It’s June, which means it’s time for the highly-anticipated annual Summer Game Fest hosted by Geoff Keighley. The event will be live-streamed online via YouTube and Twitch on Thursday, June 8th at 12 pm PST/ 3 pm EST/ 5 am AEST (next day).
There’s a lot to anticipate at the upcoming event, as it will feature previews of various games from countless different studios. According to the host, Geoff Keighley, around 40 companies will be present to reveal their latest offerings. Unlike the Playstation Showcase in May, this event will premiere titles for multiple consoles, making it a celebration of the exciting future of gaming.
Although there is still time before the event, we can speculate on what might be unveiled during it. Will any of your hopes make an appearance at this year’s Summer Game Fest?
Mortal Kombat 1
Fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming release of Netherealm’s Mortal Kombat 1. The game follows the ending of Mortal Kombat 11‘s Aftermath expansion and pursues a new timeline after Liu Kang’s ascension to Elder God and his decision to reset the previous timeline. This highly anticipated game is expected to serve as a soft reboot for the franchise.
Although details were already revealed two weeks ago, it was teased by Ed Boon that gameplay for the upcoming soft reboot of the franchise would be coming in the following weeks. Keighley revealed that actual gameplay will be revealed for Mortal Kombat 1 during the Summer Game Fest.
Furthermore, it is likely that they will also announce the beta dates at the event. Fans can look forward to exciting updates on the game, including the new Kameo Fighter system and the addition of more fighters to the roster. It will be interesting to see what Netherealm has molded with the newest installment in the franchise.
Death Stranding 2
In 2022, during the Game Awards, Hideo Kojima revealed a sequel to his previous project, Death Stranding, which was released in 2019.
The plot revolved around Sam Porter Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus, as he strives to rebuild and reconnect America following a catastrophic event known as the “Death Stranding.” The game was well-received by many and was even nominated for Game of the Year in 2019. Although the gameplay was relatively straightforward with its delivery mechanic, it was groundbreaking in its innovation. Recently, the PS5 upgrade of Death Stranding, called Death Stranding: Director’s Cut, was released in September 2021.
After the initial announcement, there has been no further update on what to anticipate in the upcoming sequel. Given the bond between Kojima and Keighley, it would be an opportune moment to disclose additional details about Death Stranding 2. While the teaser trailer showed footage, the gameplay was not present in it. There is a possibility that we may get a release date for the game or even just a release window.
Call Of Duty 2023
The popular game developer Infinity Ward launched Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in October 2022. Season 4 of this game is expected to be released soon, and there are rumors about a new Call of Duty title coming out this year. Fans are speculating whether it will be an expansion of Modern Warfare 2 or a completely new game, possibly Modern Warfare 3. The upcoming Summer Game Fest could be the ideal occasion for Infinity Ward to showcase their next creation.
There have been rumors circulating that the next installment of Call of Duty may be developed by Sledgehammer Games, the studio responsible for WW2 and Advanced Warfare. Sources suggest that the game may also feature a zombies-style horde mode, as well as a campaign mode to continue the campaign of its predecessor.
It appears probable that there will be a reveal of the latest Call of Duty entry, even if it’s simply a card reveal and release date. The speculation is fueled in part by the fact that Activision is listed as a partner for the upcoming Summer Game Fest, which could indicate that the sequel will be showcased.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
During the 2022 Game Awards, CD Projekt Red unveiled an upcoming expansion for Cyberpunk 2077.
The trailer introduced a partnership between the main character, V, and a character portrayed by Idris Elba. This expansion promises to bring significant new story content to the futuristic RPG, building upon the 2019 release.
Although Projekt Red has been mostly silent about the DLC, it is anticipated that the expansion will become available in 2023. It is likely to have gameplay shown as the game’s Twitter account has announced that playtests for the expansion will be very soon.
What Else Could We Possibly See During Summer Game Fest?
Square Enix has announced that the Final Fantasy 7 Remake sequel, Rebirth, is set to release in 2023, while Final Fantasy 16 is due out on June 22. As a partner for Summer Game Fest, Square Enix may choose this event to drop a trailer or reveal the definitive release date for the much-awaited sequel.
Additionally, Sega’s attendance hints at a potential bigger reveal for Like A Dragon 8, the latest installment in the Yakuza series. Disney attending could also give us a glimpse at the previously announced Captain America/Black Panther game.
It would be refreshing to witness some original creations from developers in addition to sequels and remakes. The co-op gaming community appears to have slowed down, so introducing new co-op games would be a welcome addition. Furthermore, companies like Bandai-Namco and Gearbox could produce exciting Role Playing Games that gamers would love to experience.
Summer Game Fest is an ideal platform to showcase developers’ innovative concepts. My anticipation is to witness new ideas alongside the expected announcements or details of remakes and sequels during this week’s event.
I am excited to watch the upcoming event live on June 8th with my friends, regardless of what is announced. The anticipation of what could be revealed leaves me feeling optimistic and eager to see what we will get to witness. Gaming is an amazing art and Summer Game Fest feels like the perfect event to celebrate it.
The event will be shown on Thursday, June 8th at 12 pm PST/ 3 pm EST/ 5 am AEST (next day). You can view the event live on Twitch, Youtube, and Twitter.
