Summer Game Fest 2022: schedule and announcements so far
16 min readThis year’s Summer Game Fest is officially underway, with Summer Game Fest 2022 marking the third year of Geoff Keighley’s season of gaming. Unlike E3, Summer Game Fest isn’t a conference or event. Instead, it’s an overarching season of digital events that encompasses many different publisher and developer live streams.
As with previous years, Summer Game Fest 2022 opened with a live kickoff show, hosted by Keighley, that was jam-packed with reveals, announcements and updates on some of this year’s biggest games. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as a slew of live stream showcases from publishers and developers are planned for the coming days where we’re sure to get even more juicy details about the biggest games on the horizon – and have a few new ones to add to our list too.
With Xbox/Bethesda, Capcom, Epic Games, and more set to make appearances throughout Summer Game Fest 2022, we’re certainly excited to see what the industry’s biggest developers and publishers have in store for us – even if Nintendo is glaringly absent as of now.
With no E3, Summer Games Fest 2022 is the next best thing, and is absolutely worth tuning into. We’ll likely see some of the biggest game announcements of the year during the event. Want to find out more? Read on for everything we know about Summer Game Fest 2022 so far.
Summer Game Fest 2022: cut to the chase
- What is it? A season of digital video game events
- Where is it? Entirely online and streamed globally
- When is it? Throughout June 2022
- Who is attending? Xbox, Bethesda and Sony to name a few
Biggest announcements so far
Below, we’ve rounded up the biggest announcements (and our hottest takes) from Summer Game Fest 2022 so far:
Summer Game Fest 2022 schedule
Already happened
Summer Game Fest 2022 is officially underway with the digital gaming season’s “core” events taking place between June 9 and June 12 – though some (not necessarily under the Summer Game Fest banner) took place prior to these “core dates”.
While there are still plenty of showcases to go, the ones that have already taken place have treated us to plenty of tasty announcements, reveals and updates. Here are the showcases that have taken place so far and their biggest announcements.
Warhammer Skulls Showcase
When was it? June 1 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (or June 2 at 3am AEST)
Where can I watch it? We’ve embedded the showcase video above
The first showcase of the gaming season, the Warhammer Skulls Showcase was packed with juicy announcements and reveals. The biggest announcement was that Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader, a classic-style RPG, is in development – though no release date was given. Two more Warhammer games, Warhammer 40K: Boltgun and Warhammer 40K: Warpforge, were also announced.
In addition, the showcase gave us a new behind-the-scenes video for Space Marine 2, a new cinematic trailer for Darktide and a new trailer for Total War: Warhammer 3 – Immortal Empires, plus updates on Blood Bowl 3 and more. Missed the showcase? We’ve embedded the video above so you can watch the whole thing for yourself right here.
Sony State of Play
When was it? June 2 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm BST (or June 3 at 8am AEST)
Where can I watch it? We’ve embedded the showcase video above
The latest Sony State of Play showcase on June 2 was a bit of a mixed bag. Sure, the showcase had some big-hitting announcements and reveals, like the arrival of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered on PC, a new trailer (packed with juicy details) for Final Fantasy 16, a deep dive into The Callisto Protocol, a closer look at Street Fighter 6 and the announcement of the Resident Evil 4 remake release date, but we expected more from Sony’s not-E3 conference.
While Sony stated before the showcase that it would focus on third-party and PSVR 2 games, we can’t help but think the event was a bit too safe, relying heavily on sure-hit franchises. Let’s hope there’s another PlayStation showcase up Sony’s sleeve for July or August, where we’ll finally get an update (and release date) on the long-awaited God of War Ragnarok. Missed the showcase? We’ve embedded the video above so you can watch the whole thing for yourself right here.
Sonic Central
When was it? June 7 at 9am PT / 12pm ET / 5pm BST (or June 8 at 2am AEST)
Where can I watch it? We’ve embedded the showcase video above
Sega’s Sonic Central showcase focused on, as you might imagine, all things about everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog. While the showcase featured newson the general Sonic franchise, including Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s arrival on Blu-Ray and a first look at the Sonic Prime 3D animated show, there was plenty of gaming news to be had.
