Good lord, it’s early. The only thing that would make getting up at this ungodly hour worthwhile would be a string of great video game announcements and reveals. And with that, we kick it over to Geoff Keighley and Summer Game Fest to hopefully make all of our dreams come true. We recently made our predictions and expressed our hopes for the big E3 replacement, so here’s hoping we were on the mark (come on Vita II).
Here is everything announced during Summer Game Fest 2023:
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
The show opened with a surprise from Ubisoft. Going back to its 2.5D roots, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an action platformer that sees protagonist Sargon parkour and puzzle his way through a range of environments. This new entry in to the series will release on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch and PC on January 18, 2024.
Mortal Kombat 1
I hope you like blood. Throwing to a lengthy trailer, we got our first look at Mortal Kombat 1 gameplay. With some story beats peppered in, we got to see Kung Lao, Sub Zero, Keshi (who can see), Johnny Cage, Scorpion, Liu Kang, Raiden, Milena and Kitana throwing down in some very slick combat. The game looks amazing in-action, with the new kameo fighter system spicing things in some interesting ways. Following the trailer, Ed Boon took to the stage to explain that a full secondary roster of kameo fighters will be avaiabale, with certain characters being both playable and available as kameos. Releasing on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 19.
Path of Exile 2
Coming hot off the tail of Diablo IV, the sequel to the F2P action RPG is looking darker and sleeker than its gloomy, wet predecessor. We were only treated to a brief glimpse of a bloody stompdown in a cave of some kind. It’s good to know this sequel is still churning away, considering the success of the original game, now we get to see a sorcerer class in action called the Ngamakanui.
Exoprimal x Street Fighter 6
I can’t say I have much of an opinion of this one, but several fighters (at least Ryu and Guile) from Street Fighter 6 will be coming to Exoprimal. Coming in 2023.
Dead by Daylight x Nicolas Cage
We already knew that the crossover of a lifetime between Dead by Daylight and Nicolas Cage was coming, but we didn’t know about the intense connection we would have with the man himself when playing the game. Luckily, Cage came to the stage to discuss his involvement in the multiplayer horror title. The DLC drops on July 25.
The Witcher: Season 3
Stepping away from interactive entertainment for a moment, we got a good chunky look at The Witcher: Season 3. Featuring monsters, magic and plenty of blood, the trailer is pretty packed and will have fans very excited. Season 3 begins streaming on July 29.
Witchfire
The Astronauts dropped a new trailer showcasing the Witchfire’s combat and dark setting before finally announcing that the game will launch in Early Access on Epic Games Store on September 20.
Remnant 2
Soulslike shooter Remnant: From The Ashes sees a meaty little co-op trailer for its upcoming sequel showing pure gameplay cuts. This is looking like a great little team-based crawler where players will be facing off against all manners of eldritch beasties and unfriendly robots with firearms at the ready. Magic, bullets, and death aplenty on July 25.
Sonic Superstars
Heading back to the classic style of gameplay, Sonic Superstars is a brand-new 2D platformer that mixes together the old-school gameplay of the original games with slick new visuals and co-op gameplay. This one is coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch and PC in 2023.
Honkai: Star Rail
The sci-fi flavoured Genshin adjacent F2P gacha MMO (mouthful) from HoYoVerse, Honkai: Star Rail has recently been released on mobile platforms and PC. Literally taking players on a celestial locomotive, players will brawl, drawl, and recruit new heroes across the various urban sprawls among the stars. Filled with anime waifus and cute dudes, Summer Games Show revealed the inevitable with this trailer – a future PlayStation 5 release!
Lies of P
Pinnochio-inspired Soulslike Lies of P got itself an atmospheric new trailer alongside a locked-in September 19th release date and gameplay demo that’s live right now. The new footage showed us a bit more of this dark-fantasy setting that looks to be riffing on a variety of aesthetic touchstones, including vaguely-European architecture, anime-adjacent character design, and of course, clock-punk. You can also nab yourself the demo now on PS5, Xbox, and PC.
Sand Land
Based on the manga from Akira Toriyama, Sandland is an RPG action game that features vehicular combat and some very colourful characters. This one is coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.
Throne and Liberty
Land, sea and air!! A new MMO joint from NCsoft and Amazon Games, with heavy middle fantasy vibes. The highlight of the brief gameplay snippets emphasised the traversal systems. The player character is shown transforming from a bird mid-flight to a human as they land upon a wooden dock. Grappling hooks continue to be the rage, with a later snippet showing another player gripping to a pole and launching into the air, transforming into the bird spotted earlier. If traversal is as seamless as it appeared, this MMO might just have its gimmick.
Warhaven
We’ve seen a few snippets from this one in the past, and that’s exactly what we got here. A free-to-play melee combat game set in a fantasy world, Warhaven is looking pretty solid.
Party Animals
If you’ve played Gang Beasts, pop this one on your radar. A party game where you play as cute little animals, kicking the crap out of each other, Party Animals finally got a release date. It’s coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC on September 30.
Alan Wake II
Max Payne himself, Sam Lake appeared on stage to talk about Alan Wake II, hyping it up as Remedy Entertainment’s most ambitious game to date. We got a very nice-looking new gameplay trailer to accompany the hype at least, in it we saw new protagonist Saga roaming a dense and dark wooded area, eventually confronting a towering beast. Combat looks much more impactful in this sequel and the game just broadly looks stunning.
Warhammer: Space Marine II
Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive shared a new trailer showing off the campaign’s three-player co-op. There are hordes of enemies to slay with huge hammers, so get keen. Looks pretty rad.
Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall
Chunky sprite characters on beautiful 2D backgrounds, this follow-up to 2020’s stylised medieval simulator Yes, Your Grace will have players temper the heavy responsibilities of the crown. Set amidst a backdrop of political strife and medieval powerplays, this game is a narrative-heavy, choice-driven romp that is sure to tickle fans of Game of Thrones’ high-stakes drama.
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando
Legendary horror director and famed gamer John Carpenter has teamed up with Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment to bring us Toxic Commando. The new horror title will pit you and some mates against massive hordes of demonic-looking creatures who have spilled forth onto the earth after an ambitious mining mission goes awry.
Baldur’s Gate III
Larian Studio’s rolled out the big guns for its latest Baldur’s Gate 3 trailer, announcing that actor Jason Isaac will be playing a new character named Endor Gortash. Larian described Gortash as a man who “freed himself of his bonds to envision wonders and become a master of both men and mechanisms”. The game continues to look the goods too.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
We didn’t get a new trailer, but what we did get was arguably even better. We now know that Spidey 2 is coming to PS5 on October 20.
Palworld
Yeeeeeah, this is weird. Without being reductive, Palworld looks like Pokemon but with assault rifles. That is all. Hitting early access in January 2024.
Lord of The Rings: Return To Moria
Build your way into the depths of the infamous dwarven mines from Lord of the Rings. Players will be able to venture upon expeditions into the depths of the titular mines, transforming discovered veins into the tools and building blocks used to station themselves ever deeper. The visuals show various dwarves going about separate emergent building and crafting activities. I suppose it’s due time for some survival crafting in Tolkien’s world.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Focus Entertainment and DON’T NOD revealed new gameplay for its upcoming action-RPG Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, as well as locking the game in for a late 2023 release. Playing as Antea Duarte and Red mac Raith, lovers and banishers, you’ll need to make difficult choices that will impact the fate of New Eden’s inhabitants. It certainly looks pretty, and the combat looks interesting. Definitely one to keep an eye on.
Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
The beloved former protagonist of the Yakuza series, thought dead or retired according to the publisher’s spoiler-free advertising of contemporary titles, is making a front-and-centre series return. Likely a side-story set later in the series, the gameplay shows off Kazuya Kiryu in a new outfit (all black, baby!) and dishing out his signature flavour of rapid meaty blows upon the unfortunate masses of thugs that should corner him at the downtown… Shipping yard? Get excited, gangsters, the big boy is back on November 9 for all major platforms, bar Switch.
Under the Waves
A new IP from developer Parallel Studio and publisher Quantic Dream, Under the Waves, is set in a techno-futuristic 1970s where professional diver Stan is struggling to overcome a life-changing loss and embrace a new future. This narrative-driven adventure will launch on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC on August 29, 2023.
Call of Duty: Warzone II
The widely-played online mode is getting a new map and a bunch more new content.
Faefarm
A cute farming sim, Faefarm, finally has a release date of September 8 on Switch and PC.
Lynsfangha: The Time Shift Warrior
Lysfangha: The Time Shift Warrior is a new IP from Sand Door Studio and Quantic Dream’s new publishing label, Spotlight. An isometric hack ‘n’ slash that uses a time rewind mechanic to give itself a unique take on the genre. The player will be able to create echoes of themself, using these time looped copies in combat and exploration. Along with its striking, somewhat minimalist art direction, this could be something to keep an eye on.
Immortals of Aveum
EA and Ascendant Studios dropped a new trailer for Immortals of Aveum that gave us a look at late-game gameplay that Geoff described as DOOM with magic. Releasing on July 20 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Wayfinder
A new free-to-play action experience, Wayfinder comes to us by way of Airship Syndicate and Digital Extremes. This co-op title puts a heavy focus on bright and colourful worlds, as well as loot-driven gameplay loops. Given its free entry, you can expect seasonal content and some microtransactions too. It’s set to launch on PC, PS4, and PS5 later this year after an early access period.
Stellaris Nexus
With a UI glow-up and souped-up animations, Stellaris is looking less like the abstracted menu-heavy 4x behemoth that is its namesake. Nexus appears to be a stand-alone follow-up for the sci-fi Paradox strategy game, meaning I have even less reason to learn the original and its countless expansions. Create shaky diplomacy with amorphous aliens and sketchy terrans in this approachable-looking entry, with no release date as yet but is headed to Steam.
Star Trek Infinite
We’d be hard-pressed to think of a publisher better suited to the world of Star Trek than Paradox Interactive. Teaming up with developer Nimble Giant Entertainment, Star Trek Infinite is still pretty slim on actual details but the teaser trailer shown today gave us a glimpse at the iconic Borg and seems to be hinting at a factions system.
Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 3
Optimus Prime! Rideable Raptors! Sunken, lost civilisations! This shit is looking…okay. The new WILDS season update is bringing a fair few cool components to Epic Games’ massive shooter, but collectively, the jungle aesthetic isn’t moving the needle just yet. Also, seeing Optimus in a man-sized form is oddly troubling but we still can’t wait to roll out when the new season drops today, June 9th.
Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
Two disks! Wider, more vibrant spaces! New characters! The same kinda lukewarm combat… We have been warned all week that more info on the second chapter to the VII Remake would be coming. Closing out the show with a three-minute mix of CG and gameplay, Rebirth leaves the dusty urban laneways of Midgar for the surrounding rural expanses. As such, we see Cloud and crew charting the wilds on the backs of chocobos – an essential manual transportation option that fans are coming to expect of the series. With such bountiful foliage and lush environments, the spaces shown in this reveal already have me wondering if this could be an ambitious step up for what is a mere continuation for Square Enix’s exhaustingly indulgent rebuild of the FF7 tale.
And there we have it; another Summer Game Fest has come and gone. What announcements were you excited to see? What did you think of the presentation overall? Lets us know in the comments or on our social media.
