Summer Game Fest Didn’t Miss Much

E3 is gone. Officially, on paper, done. But if you're someone who just watched the showcases from home, refreshed Twitter between trailers, and kept a running list of what you actually cared about none of that changed. Summer Game Fest has quietly become the replacement, and Geoff Keighley is making it work.

The main showcase aired live from the Dolby Theatre in LA on June 5th, co-hosted by Geoff and Lucy James. And that's just the main event. The full SGF weekend runs June 5 through 8, and it's packed PlayStation State of Play kicked things off early as the unofficial opener, followed by Day of the Devs, the Xbox Games Showcase, the PC Gaming Show, and a full calendar of community spotlights covering indie games, Latin American developers, Black creators in gaming, and more. You can see everything at summergamefest.com. It's not just a streamed event anymore. It has the time slot, the surrounding programming, and the scale. E3 is dead in name. For the people who never went anyway, it's really not that different.

That said, the main show is still the main show, and it had some things to answer for. It dragged in spots. The celebrity stuff was more miss than hit. There are commercials, and there will always be commercials somebody has to fund this thing. But when the games were good, they were genuinely good. This was a strong showing with a few real highlights, some interesting middle ground, and a closer that had everyone buzzing for the right reasons.

Here's everything, broken down the way I actually experienced it.

Resident Evil: Code Veronica

2027

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They opened the whole show with a snowy trip to Paris that very quickly went sideways, and the second it clicked, I was in. Code Veronica was my second favorite Resident Evil for a long time. It always felt like the real continuation of RE2, and it had bigger, more connected areas to explore than most of the series ever gave you. Capcom has been on an actual roll with these remakes, and there's no reason to think this one breaks the streak. I'm ready.

New Cuphead Game + Mighty Cuphead Adventure

TBA

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Two Cuphead games in one showcase. Studio MDHR came out swinging. The new mainline Cuphead is still mostly a mystery beyond the fact that it exists and will be hand-drawn, which is all you really need to know about the pedigree. Then they dropped Mighty Cuphead Adventure on top of it an 8-bit style action platformer with that same Cuphead DNA running through it. If you're into that art style and that level of craft, both of these are going to be right up your alley. Their track record earns the benefit of the doubt.

Gen Atlas

TBA

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Fumito Ueda made Ico. He made Shadow of the Colossus. He made The Last Guardian. If you know those games, you already know what you're getting into: beautiful, slow, atmospheric, built around a relationship between you and something else. And all of those games are incredible for what they are. Gen Atlas looks like it's carrying that same DNA a vast, quiet planet, odd structures, an encounter with a robot that raises more questions than it answers. But it also just looks like it has a little more going on. A little more game in it, if that makes sense. I am ready for it.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin

TBA

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Everything I know about The Last Ronin comic has me sold on this concept. It's a dark take on the Turtles one lone turtle left, out for vengeance, none of the pizza energy. The source material is grim and serious in a way that goes back to the original TMNT roots as a Daredevil and X-Men parody, before the franchise became colorful kids' stuff. And Platinum Games is building it. These are the people behind Bayonetta and Ninja Gaiden 4. The trailer was more of a tease than a real look, but the tone came through. This is right up my alley, and I think it translates.

Crossfire

TBA

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This is the game from That's No Moon, and if you've been following what they've been putting together a team pulled from some of the bigger studios, going independent and doing something on their own terms this is exactly in that vein. Third-person tactical action-adventure, stealth and action, heavy narrative emphasis, and an Adaptive Cover mechanic that actually sounds interesting: your stance changes in response to terrain and enemies, letting you stay hidden longer. The pedigree is there, the ambition is there, and it looks like it's going to deliver on both. I think this is gonna be awesome.

1666 Amsterdam

TBA

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This is from one of the creators of Assassin's Creed, and it shows in a good way. Witchcraft, time travel, switching between two protagonists. It gives you that same feel of jumping between a historical world and something more modern, just through a very different lens. 1666 Amsterdam is the era that witch-trial, dark-Europe energy and that's not territory you see a lot of in games. It looks cool. The prologue is already on Steam and Epic Games Store right now and it runs about 30 minutes, so there's no reason not to check it out before committing.