We got a tease of the Sonic Frontiers prologue, a new trailer for Sonic Origins and announcements on new content for Sonic mobile games and Sonic Speed Simulator. Oh, and Sonic costumes are coming to Fall Guys as well. Missed the showcase? We’ve embedded the video above so you can watch the whole thing for yourself right here.
Summer Game Fest
When was it? June 9 at 2pm ET / 11am PT / 7pm BST (or June 10 at 4am AEST)
Where can I watch it? YouTube (opens in new tab), Twitch (opens in new tab), Twitter (opens in new tab), Facebook (opens in new tab) and Summer Game Fest website (opens in new tab)
The Summer Game Fest live showcase, officially kicking off Geoff Keighley’s season of gaming, was full of big announcements, reveals and updates. This showcase was pretty jam-packed so we’ve rounded up the biggest news from the show, below, for your perusal:
Upcoming
While we’ve already been treated to some showcases already, there are still plenty more to go. Below, we’ve laid out the confirmed Summer Game Fest 2022 schedule along with what we expect to see at each showcase.
Day of the Devs
When is it? June 9, right after Summer Game Fest live showcase
Where can I watch it? YouTube (opens in new tab), Twitch (opens in new tab), Twitter (opens in new tab), Facebook (opens in new tab) and Summer Game Fest website (opens in new tab)
Day of the Devs is officially returning for Summer Game Fest 2022, taking place straight after the Summer Game Fest showcase on June 9. The indie showcase is marking its 10th anniversary and will once again be hosted by Double Fine and iam8bit. If previous years are anything to go by, it’ll be packed with trailers, reveals and deep dives on “unique, diverse, and beautiful” indie games.
Devolver Direct
When is it? June 9 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm BST (or June 10 at 8am AEST)
Where can I watch it? Twitch (opens in new tab)
Devolver Digital has confirmed that it’s hosting its annual showcase Devolver Direct on June 9 this year. Devolver tends to host the most bizarre showcase of the gaming conference season every year and if the marketing trailer for the showcase is anything to go by (seen above) then this year will be no different.
Devolver has promised sensational new game reveals and blessed news for Cult of the Lamb at this showcase.
Netflix Geeked Week: Gaming
When is it? June 10 at 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST (or June 11 at 3am AEST)
Where can I watch it? YouTube (opens in new tab), Twitter (opens in new tab), TikTok (opens in new tab), Twitch (opens in new tab) and Facebook (opens in new tab)
Netflix’s five-day free virtual event will focus on games on June 10. The showcase will consist of Netflix show and game announcements, with The Cuphead Show, Sonic Prime, Bloodline and over 10 Netflix games confirmed to feature. Expect exclusive teaser and trailer premieres, sneak peeks, surprise announcements, never-before-seen footage, cast interviews, script table reads and more at this showcase.
Tribeca Games Spotlight
When is it? June 10 at 3pm ET / 12pm PT / 8pm BST (or June 11 at 5am AEST)
Where can I watch it? Tribeca website (opens in new tab), YouTube (opens in new tab), Twitch (opens in new tab) and Summer Game Fest website (opens in new tab)
The Tribeca Games Spotlight showcase is set to feature “exclusive gameplay and creator interviews from Tribeca’s official selections”. This year’s Tribeca lineup features nine games that are vying for the Tribeca Games Award, an accolade that honors an unreleased game “for its excellence in art and storytelling through design, artistic mastery, and highly immersive worlds”.
This year’s official selections are:
- American Arcadia
- As Dusk Falls
- The Cub
- Cuphead – The Delicious Last Course
- Immortality
- Oxenfree II Lost Signals
- A Plague Tale: Requiem
- Thirsty Suitors
- Venba
The online showcase is part of the Tribeca Games Festival, running from June 8 to June 19, and will feature never-before-seen footage and interviews from the creators of the official sections.
Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase
When is it? June 12 at 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST (or June 13 at 3am AEST)
Where can I watch it? YouTube (opens in new tab), Twitch (opens in new tab), Twitter (opens in new tab), Facebook (opens in new tab) and Summer Game Fest website (opens in new tab)
Xbox and Bethesda are once again hosting a joint digital conference as part of Summer Game Fest. Neither has confirmed what we will see at this showcase, but in an Xbox Wire post (opens in new tab) it was confirmed that the conference will “include everything you need to know about the diverse lineup of games coming soon to the Xbox ecosystem, including upcoming releases to Game Pass on Xbox and PC”.
