June and the not-E3 season has rolled around once again, and you know what that means: trailers, world premieres, and more for the most exciting new games and experiences coming in 2023 and beyond. As it so often does, the fun begins with the Summer Game Fest show that's hosted by Geoff Keighley and scheduled to stream live from the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles later today.
While we're not expecting anything big from Microsoft during this presentation — don't forget, the Xbox Games Showcase is coming Sunday — big reveals from other publishers and developers in the industry are sure to come. The showcase is only a few hours away now, so we're settled in and ready for everything the Summer Game Fest 2023 has in store for players around the world, including early looks at what could be the best Xbox games of the next year.
Hello, everyone, I'm Zachary Boddy. Welcome to Windows Central as we cover the latest and greatest game announcements and reveals coming out of Summer Game Fest 2023! The Summer Game Fest is one of the biggest video games events of the year every time it comes around, so we're expecting a lot of great stuff.
Windows Central will be contributing our unique expertise and perspective to the Summer Game Fest throughout the show and even into tomorrow as we collect our thoughts and react to what was revealed. Stay tuned to this space, as we'll be updating this page constantly with the latest information. I'm excited to see what the Summer Game Fest will show us this year. — Zachary Boddy, Windows Central Staff Writer
Hello all, I'm Brendan Lowry. Team Windows Central is excited to welcome you to our live coverage of Summer Game Fest 2023! There's not much that can pull me away from Diablo 4 right now, but a flashy showcase full of world premieres, surprise announcements, and new trailers definitely did the trick. Sorry, Blessed Mother — you'll have to wait until tonight for my attention.
As my colleague Zachary said, we'll bring you predictions, live news updates, and analyses before, during, and after the showcase. On top of that, we'll share our full thoughts on what we're hoping to see, as well as what we actually do see. We're hope you're as excited for the show as we are! — Brendan Lowry, Windows Central Contributor
How to watch Summer Game Fest 2023
Want to check out the show with us live? It's being livestreamed on a variety of different platforms, including both YouTube and Twitch. For links and embeds you can use to watch as well as additional details, make sure you read our full guide on how to watch Summer Game Fest 2023.
Like previous Summer Game Fest presentations, this year's showcase will be around two hours long. It's scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. CEST, so make sure you're in one of the streams by then. — Brendan Lowry
What to expect from Summer Game Fest 2023
While there will no doubt be plenty of surprises during the showcase, there are also several games we know will appear thanks to announcements from publishers, developers, and Geoff Keighley himself. We've listed all of these titles below to give you an idea of what to expect from Summer Game Fest ahead of the show.
- Alan Wake 2
- Baldur's Gate 3
- Fortnite Wilds
- Immortals of Aveum
- Lies of P
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Thorne and Liberty
In addition to the games listed above, we also know that the stylized puzzle-platformer COCOON from LIMBO and INSIDE designer Jeppe Carlsen will feature during DoubleFine and iam8bit's Day of the Devs show, which is slated to take place right after SGF. Right after, there's also the Devolver Direct, in which Devolver Digital will show off some of the new games it's publishing.
It'll be awesome to finally see gameplay of Remedy Entertainment's Alan Wake 2, as the original was one of my favorite action-adventure games of the 2010s. We're hoping to see details on Cyberpunk 2077's "spy-thriller" Phantom Liberty expansion (featuring Idris Elba), too, and who can say no to some ultraviolent Mortal Kombat 1 footage?
Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 is also making an appearance, with the next entry in the legendary series scheduled to release later this year on August 31, 2023 on Windows PC and PS5. As someone who adored Divinity: Original Sin II and is always down for a new isometric RPG, I'm definitely hyped to see more of this one. Sadly, it's been delayed on Xbox due to technical problems, so the developers haven't announced a release date for that version of the game yet. — Brendan Lowry
Here's what Team Windows Central wants to see at SGF 2023
Summer Game Fest 2023 is only an hour away now! Ahead of the presentation, I asked some of my colleagues what they're hoping to see during the show and why. Here's what they said:
"I just want a shadow drop. At this point, I don't even care what it is a shadow drop of, I just like the hype of them." — Cole Martin, Contributor
"I just want to see interesting, creative games from a wide variety of teams and developers. I want exciting trailers that feature gameplay, and I want to see games I can play in the next year or two. It'd be nice for Summer Game Fest to highlight great indie games, too, not just AAA blockbusters. I'm certainly not interested in watching 30 ads that aren't properly disclosed as ads." — Zachary Boddy, Staff Writer
"I'm interested in seeing more of new Mortal Kombat. I'm intrigued as to how the classic MK characters are going to be reimagined in this new rebooted universe and what the story will be like this time since Liu Kang (the series' protagonist) is now a god. I'm also interested in seeing the new Kameo Fighter mechanic to see if it will turn Mortal Kombat into a tag assist-based fighting game like Marvel vs. Capcom/Dragonball FighterZ or if it's gonna be like Assist Trophies in Super Smash Brothers." — Alexander Cope, Contributor
"Geoff Keighley always does an excellent job hyping up his games showcases. In recent years we've seen the team invest more time and energy into making Summer Game Fest a must-watch show. With Xbox and PlayStation listed as official partners, I'd be stoked to see these major players bring noteworthy first-party reveals to the event." — Miles Dompier, Contributor
"I want to see a major reveal that isn't CGI. Don't get me wrong, I've been excited at stuff like the Mass Effect reveal before, but it would be really cool to see a major game get announced with actual in-engine footage." — Samuel Tolbert, Contributor
"I'm really looking forward to seeing more of Alan Wake 2 gameplay. This sequel looks like it could be a whole lot darker than the original and I'm intrigued by what we've seen thus far." — Rebecca Spear, Gaming Editor
And me? While I'm definitely with Rebecca on the Alan Wake 2 hype train, some gameplay for Armored Core 6 and/or a new trailer for Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is what my heart truly desires. I've had some of my favorite and most memorable gaming experiences in FromSoftware titles (Elden Ring in particular might be my new favorite game of all time), so I'm always ecstatic to see more of what the studio is cooking up next. There's a solid chance we'll see the developer appear at the show, too; after all, Elden Ring's official gameplay reveal trailer was shown during SGF 2021. — Brendan Lowry
We've got about 15 minutes until SGF 2023 starts, so grab some snacks and get comfy! I'd make some popcorn, but I'm in charge of this live blog, and I need to keep my keyboard clear of melted butter. You, fortunately, don't have to worry about that problem. — Brendan Lowry
Here we go! Summer Game Fest 2023 has begun, and its various reveals, announcements, and trailers are imminent. We'll bring you details on all the goods as soon as they're shown, so stay tuned! Hopefully Geoff Keighley has a great show for us. — Brendan Lowry
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown announced, coming January 18, 2024
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown from Ubisoft has been announced with an action-packed gameplay trailer that showed off the game's action-platformer style. More on the game will be shown during Ubisoft Forward on Monday, June 12. — Brendan Lowry
Our first Mortal Kombat 1's gameplay was bloody brilliant
One of SGF 2023's opening reveals was a gameplay debut trailer for Mortal Kombat 1, a reboot of the beloved fighting game franchise releasing September 19, 2023. The trailer showed off vicious battles between iconic Mortal Kombat characters like Sonya, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, and more. — Brendan Lowry
New Path of Exile 2 gameplay trailer shown, more coming July 28
Grinding Gear Games showed a new gameplay trailer for Path of Exile 2 that showed off some powerful magic attacks you'll be able to use with your character. The trailer confirms that we'll learn more about the game on July 28. — Brendan Lowry
Nicholas Cage is coming to Dead by Daylight on July 25, because why not?
Nicholas Cage, of all people, made a surprise appearance at Summer Game Fest 2023 to announce that he'll be a playable character in the popular horror game Dead by Daylight. His chapter will be added on July 25, though PC players will have an opportunity to test him early on July 5. — Brendan Lowry
Trailer for The Witcher Season 3, Henry Cavill's final season, shown
A trailer for The Witcher, Netflix's live action adaptation of the beloved fantasy series, was shown. Notably, it will be Henry Cavill's final season as protagonist Geralt of Rivia. Season 3 is slated to release on Netflix June 29. — Brendan Lowry
Remnant 2, the sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes, is coming July 25
The sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes, a popular third-person shooter with Soulslike elements, will release on Xbox, PC, and other platforms on July 25. The release date was revealed within a high-octane gameplay trailer. — Brendan Lowry
Lies of P is coming September 19, demo out now