Star Wars Zero Company

August 27, 2026

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I'll be straight with you I'm usually out on Star Wars games. The IP does nothing for me on its own. But they got me with this one. Zero Company is a turn-based tactics game in the vein of XCOM, and XCOM is my joint. The tactical layer, the squad management, the stakes of every decision that formula works, and putting it in the Star Wars universe with some actual lore behind it might be the first time a Star Wars game has genuinely had my attention. Anakin shows up too. August 27th. I'll be watching this one.

The Blood of Dawnwalker

September 3, 2026

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Rebel Wolves is made up of a bunch of ex-CD Projekt Red people. If you know what that means, you already know why this is interesting. The Blood of Dawnwalker is a 14th-century Gothic open-world action RPG where you play a vampire who can still walk in the sun and they give you a glimpse of the modern day layered on top of it. It feels like Cyberpunk meets The Witcher, but Gothic and bloody. The studio hasn't released anything yet, but the DNA speaks for itself. Inject it into my veins. September 3rd.

Stellar Blade Blood Rain

In Development

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If the action of Stellar Blade was your thing, Blood Rain is going to be your thing. They are leaning all the way into the blood in this one the trailer was brutal, the combat looked sharp, and it's set in a more living, modern world this time around. You'll notice the Stellar Blade DNA throughout. If you haven't played the original, that's where to start, and Blood Rain looks like a worthy continuation of what Shift Up built. More to come as development progresses.

Alien Isolation 2

TBA

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I did not play Alien Isolation, but this looks like a natural continuation of what made that game work. The crowd reaction says it all a lot of people were locked in. If they maintain what they built the first time and just progress from there, this is going to be a quality sci-fi horror experience. The Alien IP is almost impossible to mess up in a survival context, and so far they're not messing it up.

Blood Message

TBA

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Single-player action-adventure set in historical China. You're a messenger traveling with your son on a dangerous mission, and the world keeps stacking things against you. The combat looks cool and cinematic. I'll be real I'm a little fatigued on the ancient Asian historical setting in games right now, but history is history, and the presentation here is solid. The studio is Chinese and I don't know their back catalog, but China's been putting out quality work lately, so I'm giving this the benefit of the doubt.

Stranger Than Heaven

January 15, 2027

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RGG Studio is one of my favorites. They make fun, ridiculous, deeply earnest games, and I'm always happy when they show up. This one is a third-person action-adventure across five locations in five different eras, playing as a showman organizing musical events with Tupac and Snoop Dogg somehow involved. I love RGG. The Tupac angle is a lot. We'll see how that all lands in execution, but I'm not writing it off.

Gundam Rogue Orbit

2027

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I'm not a Gundam person and Bandai Namco is hit or miss for me, but I'll give credit where it's due this looks good. Giant robots, monster fights, the whole thing. Bandai Namco at their best can deliver something special, and the visuals on this one have that energy. Hopefully they're at their best.

Star Wars Galactic Racer

October 6, 2026

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I already told you I don't really care about Star Wars. But this looks like a genuinely high-quality racing game, and I think I spotted Sebulba in there. The production values are real. The podracing concept is one of those things from the prequel era that actually had legs. If the racing is tight, this might pull in people who couldn't care less about the IP including me. October 6th.

End of Abyss

October 1, 2026

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Survival horror from a top-down perspective, set deep underwater. The atmosphere is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, and it's working. The ocean as a horror setting has a specific kind of dread built in, and this one seems to understand that. The vibes are right up my alley. October 1st.

Virtua Fighter Crossroads

2027

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Not a Virtua Fighter person, but I have to acknowledge what this is first entry in almost twenty years, Sega bringing back a classic franchise that a lot of people have been waiting on. The trailer was story-focused, which is a different angle than you'd expect from a fighting game. If the combat holds up to go along with it, this is going to mean a lot to people who've been holding out.

SAW: Genesis

TBA

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A little visitor cycling onto the stage to introduce a SAW game was a moment. Genesis goes back a century before Jigsaw and flips the structure three versus one horror, where you're either trying to escape the traps or you're the one setting them. I'm a SAW guy, at least SAW one, and that premise gives me the right kind of dread. Worth keeping an eye on.

Clutch

Spring 2027

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If you enjoyed Forza Horizon 6, the people behind it moved on and this is what they're building now. Street racing instead of open-world circuit events, with a heavy emphasis on story. That pedigree is real those folks know how to make cars feel good. A strong narrative in a racing game is hard to pull off, but if anyone has a shot, it's probably this team. My attention is there.