Last year’s conference was a bit of a letdown, but we’re hoping that upcoming big hitters like Starfield, Fable, Redfall and perhaps Perfect Dark, make an appearance – along with a few surprises. Also expect updates on existing games such as Halo Infinite, Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon 5.
Make sure to check out the full list of what we want to see at the Xbox and Bethesda Games showcase.
Xbox Games Showcase Extended
When is it? June 14 at 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST (or June 15 at 3am AEST)
Where can I watch it? YouTube (opens in new tab), Twitch (opens in new tab), Twitter (opens in new tab) and Facebook (opens in new tab)
Microsoft has confirmed that, following the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase on June 12, it will host an extended show on June 14 where it will share new trailers, speak to game creators and deep dive into some of the games featured at the main showcase. This extended showcase will last approximately 90 minutes.
Other conferences
Below, we’ve included details on all the other gaming showcases taking place in the coming weeks and months that don’t necessarily fall under the ‘Summer Game Fest’ banner.
Guerrilla Collective 3
When is it? June 11 at 8am PT / 11am ET / 4pm BST (or June 12 at 1am AEST)
Where can I watch it? Twitch (opens in new tab) and YouTube (opens in new tab)
The Guerrilla Collective returns again this year, promising “fresh announcements”, trailers and gameplay for upcoming indie games. Just some of the confirmed games set to feature at the showcase include Exo One, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, Wanderlost and Wrestlequest.
Make sure to tune into the Guerrilla Collective 3.5 on June 13 at 1pm PT / 4pm ET / 9pm BST (or June 14 at 6am AEST) too, for even more new trailers and gameplay.
Wholesome Direct
When is it? June 11 at 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ET / 5:30pm BST (or June 12 at 2:30am AEST)
Where can I watch it? YouTube (opens in new tab)
As the name suggests, Wholesome Direct is easily the most… well…wholesome showcase of the gaming conference season. The annual showcase focuses on indie games that offer “comfort, compassion, and coziness”. So if you’re looking for some upcoming, uplifting indie gems then this is one showcase you absolutely shouldn’t miss.
Future Games Show
When is it? June 11 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm BST (or June 12 at 5am AEST)
Where can I watch it? Twitch (opens in new tab), Facebook (opens in new tab), YouTube (opens in new tab), Twitter (opens in new tab) and GamesRadar (opens in new tab).
The Future Games Show is also returning this June, with the hour-long showcase from our friends at GamesRadar set to be packed with all-new trailers, announcements and exclusives from the most exciting games of 2022 and beyond.
PC Gaming Show
When is it? June 12 at 12:30pm PT / 3:30pm ET / 8:30pm BST (or June 13 at 5:30am AEST)
Where can I watch it? Twitch (opens in new tab) and YouTube (opens in new tab)
The PC Gaming Show, from our friends at PC Gamer, is returning again this year. This year’s showcase once again promises never-before-seen gameplay footage from upcoming games, game reveals and developer interviews.
When is it? June 13 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm BST (or June 14 at 8am AEST)
Where can I watch it? Twitch (opens in new tab) and YouTube (opens in new tab)
Capcom’s new live streamed digital event takes place on June 13 and promises the latest news and updates on upcoming Capcom games. But don’t expect any new announcements here as Capcom has already said this showcase will focus on details and news on previously announced titles.
We’re expecting to hear more about Street Fighter 6, the Capcom Fighting Collection, Resident Evil 4 remake, Pragmata, Exoprimal and Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak. We imagine we’ll also hear more about Resident Evil Re:Verse and the release of Resi 2, 3 and 7 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
This stream is expected to last just 35 minutes though, so we doubt all these titles will be crammed into that time.
THQ Nordic
When is it? August 12 at 3pm ET / 12pm PT / 8pm BST (or August 13 at 5am AEST)
Where can I watch it? Twitch (opens in new tab) and YouTube (opens in new tab)
THQ Nordic is hosting its second annual digital showcase event in August, which will see the publisher showcasing “several brand new games, expanding the company’s portfolio into new genres with both licensed and original gaming experiences”. The company has said the showcase will be packed with “loads of announcements and first looks” as well as updates on existing games like Outcast 2 and Jagged Alliance 3.
