Summer Gaming: Huge Expectations

The Road to The Biggest Summer of Gaming

Despite the absence of E3 this year, the 2023 summer season is shaping up to be an extraordinary time for gaming. The months leading up to this peak have already seen the release of several critically acclaimed titles, including Jedi Survivor, Tears of the Kingdom, Street Fighter 6, and Diablo IV, with Final Fantasy XVI just around the corner. It’s rare to see such a concentration of high-quality games in such a short span, especially during the summer months.

Expectations and Wishes

The excitement doesn’t end there. Numerous livestreams and preview events are scheduled for the first two weeks of June, promising even more exciting reveals and updates. These events include showcases from The Guerrilla Collective, Day of the Devs, Dames 4 Games, Black Voices in Gaming, Wholesome Direct, the PC Gaming Show, the Future Games Show, an UploadVR event, and a Sega Summit dedicated to Yakuza games. While all these shows hold the potential for surprises, there are three mega-events that are likely to dominate the conversation: Summer Game Fest, the Xbox Showcase, and Ubisoft Forward.

Best Summer of Gaming 2023 Predictions

The following is a list of games we can expect to see during the Summer of Gaming 2023 livestream events, based on existing information, educated guesses, and a good dose of wishful thinking.

Games We Might See:

• Starfield (Duh)
• Forza Motorsport – Expect Microsoft to heavily emphasize this title, showcasing its stunning graphics and meticulous detail, drawing comparisons to Gran Turismo.
• Gears 6 – While not a bold prediction, a teaser with minimal gameplay is likely. A Master Chief Collection-style Gears bundle could also be in the works.
• Fable – The recent hype surrounding Playground Games’ Fable reboot seems justified, suggesting a more advanced development stage than previously believed. A release date might even be announced.
• Avowed – Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity-inspired first-person RPG is likely to have a significant presence after Phil Spencer’s enthusiastic praise.
• Death Stranding 2 – A longer, even more bizarre trailer for this anticipated sequel is in order.
• Assassin’s Creed Mirage – Expect more details on this stealth-focused title, but also a sneak peek at the larger RPG project, Codename Red, including its official name and a grand reveal of its ninja-infused world.
• XDefiant – The only potential hint of a new Splinter Cell may be subtly incorporated into Ubisoft’s presentation of this game.
• Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Ubisoft will showcase this title in full glory, likely met with indifference from some, but garnering substantial viewership nonetheless.
• Beyond Good & Evil 2 – Don’t hold your breath for any news on this long-awaited sequel. It’s time to let go of any hope for now.
• Star Wars – Ubisoft’s Star Wars reveal is shrouded in mystery. The most prevalent rumor suggests a Mandalorian game, not based on the show, but on the “Purge” concept. It could be an Assassin’s Creed-style game featuring space flight and combat between planets.
• Mortal Kombat 1 – We know the gameplay reveal for this game will be at Summer Game Fest, thanks to Geoff Keighley’s frequent reminders.
• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League – Warner Bros. Games could use Summer Game Fest to showcase a redemptive presentation for this game, which is due in February 2024. Its previous showing left many unimpressed, offering an opportunity for improvement.
• Sonic – While there’s no concrete evidence, more Sonic content could be unveiled at Summer Game Fest. This might include a trailer for the Sonic Frontiers DLC featuring playable Tails, Amy, and Knuckles, but could extend to more than that.
• Hyenas – Sega will likely show a new trailer for this game to remind everyone it exists.
• Silent Hill 2 – It’s time for a new trailer for the highly anticipated Silent Hill 2 remake.
• Phantom Blade Zero – This steampunk kung fu soulslike action RPG, developed by S-Game, impressed at the PlayStation Showcase. Expect to see more of this unique game.
• Lies of P – This gritty soulslike RPG, initially revealed at Gamescom, is likely to have a follow-up at Summer Game Fest, offering a more precise release date than the current “August” timeframe.
• Warhammer 40k – The lack of a recent Warhammer 40k game announcement makes it a strong possibility for this event.
• Resident Evil – Capcom’s propensity for remakes leads to the possibility of a new remake announcement, perhaps for Code Veronica.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – The first glimpse of this game is likely to occur at Summer Game Fest.

Which of my predictions do you hope is true more than anything else?

This list encompasses 21 predictions about what we might see this summer. I will revisit this list in mid-June, after the dust settles, and evaluate my accuracy. Some predictions are bound to be hilariously wrong, but the summer is already shaping up to be a phenomenal time for gaming. Enjoy!