Dead by Daylight 10th Anniversary

June 14, 2026

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A decade of Dead by Daylight. The anniversary event kicks off June 14th at 8pm ET. The trailer was suitably unsettling the kind of happy birthday message you don't want to receive from anyone.

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3: Runners

Live Now

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You know what Fortnite is. Chapter 7 Season 3 introduces Spites collectible glowy characters that give you power-ups. John Wick is back. The Shattered end-of-season event got a preview. It's Fortnite.

An Eggstreamely Hard Game

July 24, 2026

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Protect your egg. Avoid obstacles. The name tells you everything you need to know about the vibe. July 24th on PC.

Control Resonant

September 24, 2026

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We saw this at State of Play and I didn't want to watch it there, and here it is again and I still don't want to watch it. That's not a knock. That's the opposite. I am already in love with this universe. Dylan Faden, brother of Jesse, is back in the Federal Bureau of Control and something has escaped headquarters. Manhattan is dealing with the fallout. September 24th across PS5, Xbox, PC, and Mac.

Guild Wars 3

TBA

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14 years after Guild Wars 2, ArenaNet finally returns with the sequel. The world looks magical and the creature design has real personality. Beta starts autumn 2027 on PC and PS5.

Last Harbor

TBA

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Sailing across the waves, but even the land isn't safe crusty enemies hunting you down on both fronts. PC for now, details still sparse, but the trailer has atmosphere.

RuneScape Dragonwilds

September 15, 2026

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Jagex's survival crafting RPG set in Ashenfall comes to console September 15th. Skill leveling, region exploration, dragon slaying with friends. Also hitting PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium at launch. And yes, Geoff referenced the Falador Massacre. Truly wild moment nobody saw coming.

Soulframe Preludes

Pre-Alpha Access Open Now

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Dark fantasy meets sci-fi in this free-to-play MMORPG from the Warframe team. The trailer gave us a glimpse of combat and a very cool wolf. Pre-alpha access is open if you want in early.

Grounded 2: Into The Abyss

August 11, 2026

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New update plus the full PS5 launch of Grounded 2 on the same day August 11th. New creatures added, including one very angry lizard. Good news for anyone waiting on the console version.

Mafia: The Old Country Man of Honor

August 14, 2026

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Story expansion for The Old Country. Short teaser, didn't give much away but Old Country fans will want to mark August 14th on the calendar.

Lords of the Fallen II

2026

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Action RPG sequel with epic fantasy, dragons, and a woman with wing arms. Autumn 2026 across all platforms. More details to come as we get closer.

Among Us: Story On Guard

TBA

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Standalone narrative game set in the Among Us universe. You play the guard there's a murder, and you need to prove your innocence and catch the Imposter. An animated series is also streaming now on Paramount+ if you want to jump in on that side.

007 First Light New Mission

TBA

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The game hasn't been out a month and new content is already rolling in. Bawma returns in this upcoming mission, and a Switch 2 version of the full game is also confirmed.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance DLC

2027

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The DLC takes the hunt into the skies with new monsters that have direct effects on the surrounding environment. More Monster Hunter for the people who can't get enough. 2027.

Swords of Legends

TBA

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Fantasy action RPG that led with a strong look at its combat. Platform and release date details still coming, but the fighting looked fluid and worth watching.

Hot Wheels Infinite Rush

September 24, 2026

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City track, beach track with a skull ramp that looked like it was on toy store shelves in 1999. Hot Wheels racing is exactly what it sounds like, and if that's your thing it arrives September 24th across all platforms.

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds + Sonic Pico Park

Ongoing Collabs + New Indie Game TBA

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Sega laid out the full Sonic 35th anniversary plan. CrossWorlds gets a TMNT Mutant Mayhem collab in July, Avatar Legends in October, then Godzilla and Evangelion in year two. Also confirmed: a new indie Sonic game called Sonic Pico Park coming soon.

Attack on Titan 3

July 1, 2026

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Covers the full manga story and puts you in the fight against the Titans yourself. AOT fans are being taken care of. Geoff's buildup had me hoping for One Piece. It was not One Piece. July 1st.

Chronicles Medieval

Early Access 2026

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Medieval sandbox where you build your army, manage battle formations, and try to turn the tide through timing and strategy. Early access later this year for anyone who wants in early.

