Predicting the games of Summer Game Fest 2024: What we expect to see from each of the major publishers

May. 29, 2024

Let’s set some expectations as Summer Game Fest approaches

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2K Games

Summer Game Fest will host the reveal of “the next iteration in one of 2K’s biggest and most beloved franchises.” While I wish this meant that a new Mafia game was ready from developer Hanger 13, I think there are some other likely candidates. For starters, it’s been five years since we last heard anything aboutBioShock 4, and we know that Firaxis is working on the “the next iteration of the legendary Civilization franchise.” But there’s also Borderlands 4 to consider, more likely followingTake-Two’s acquisition of Gearbox Software earlier this year. 2K could also have other announcements to share,as rumors suggest that the publisherhas acquired the FIFA license after EA ended its 30-year partnership with soccer’s governing body.

I’d love to sit here and tell you that Amazon Games' confirmed attendance at Summer Game Fest means we’re about to get a reveal for eitherthe untitled Tomb Raider project it’s developing in collaboration with Crystal Dynamicsorfor theuntitled The Lord of the Rings MMO announced last year, but I just don’t see it happening. Amazon does have three other projects in the works – one being developed in-house, one in partnership with Glowmade, and another with Disruptive Games – but I think it’s more likely that the publisher shows off more of Throne and Liberty, the MMORPG which Amazon is helping NCSoft publish outside of Korea this year.

If you’re looking for bigActivisionnews you should go ahead and mark June 9 on your calendar. The publisher has already revealed thatCall of Duty: Black Ops 6is in development at Treyarch, with the worldwide reveal set to take place in a dedicated Black Ops 6 direct on June 9. I would anticipate that Microsoft Gaming will also detail which Activision games it plans to bring to Game Pass during the Xbox Games Showcase, but you shouldn’t expect any additional video game announcements. The vast majority of the Activision-owned developers are cogs in the Call of Duty machinery, while  Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Spyro Reignited Trilogy developerToys for Bob recently earned its independence.

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MicrosoftGaming recently enacted a significant restructure of Bethesda’s operations,closing Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, so I expect the publisher will want to showcase what the rest of the group is working towards. While it’s likely too early forMarvel’s Blade,Elder Scrolls 6, orFallout 5reveals, I do expectIndiana Jones and the Great Circleand Starfield: Shattered Space to appear during the Xbox Games Showcase on June 9. There’s also unverified rumors circling that id Software will reveal Doom: The Dark Ages, and an open question to be answered on whether any other Bethesda titles will followHi-Fi Rushto other platforms – who knows, thatStarfield on PS5dream could finally come true.

Epic Gameshas confirmed its involvement with Summer Game Fest and I’m torn. The dreamer in me would like to believe that theAlan Wake 2: Night Springs expansionwill be given its debut, given that Epic published the landmark horror adventure and thatcreative director Sam Lake appears to be teasing a presence at SGF.But the realist in me knows that Epic Games will likely show up with a bounty of Fortnite news – nothing on the scale of Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival, but perhaps a new collaboration or live event as the battle royale pushes towards the end ofChapter 5 Season 3this August.

Konami hasn’t confirmed attendance at Summer Game Fest or IGN Live, although the publisher will host a Silent Hill Transmission broadcast on May 30. While that does mean we won’t likely see more from the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake this summer, we are about to get a lot of updates surrounding the upcoming Silent Hill games. The Silent Hill 2 remake from Bloober Team could be given a release date, although I’d settle for a longer gameplay reveal. No Code’s Silent Hill: Townfall is in desperate need of more detail, same goes for Silent Hill F – the ninth mainline game in the franchise. Not long to wait now.

I was honestly a little surprised to see Private Division amongst the confirmed Summer Game Fest partners, particularly as the publisher deals with the aftermath ofmass layoffs which forced the reported closure of Roll7 and Intercept Games. Private Division does have publishing deals in place with Weta Workshop for the delightful-looking Tales of the Shire, Bloober Team for an unannounced survival horror game, Game Freak for an unannounced action-adventure game, and Moon Studios' No Rest for the Wicked – which entered early access in April. Will we see any of these titles on June 7? It’s hard to say, all things considered.

Given how challenging the current environment is for SEGA, I find it difficult to believe that new announcements are coming to SGF. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to sell Company of Heroes developer Relic Entertainment, and enacted mass layoffs at Creative Assembly (forcing the cancellation of Hyenas) – the latter isrumored to be working on Total War: Star Wars, but a reveal seems unlikely. So too does any further information surrounding theplanned revivals of Crazy Taxi, Golden Axe, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, and Streets of Rage. If any SEGA games appear at SGF, it’ll likely be either Sonic X Shadow Generations or Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble.

In an ordinary year, I wouldn’t bother speculating on Valve appearing at Summer Game Fest Live. The publisher famously works to its own schedule, nor has it confirmed its attendance to the upcoming showcase. But the Half-Life developer finds itself in a strange position, as hundreds of gameplay videos have hit the internet for Deadlock – a new team-based hero shooterthat hasn’t actually been announced. Imagine third-person Overwatch with the style of Team Fortress and you should get some idea of how Deadlock is shaping up, and there’s every possibility that Valve tries to get in front of the leaks at SGF.

WB Games has confirmed that it is a Summer Game Fest partner, but we don’t yet have a strong sense of what the publisher may show. We know for certain that Batman: Arkham Shadows will get a gameplay reveal, the new VR experience from developer Camouflaj, but there could be more. I wouldn’t be shocked to seeMortal Kombat 1,Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and MultiVersus announce new DLC, while a gameplay reveal for Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is long overdue. The big question is whether Monolith Productions’Wonder Womanwill show, given that it’s been three years since we last received an update on the mysterious action-adventure game.

Even if I were to discount the video games in development at Activision and Bethesda, and went ahead and removed all third-party exclusives out of the equation (the likes ofArk 2andStalker 2) thenXbox Game Studiosstill has 10 confirmed titles in active production that it could show at theXbox Games Showcase on June 9. That doesn’t even take into account what studios like Double Fine, inXile, and The Coalition may be working on behind the scenes. Which is all to say that it’s impossible to anticipate what Microsoft Gaming will reveal, although I’d be pretty surprised ifupcoming Xbox Series X gameslikeFable 4,Perfect Dark, andState of Decay 3were no-shows.

Josh West is the Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar+. He has over 15 years experience in online and print journalism, and holds a BA (Hons) in Journalism and Feature Writing. Prior to starting his current position, Josh has served as GR+’s Features Editor and Deputy Editor of games™ magazine, and has freelanced for numerous publications including 3D Artist, Edge magazine, iCreate, Metal Hammer, Play, Retro Gamer, and SFX. Additionally, he has appeared on the BBC and ITV to provide expert comment, written for Scholastic books, edited a book for Hachette, and worked as the Assistant Producer of the Future Games Show. In his spare time, Josh likes to play bass guitar and video games. Years ago, he was in a few movies and TV shows that you’ve definitely seen but will never be able to spot him in.

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