A demo of Lies of P, a steampunk Soulslike from Neowiz Games and Round 8 Studio, is available now on Xbox and PC. Its arrival was accompanied by a new trailer and an official September 19 release date. — Brendan Lowry
Annapurna Interactive Showcase announced for June 29
Publisher Annapurna Interactive of Journey, Stray, and Outer Wilds fame, announced that it plans to hold its own showcase on June 29. Much like Summer Game Fest, the presentation will show off the publisher's upcoming projects. — Brendan Lowry
Remedy gives us our first look at Alan Wake 2 gameplay
During the Summer Game Fest show, Remedy Entertainment gave the gaming community its first look at unedited Alan Wake 2 gameplay in which the game's second playable character, Saga Anderson, investigates reports of a murder in Bright Falls. The game is scheduled to release October 17, 2023. — Brendan Lowry
Warhammer: 40K Space Marine 2 trailer reveals Winter 2023 release
A new co-op campaign gameplay trailer for Warhammer: 40K Space Marine 2 has revealed that the gory third-person shooter is scheduled to release on Xbox, PC, and other platforms in Winter 2023. — Brendan Lowry
Sonic Superstars is a new 2D Sonic game coming to Xbox and PC this year
One of the most surprising games shown during SGF 2023 so far was Sonic Superstars, a new 2D Sonic game that seems to switch to 3D sequences at times. The game is coming to Xbox, PC, and other platforms in Fall 2023. Learn more about it here. — Brendan Lowry
Palworld is Pokemon with guns and I am absolutely HERE FOR IT
A new gameplay trailer for Palworld, a bizarre and hilarious-looking shooter in which players team up with Pokemon-like creatures that wield tons of different firearms, was shown. It's coming to Xbox and other platforms, with Early Access available in January 2024. — Brendan Lowry
Like a Dragon Gaiden: A Man Who Erased His Name is the worst title ever, but I'm still excited
A game that's totally not Yakuza called Like a Dragon Gaiden: A Man Who Erased His Name was shown, and I have to say, that might be the worst title I've ever seen for something. Still, we're excited, as the Yakuza games are awesome. — Brendan Lowry
Xbox celebrates Porsche's 75th Anniversary with unique console giveaways
The high-performance sports automobile manufacturer Porsche is 75 years old, and to celebrate, Xbox is giving away 75 unique consoles and controllers inspired by the company's cars. Learn how to enter the sweepstakes and get a chance to win one here. — Brendan Lowry
SGF 2023 teases everything coming in Call of Duty Warzone 2 Season 4
During the show, Activision shared a look at everything that's coming to the popular battle royale game Call of Duty Warzone 2 in Season 4, which is scheduled to go live June 14. To learn more, don't miss our guide on Call of Duty Warzone 2 Season 4. — Brendan Lowry
Immortals of Aveum gameplay trailer shows intense magic action
Ascendant Studios' Immortals of Aveum made an appearance during SGF 2023, with the developer showcasing a brand new gameplay trailer with lots of colorful and explosive magic abilities. Shown moves include homing missiles, defensive shields, bursts of staggering explosive energy, and more. — Brendan Lowry
Summer Game Fest 2023 forgot to bring the heat
Summer Game Fest 2023 is over, and we have to admit, we at Team WC are feeling a bit underwhelmed by the show. While there was certainly some great stuff on display — we loved getting to see more of Alan Wake 2, Mortal Kombat 1, and Lies of P — the pacing of the show definitely felt awkward and off, and ultimately, we were left wanting more.
In particular, we were surprised that the Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty DLC didn't make an appearance. With the price of the expansion and GOG.com preorders leaking recently, it was widely predicted that it would appear at SGF 2023. Maybe we'll see it during the Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday. — Brendan Lowry
Star Trek: Infinite announced, full reveal coming June 16
Nimble Giant Entertainment announced Star Trek: Infinite, a new "grand strategy" game set in the famous sci-fi universe. The developers revealed the game with an ominous cinematic trailer at SGF 2023, but say that a full reveal will come on June 16 — Picard Day. — Brendan Lowry
COCOON gets new gameplay presentation, coming to Game Pass in 2023
During the Day of the Devs indie game show after SGF 2023, Geometric Interactive's COCOON got a new gameplay presentation. The game, helmed by LIMBO and INSIDE designer Jeppe Carlsen, tasks players with solving puzzles that require them to jump between worlds contained within other worlds. It's releasing at some point later this year, and will be available on Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. — Brendan Lowry
Fortnite Wilds gets cinematic trailer at SGF 2023
A cinematic trailer for Fortnite Wilds, the next season in Epic Games' popular battle royale title, was shown during SGF 2023. Fortnite Wilds is scheduled to go live June 8 (tomorrow), and is inspired by the arrival of the new film Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. — Brendan Lowry
Here's everything that was announced during Summer Game Fest 2023
Summer Game Fest 2023 has now wrapped. If you missed the show and are looking for a recap of everything that was shown during the presentation, don't miss our complete roundup of all announcements and reveals from Summer Game Fest 2023. — Brendan Lowry
The Summer Game Fest 2023 show may be over, but we're far from done! Stay tuned, as we're bringing you live coverage of Devolver Digital's showcase that's starting shortly. The presentation is scheduled to begin in about 15 minutes, so this is a great time to get up and stretch your legs. — Brendan Lowry
Party Animals finally gets a release date, comes to Xbox Game Pass on Sept. 20, 2023
Party Animals is a highly anticipated jelly brawler that was announced ages ago for Xbox and Windows PC, and is a day one addition on Xbox Game Pass. During Summer Game Fest 2023, it finally got a release date of Sept. 20, 2023. Aw, yeah. — Zachary Boddy
