Gameplay will be similar to the previous entries, sharing the open world element. Delsin will use the chain wrapped around his arm as his main melee weapon, which will be used in conjunction with other powers that he absorbs throughout the game. One notable change from previous games is that instead of the accessing an aiming system by holding down the L1 button, the player will not need to do so, and will just be able to fire whenever they want, using an on-screen reticle to aim. Parkour returns as a major element, and is executed in the same way; by jumping up walls, Delsin will automatically grab ledges, from which he can hang, pull himself to another ledge, or fire his weapons. The game will also make use of some of the DualShock 4 controller's new features to enhance gameplay, such as the Touchpad, and the new built-in speaker. Unlike the previous games, multiple power sets will be available to the player. Those known are smoke and neon, the former allowing the game to be played in a fast-paced, chaotic way, while the latter promotes a slower, more precise way of playing. The smoke power entails a variety of unique gameplay elements, such as turning to smoke and dashing through air vents, while neon lets the player rapidly scale any wall. Neither of these features were present in the previous InFamous games.
Second Son is set seven years after the good ending of Infamous 2, in which Cole MacGrath activated the Ray Field Inhibitor (RFI) to destroy a Conduit (superhumans named for their ability to 'channel' powers) named John White, also known as the Beast and cure the Plague. The explosion that resulted was originally thought to have killed all Conduits across the globe; however, those outside of the blast radius or with a natural resistance, several Conduits have survived. Fearing the Conduits' abilities after the destruction of Empire City, the US eastern seaboard and the worldwide economy, the Department of Unified Protection (DUP) is formed. Now, major cities across the United States are heavily monitored for Conduit activity, whom the DUP have labeled collectively as 'bio-terrorists'.The game is set in Seattle, Washington, now under DUP jurisdiction. Players control Delsin Rowe (Troy Baker), a 24-year-old graffiti artist with no real direction in life. One day, Delsin witnesses a bus crash and attempts to help; in the process, he comes in contact with a Conduit, and his own hidden Conduit abilities awaken. With his new abilities and his older brother Reggie (Travis Willingham), a police officer, Delsin dedicates himself to fighting back against the oppressive DUP, as well as other Conduits such as Abigail 'Fetch' Walker (Laura Bailey). In an interview, it was stated that for InFamous fans there would be a few familiar faces in the game, but it 'would ruin the joy of discovering them' to reveal exactly which known characters will be present in Second Son.