Sea of Remnants

TBA

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Free-to-play RPG with turn-based combat set at sea. Pre-registration is open now. The song in the trailer is worryingly catchy and will not leave your head.

Hitman World of Assassination New Target

June 5 – July 5, 2026

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New boxing-themed elusive target live now. You have exactly one month to take the hit June 5th through July 5th across all platforms including PSVR.

Palworld 1.0

July 10, 2026

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Full 1.0 launch arrives July 10th with new Pals added to the collection. The early access run comes to its official close for anyone waiting on the full release.

The Wolf Among Us 2 + Remastered

2027 (Sequel)

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Telltale is back with Bigby Wolf. Fairy-tale murder mystery, more whisky than whimsy. The original remaster drops Holiday 2026 to hold you over before the sequel arrives in 2027.

Street Fighter 6 Year Four

Ongoing

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Year Four brings new challengers: Yasmine, Bosch, and Arjun. Tifa from Final Fantasy VII is also crossing over, which is a pairing nobody saw coming. The SF6 roster keeps growing.

Haex

2027

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Open world action-adventure set in the Wild North with a procedurally generated world. Monster hunting, co-op with other players, puzzle sections, and apparently an angry wall. 2027 on PC.

Mortal Shell II

PC Open Beta · Live Now

Medieval fantasy soulslike with an open beta live on PC right now. If killing monsters with a lute is your thing, the door is open.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced

July 9, 2026

The Black Flag remake arrives July 9th. Sea shanty in the trailer, pirate assassin action for those who've been waiting on this one. A beloved game getting a proper remake treatment.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

June 18, 2026

New action RPG from Square Enix and Claytechworks dropping very soon June 18th across all major platforms. One of the closer releases from the entire showcase.

Orbitals

Summer 2026

Co-op space adventure built entirely around working together to get through levels. Switch 2 exclusive for now, arriving sometime this summer.

Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions

June 11, 2026

Co-op planet-hopping missions complete objectives together, then move on to the next world. Out June 11th, which means it's basically already here.

Final Fantasy XIV Online on Switch 2

August 2026 Early Access

FFXIV finally comes to Nintendo hardware with early access in August 2026. The MMO on the go for anyone who's been waiting on a portable version.

Turok: Origins

Autumn 2026

The dinosaur hunter returns across all major platforms this autumn. A franchise resurrection for people who remember the original N64 days.

Armatus

2026

Third-person roguelite shooter coming to all platforms in Winter 2026. Not a lot of detail beyond that yet, but the genre has been hitting lately.

Aion 2

September 2026

Big epic fantasy MMO with some genuinely impressive combat shown in the trailer. PC only for now, September launch. The original Aion had a dedicated fanbase and they're going to be paying close attention.

Wuthering Waves x Cyberpunk Edgerunners

June 8, 2026

The crossover nobody predicted. Wuthering Waves meets Cyberpunk Edgerunners on June 8th. If you're in either of those universes, this one's already for you.

Sand Raiders of Sophie

June 10, 2026

Steampunk house-car through the desert fighting off enemies. Very Wild Wild West energy. The Server Slam is live now and the full release hits PC on June 10th.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation

Spring 2027 · PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch 2 · Simultaneous Global Release

▶ Watch the Reveal Trailer ▶ Watch the Gameplay Trailer

Let me be completely honest with you: I have not played Final Fantasy VII Remake. I have not played Rebirth. I never played the original. I own the games. They are sitting there. I am a poser when it comes to Final Fantasy VII, and I know it.

And even I felt the weight of this trailer.

Revelation is the third and final part of the remake trilogy — six years after Remake launched in 2020, Cloud finally gets to the end. The new locations look enormous. The combat looks exactly like what people who have been riding with this trilogy want. Vincent Valentine and Cid Highwind both get their moments. And the production on display is at a level that’s hard to argue with regardless of your history with the franchise.

Everyone I’ve talked to who has been playing these games is ready. Like, ready ready. This is where the story has been going for six years and it’s coming together in Spring 2027, simultaneously on every platform — PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Switch 2. No waiting for ports. Everyone gets it at the same time.

It was the right way to close a show this big. The reaction in the room and online said everything. For the people who are in, there is nowhere they would rather be right now.

I really need to play these games.