While not confirmed, we’re expecting the showcase to provide an update on BioMutant’s launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S and the upcoming Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed.
QuakeCon 2022
When is it? August 18 – August 20
Where can I watch it? Twitch
QuakeCon will once again be a digital-only event this year, with Bethesda confirming that the event will feature giveaways, online meetups and charity opportunities. We also expect we could get updates and announcements on upcoming Bethesda and id Software games like Starfield and Redfall. Bethesda has confirmed it will reveal more details on QuakeCon 2022 in June and that it plans for QuakeCon 2023 to be an in-person event.
When is it? August 23
Where can I watch it? YouTube (opens in new tab) and Twitch (opens in new tab)
Producer and host Geoff Keighley has confirmed Opening Night Live, Gamescom’s own gaming showcase, is returning again for Gamescom 2022 (with Keighley hosting once again) with this year’s showcase taking place on August 23, the day before the event officially kicks off.
While the exact details of this year’s opening Opening Night Live haven’t been shared, the show will no doubt introduce us to the most significant chunks of gaming news that this year’s Gamescom has to offer. It’d be wise to expect trailers, release date announcements, interviews, and maybe some new game reveals during the evening showcase.
Unconfirmed
Nintendo
While Sony and Microsoft are making appearances at Summer Game Fest, it is currently unconfirmed whether Nintendo will be hosting its Nintendo Direct showcase this June.
Usually, the company holds a Direct as part of E3 but with E3 canceled, and Ninty confirming it won’t be making an appearance at Gamescom 2022 (via VGC (opens in new tab)), it’s unclear whether the House of Mario will be hosting a showcase anytime soon.
But, we live in hope, especially with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and Splatoon 3 due to release this year and Breath of the Wild 2 set to release in 2023. We will update this article as soon as we know more.
No shows
While plenty of publishers and developers will be taking part in showcases and conferences this year, if not holding their own, there are several annual showcases which are confirmed to be cancelled. Here are the showcases you shouldn’t expect this year:
E3 2022
E3 may not sit under the Summer Game Fest umbrella, but it is certainly worth noting that what is usually the biggest event in gaming has been completely (in all forms) canceled this year.
“We previously announced that E3 would not be held in person in 2022 due to the ongoing health risks surrounding COVID-19,” the ESA told TechRadar in April 2022. “Today, we announce that there will also be no digital E3 showcase in 2022.”
However, the organization also told TechRadar, “E3 will return in 2023 with a reinvigorated showcase that celebrates new and exciting video games and industry innovations.”
The ESA added that it will “devote all our energy and resources to delivering a revitalized physical and digital E3 experience next summer.”
EA Play Live
Electronic Arts has confirmed that its annual EA Play Live showcase will not take place this year.
In a statement to IGN (opens in new tab), an EA representative said: “We love EA Play Live as it’s our way of connecting with our players and sharing what’s new with all of you. However, this year things aren’t lining up to show you everything on one date. We have exciting things happening at our world-class studios and this year we’ll reveal much more about these projects when the time is right for each of them.”
Typically EA Play is the home of the publisher’s biggest announcements and reveals of the year, so it’s unclear exactly when or how we’ll find out more about highly-anticipated upcoming releases such as FIFA 23, Dragon Age 4 and the Dead Space Remake.
Ubisoft Forward
Ubisoft has confirmed to Axios (opens in new tab) that it won’t hold its annual Ubisoft Forward showcase in June, but instead will host a showcase “later this year”. Hopefully the conference will be worth the wait and we’ll finally hear more about Assassin’s Creed Infinity, Mario and Rabbids: Sparks of Hope and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
What is Summer Game Fest?
Summer Game Fest is a season of digital events from game publishers and developers. Summer Game Fest isn’t exactly an event – though its annual kickoff show (taking place on June 9 this year) is. Instead, it’s an overarching umbrella encompassing many different publisher live streams.
Summer Game Fest was set up by The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley and made its debut in 2020 – filling in the gap left by the canceled E3 2020. The festival ran from May until August in 2020, bringing together 16 of gaming’s largest publishers, including Microsoft, Sony, Activision, Valve and Bethesda, in a four-month cavalcade of news, trailers and game demos.
