well, unfortunately, Sony decided to play it safe - there was no announcement about a cloud gaming partnership, Playstation Plus got a little revamp and their first party line-up looked a little thin on the ground.
With Microsoft first to take to the stage Sony had the unenviable task of following its rival with their Keynote speech. As with Microsoft, Sony didn't show off a new console, but did try to soften the blow with new hardware accessories, new games and new trailers of some of this year's most anticipated games.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified Inbound For PS Vita
Activision were on hand to offer up a new spin-off of the Call Of Duty Franchise for PS Vita users – called Black Ops declassified it’s a brand-new title built specifically for Sony’s latest handheld console.
'Wonderbook' The Future of E-books For Consoles
One of most unique offerings from Sony was a new digital e-book feature called Wonderbook – its been made in collaboration with Harry Potter author J.K Rowling and uses Sony’s Move and Eye accessories.
Squarely aimed at younger audiences it allows kids to read stories on their PS3 and interact with the story using the move controller and augmented reality books, where the characters actually appear on the book when viewing the screen.
Sony revealed it is working with Harry Potter author J.K Rowling to create the first Wonderbook publication: Book of Spells.
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Trailer
Sony's answer to Super Smash Brother is Playstation All-Stars Battle - doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it? Well the 3D beat 'em-up features legendary Sony characters in an all-out brawler. Sony showed off the first official trailer and showed of two new characters in the form of Indian Jones wannabe Nathan Drake and Big Daddy from Bioshock - who as far as we’re aware isn't a Sony all-star at all.
PS Vita Gets PSone Classic Games
Many had expected Sony to really push their new handheld PS Vita with a host of new games and a price cut. Well, the price cut didn't happen – but there were plently of new games on show at E3, sadly almost none of them made it into Sony's keynote.
They did announced that alongside downloadable games from PSP and PSPgo – you'll soon be able to download original PSone titles. Classics like Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy 7 and Syphon Filter will be available to buy and download from the Playstation Store.
PS Plus Overhauled
As many had predicted Playstation Plus got a revamp where you will now get a selection of free classic PS3 games for your subscription fee. The update launches next month with 12 full and free games available to subscribers, including LittleBigPlanet 2, Saints Row 2 and Just Cause 2.
PlayStation Move Racing Wheel
One surprise that came out of E3 was a new move racing wheel - similar to the new floating wheel Microsoft released this Christmas - the new Sony wheel is actually a Move accessory where the Move wand fits into the wheel to make a steering wheel that uses gyroscopes to input players movements. The wheel isn't round like the Wii version - rather it features two handles on the left and right, with the Move controller slotting vertically in the middle. The wheel accessory features the D-Pad, four classic PlayStation buttons and Select and Start keys.
Two paddles sit either side of the docked Move controller for gear changing in racing games, and Sony says the wheel can even be tilted and held horizontally to act as handlebars for when controlling a motorbike in game. Sony hasn't yet revealed a launch date or price for the Move Racing Wheel.
Assassin's Creed 3 Spin-off Coming to PS Vita, PS3 Gets Exclusive DLC
Sony had big-wigs from Ubisoft come on stage to announced that there would exclusive Assasins Creed DLC for PS3 gamers when the game launches in October.
They also annoucendd a new spin-off Creed that will be released for PS Vita. Assassin's Creed 3: Liberation is a title completely different to the PS3 version, featuring a female assassin rather than a male, and based in New Orleans.
Gamers will be able to connect their PS Vita with Liberation to a PS3 playing Assassin's Creed 3 to unlock exclusive content, including a Tomahawk and an exclusive player skin.
PS Vita to Control LittleBigPlanet 2 With New DLC
Sony unveiled new plans for LittleBigPlanet 2 and confirmed a new DLC pack would launch later this year. It allows users to use their PS Vita touchscreen as a new controller interface within the PS3 game.
The update will also add new story content that utilises the PS Vita and new stickers to collect in-game. No launch date or price for the DLC pack has been given.