Even though the Electronic Entertainment Expo was canceled this year, that didn’t stop the big game publishers from putting on their own summer gaming showcases to present new games and announcements. All things considered, the 2022 summer gaming showcases were packed with news despite the delays that have plagued the industry for several years. Today, we’re taking a look at some of the biggest game announcements and news as we list off some of our favorite games that were shown off these past few weeks!
Although PlayStation and Microsoft offered exciting presentations, Nintendo was notably absent, as were several other big publishers like Ubisoft and EA. For that reason, most of this news is about console and PC games, but Switch fans shouldn’t worry, as we’re sure a new Nintendo direct will pop up in a few months. With that said, let’s reflect on this season of summer gaming showcases as we check out some awesome games!
The Best Games From the 2022 Summer Gaming Showcases
Sony
1. Resident Evil 4 Remake
Originally released in 2005 and instantly hailed as one of the best games of all time, Resident Evil 4 redefined the survival horror genre while making significant leaps with its new “over the shoulder” third-person perspective. Now, this iconic entry in Capcom’s Resident Evil franchise is getting a flashy next-generation remake, similar in style to the recent remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3. Truthfully, RE4 is a game that doesn’t really need a remake, but we’re excited all the same. We can’t wait to fight cultists and rescue the President’s daughter when Resident Evil 4 Remake releases sometime in 2023 on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
2. The Last of Us Part 1 Remake
Speaking of high-profile games receiving remakes, The Last of Us has long been considered the crown jewel of PlayStation exclusives, with both gamers and critics praising this dark post-apocalyptic adventure. In an effort to bring the game to the PlayStation 5 and reinvigorate interest as the new HBO television adaptation nears release, Sony announced that the game would receive a remake, featuring new gameplay balancing and graphics. More so than Resident Evil 4, The Last of Us is a game that really doesn’t need a remake, but we’re glad that more players will be able to enjoy this fantastic experience.
3. The Callisto Protocol
Back in 2008, a little sci-fi horror game called Dead Space hit store shelves, and immediately wowed everyone who played it. While the sequel was successful, the third game entirely tanked the series and left fans frustrated. Luckily, Dead Space creator Glen Schofield has been hard at work on a new sci-fi horror game titled The Callisto Protocol, which, for all intents and purposes, is a new Dead Space in everything but name. Complete with grotesque monsters, dismemberment, and an eerie space setting, The Callisto Protocol looks to succeed where the Dead Space franchise failed. The game is slated for release on December 2, 2022, and will be available on all major platforms (except Nintendo Switch).
4. Final Fantasy XVI
There are few gaming franchises as impactful as Final Fantasy, so whenever a new entry in the series is announced, fans go absolutely buck wild with anticipatory speculation. Thanks to the new trailer, which shows off an excess of gameplay footage, fans now have a substantial amount of content to analyze. Similar in style to Final Fantasy XV, this new entry bucks the series’ turn-based combat and instead offers stylized real-time action. We’re super excited to see how the game turns out when it releases sometime in 2023 for the PlayStation 5.
5. PlayStation VR2 News
For a long time, the PlayStation VR was one of the most approachable and inexpensive ways to experience the magical world of virtual reality, but it’s overdue for an update. The PlayStation VR2 has been in development for a while, and during the Sony 2022 State of Play presentation, we finally got to see what kind of games we can expect when the device releases sometime in 2023. Major titles like Resident Evil VII, No Man’s Sky, and Horizon: Forbidden West are all receiving partial or full VR support, while sequels like The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners Chapter 2 offer full-scale adventures within virtual reality. When it comes to the PSVR2, these announcements are just the tip of the iceberg, but it looks like Sony’s proprietary virtual reality device will perform just as well as its predecessor.
Microsoft
1. High on Life
Justin Roiland has had a great track record in creating effective comedy, whether it be the mega-popular cartoon Rick ‘n Morty or one of the many zany video games released in the past few years. Now, this oddball creator is back with a new comedic sci-fi first-person shooter titled High on Life, which looks just as odd as you might expect. The colorful and hilarious shooter is slated for release on PC and all Xbox family consoles on October 25, 2022.
2. Forza Motorsport
Competing against PlayStation’s Gran Turismo franchise, Forza Motorsport has offered realistic, simulation-style racing on the Xbox for decades. Now, developer Turn 10 Studios is looking to reboot the franchise with its eighth installment, simply dubbed Forza Motorsport. Like previous entries in the racing series, this reboot will offer incredibly detailed graphics, fan-favorite tracks, and an immense amount of tuning and customization. Racing fiends can look forward to its release exclusively on Xbox Series X/S (as well as PC) when it comes out in Spring of 2023.
3. Minecraft Legends
For a long time, Minecraft has remained one of the most popular games of all time, and for good reason. This block-building franchise has captured the creativity of fans new and old, becoming a mammoth in the realm of PC and console gaming. Developer Mojang Studios recently announced a brand new game in the Minecraft series called Minecraft Legends, which looks to adopt action-strategy elements instead of slow-paced exploration. Players will be able to wrangle soldiers to use in their army as they capture bases and complete quests, all in signature block-like glory. Luckily, the game will be released on every major platform, including the Nintendo Switch, when it comes out sometime in 2023.
4. Diablo IV
Diablo IV is on our short list of games we can’t wait to play, so we were incredibly excited when developer Blizzard offered a brand new trailer at the Xbox and Bethesda Summer Gaming Showcase. Like previous entries in this popular dungeon-crawling series, Diablo IV offers hundreds of hours of monster-slaying, including more ways for you and your friends to link up and battle together. Honestly, it looks like Diablo III, but with way more content and better graphics, but that’s perfectly fine with us. Like many of the other games on this list, you can expect to play Diablo IV in 2023 when it launches on all major platforms (except Nintendo Switch).
5. Starfield
Seeing as how they’re responsible for epic games like Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, it’s easy to say that everyone was looking forward to Bethesda’s latest first-person RPG, Starfield. While the game’s specifics have been kept under wraps for a while, the latest trailer offered over 10 minutes of explanatory footage, showcasing the game’s combat, base-building mechanics, and over 1,000 planets ripe for exploration. Set at the dawn of humanity’s trek into space, Starfield promises to let you embark on your ideal journey through the stars, guaranteed to tie you to your gaming chair and suck up your time with excellent gameplay and storytelling. Starfield is easily one of our most anticipated upcoming games, and we can’t wait to get our hands on it when it launches exclusively on Xbox and PC in 2023.
 By: Matt
| Matt started gaming at two years old with Wolfenstein 3D on the PC. His early days of gaming were spent on classic NES and DOS titles, growing his love for both retro action and point ‘n click adventure games. Matt is the creator of Super Gamesite 64 and he especially enjoys doling out the end-of-year awards. When he’s not playing the latest release for review, you can find Matt gobbling up movies and TV shows. Matt has a love for every aspect of gaming, and will surely be tapping away for as long as possible. |