Fortunately, Summer Game Fest 2021 was “more condensed” but somehow bigger than ever, running from June through July 2021, and featured a bunch of digital live stream showcases from a range of notable publishers and developers including PlayStation, Xbox, Ubisoft and Bandai Namco.
The ‘core’ of the event will run from June 9 to June 12 with “a number of big streams from developers and publishers,” says Keighley. Sony has already hosted a State of Play event as part of Summer Game Fest, while Xbox and Bethesda, Netflix and more are set to host showcases during this “core period”.
No registration is needed for Summer Game Fest 2022, with every conference available to watch for free online on the streaming platform of your choice.
When is Summer Game Fest 2022?
Summer Game Fest 2022 will officially run through June, however, some gaming showcases (not necessarily under the Summer Game Fest banner) will take place in July and August.
Despite Sony already hosting its State of Play event on June 2, Geoff Keighley’s season of gaming officially kicked off on June 9 with the Summer Game Fest live showcase. You can find more details on this cross-industry showcase above.
Confirmed attendees
A ton of Summer Game Fest 2022’s partners have been confirmed already. Sony and Microsoft will have a presence, but Nintendo is nowhere to be seen.
Last year we saw appearances from over 25 publishers, platforms and partners who either contributed content or hosted an event at Summer Game Fest 2021, including PlayStation (which was noticeably absent from E3 2021), Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Xbox, EA and Epic Games.
So far, Summer Game Fest 2022 is set to feature over 30 partners, with more seemingly to be announced. You’ll see that Nintendo is missing from the line-up, but that’s to be expected.
Here’s the full line-up of confirmed Summer Game Fest 2022 partners so far, as well as the games they’ve been responsible for publishing and/or developing where applicable, to give you a small idea of what to expect at the showcase:
- 2K (The Quarry, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, WWE 2K22)
- Activision Blizzard (Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Overwatch 2)
- Atlus (Persona 5 Royal, Shin Megami Tensei 5, Soul Hackers 2)
- Bandai Namco (Elden Ring, Ace Combat 7, Tekken 7)
- Bloober Team (The Medium)
- Capcom (Monster Hunter Rise, Resident Evil Village, Street Fighter 6)
- Coffee Stain Studios (Goat Simulator, Valheim)
- Deep Silver (Saints Row)
- Devolver Digital (Shadow Warrior 3, Hotline Miami, Loop Hero)
- Digital Extremes (Warframe)
- DotEmu (Streets of Rage 4, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge)
- Electronic Arts (Need for Speed, Apex Legends, FIFA 22)
- Epic Games (Fortnite)
- Focus Entertainment (A Plague Tale: Requiem, Space Marine 2)
- Frost Giant Studios
- Humble Games (Temtem, Unpacking, Project Wingman)
- Level Infinite (V Rising)
- Mediatonic (Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout)
- Mihoyo (Genshin Impact)
- Netflix Games (Stranger Things 3: The Game)
- PlayStation Studios (Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, The Last of Us 2)
- Raw Fury (Townscaper, Backbone)
- Samsung Gaming Hub
- Sega (Sonic Frontiers, Yakuza: Like a Dragon)
- Square Enix (Final Fantasy 14 Online, Final Fantasy 16, Forspoken)
- Skybound Games (The Callisto Protocol)
- Steam
- Studio MDHR (Cuphead)
- Tribeca Festival
- Warner Bros. Games (Mortal Kombat 11, Multiversus)
- Xbox Game Studios (Fable, Forza Motorsport, Halo Infinite)
What happened at Summer Game Fest 2021?
Summer Game Fest 2021 was packed full of juicy announcements, updates and reveals. Some of the biggest announcements from last year include the Elden Ring reveal, the reveal of Death Stranding Director’s Cut for PS5, the announcement of Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. We also got a release window reveal for Breath of the Wild 2.
You can check out our roundup of the other big announcements from last year’s Summer Game Fest, below:
TechRadar Gaming will be covering all the biggest announcements, reveals and updates from Summer Game Fest 2022 live as they happen. Until then, make sure to keep an eye on this page as we’ll be updating it regularly as more details are revealed.
