As early June rolls around, the excitement in the gaming community peaks with a plethora of video game events. This year, Summer Game Fest 2025, spearheaded by Geoff Keighley, has emerged as the premier gaming event, surpassing its predecessor, E3. This year, the fest includes a diverse array of events, showcasing games from both AAA developers and independent studios. Running from June 3-9, with a total of 15 unique events, the Summer Game Fest schedule is packed with thrilling announcements and reveals.
Our dedicated coverage team is stationed in Los Angeles, while a larger group of writers is monitoring the livestreams remotely. Expect an influx of game previews, interviews, and reactions in the coming days, with the in-person activities spanning from Saturday to Monday. We will be collating the most significant announcements and providing links for more detailed coverage as the event unfolds.
The festivities kicked off with the State of Unreal event, which coincided with Epic Games' annual Unreal Fest. The conference, held in Orlando, Florida, featured over a hundred developer sessions dedicated to the Unreal Engine. The standout moment was the unveiling of a tech demo for The Witcher IV, which showcased real-time gameplay on a base PS5 using Unreal Engine 5.6.
The demo highlighted impressive features, including Nanite Foliage, which eliminates the graphical pop-in often seen in other games. The bustling town environment, filled with hundreds of NPCs, brought a new level of immersion that surpassed previous entries in the series. Meanwhile, Fortnite's update introduced AI NPCs, allowing creators to integrate their custom characters into the game later this year.
Sony seized the opportunity to present its third State of Play of the year, featuring over 20 games and even a surprise hardware announcement. The highlight was the reveal of Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, a new tag fighter developed by Arc System Works, combining Marvel superheroes with anime-style visuals. Set to release in 2026, this game promises to be a thrilling addition to the PlayStation lineup.
The showcase also provided release dates for several highly anticipated titles, including Sword of the Sea (August 19), Baby Steps (September 8), and Silent Hill f (September 25). Additionally, a remastered version of Final Fantasy Tactics was confirmed for September 30, alongside new games like Nioh 3 and Lumines Arise, expected in 2026.
June 5 was a quiet day in the Summer Game Fest calendar, with no scheduled events. It was humorously suggested that the break was to honor Arbor Day in New Zealand, though many speculate that everyone was busy playing the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2.
Summer Game Fest Live made a notable return, showcasing significant announcements and fewer ads for mobile games. The highlight was the reveal of Resident Evil Requiem, the next installment in the Resident Evil series, which promises a tonal shift from its predecessor, Resident Evil Village. Other exciting announcements included Stranger Than Heaven, a new title from Sega's Ryu Ga Gotoku studio, and various sequels to popular mid-sized games.
Additional games showcased included Mouse: P.I. for Hire, Killer Inn, and a co-op puzzle game called Lego Voyagers. The Day of the Devs stream followed, featuring indie titles like Escape Academy 2 and Relooted, which explores themes of colonialism through a unique gameplay experience.
Saturday brought the Wholesome Direct, which celebrated charming and peaceful games, including the announcement of Monument Valley 3 and a release date for Discounty. The showcase also featured quirky titles like Omelet You Cook and Camper Van: Make it Home, perfect for fans of cozy gaming experiences. Additionally, various niche streams highlighted diversity in gaming, including the Women-led Games show and the Latin American Games Showcase.
Sunday's Xbox showcase revealed exciting news, particularly for handheld gaming enthusiasts. The new ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X are set to launch this holiday season, offering a unique handheld experience tailored for Xbox gamers. The event also featured Outer Worlds 2, with a confirmed release date of October 29, and the announcement of Black Ops 7, further expanding the Call of Duty franchise.
Additional highlights included the revival of Persona 4 for multiple platforms and the unveiling of various indie titles set to arrive in the coming years.
The final event of the Summer Game Fest 2025 is the Black Voices in Gaming showcase, scheduled for noon ET. This event aims to elevate diverse voices within the gaming community and is an excellent way to wrap up a week filled with exciting announcements and reveals.
Stay tuned as we continue to provide updates and in-depth coverage of all the thrilling developments from Summer Game Fest 2025!
