June was a whirlwind of excitement for video game enthusiasts, as major players like Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, Ubisoft, and Summer Game Fest all held dedicated showcases. With new game reveals, updates on anticipated titles, and release date announcements, these presentations provided a glimpse into the future of gaming.
We’ve meticulously analyzed each showcase, examining factors like the number of new game reveals, the cohesiveness and engagement of the game lineup, and the overall confidence instilled for the future.
PlayStation State of Play
Sony’s State of Play, held in late May, wasn’t a full-blown PlayStation Showcase, but it still offered glimpses into anticipated titles. The showcase kicked off with a first look at Concord, a sci-fi multiplayer shooter, which unfortunately underwhelmed with its derivative tone and gameplay. While there were high-profile peeks at Monster Hunter Wilds, the Silent Hill 2 remake, and Dynasty Warriors Origins, the most captivating announcement came at the very end: Astro Bot, a 3D platformer starring the charming robot mascot.
Despite these highlights, the State of Play fell short in terms of excitement and left viewers questioning its necessity. Summer Game Fest ultimately overshadowed Sony’s presentation, showcasing a Sony game not present in the State of Play and offering a superior trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds.
Summer Game Fest
This year’s Summer Game Fest kickoff showcase took a noticeable turn towards indie games, which was a positive development. New reveals like CuffBust, Tears of Metal, Cairn, and Killer Bean provided the heart of the event, interspersed with larger titles such as Lego Horizon Adventures and Sid Meier’s Civilization VII. However, the show’s pacing suffered, feeling excessively long and ultimately fizzling out towards the end. Even an impressive new Phantom Blade Zero trailer couldn’t salvage the show after lengthy, tedious segments dedicated to Valorant and Squad Busters. While Summer Game Fest is worth a look for video game fans, viewers can safely skim through it for the most appealing titles.
Xbox Games Showcase
Microsoft delivered a packed Xbox Games Showcase, bookended by Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Activision and Bethesda were heavily featured, highlighting expansions for games like World of Warcraft, Diablo IV, and Fallout 76 while teasing upcoming projects like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Doom: The Dark Ages. On the Xbox Game Studios front, South of Midnight and Fable impressed with their showings and secured 2025 release windows, while Gears of War: E-Day and Perfect Dark stunned with their first looks. Even beyond Microsoft’s owned studios, games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and Life is Strange: Double Exposure had memorable reveals.
Despite the showcase’s strengths, the lack of release dates for Avowed and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, coupled with Xbox leadership’s silence on layoffs and studio shutdowns, cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future of Xbox. However, there’s no denying that this was a compelling showcase.
Ubisoft Forward
Ubisoft’s showcase was a disappointing affair. While Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin’s Creed Shadows held promise, their segments felt like mere overview videos that could have been posted on Ubisoft’s YouTube channel. Beyond these two titles, the presentation lacked compelling content. Ubisoft primarily showcased updates for games like XDefiant, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and The Rogue Prince of Persia. Newly revealed games like Anno 117: Pax Romana and the reworked remake for Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time offered little substance in their trailers. The latter, now slated for a 2026 release, felt like an afterthought.
Ubisoft seemingly felt obligated to hold a showcase due to the launch of two AAA games in the fall, failing to realize that showcasing two games, even if promising, doesn’t make for a great presentation. Deeper dives into new reveals and perhaps some surprises were needed for Ubisoft Forward to even approach a passing grade.
Nintendo Direct
Heading into the Nintendo Direct, skepticism lingered regarding the potential for new reveals beyond remakes. While we did see remakes for Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Romancing SaGa 2, and the first three Dragon Quest games, there were also surprises in the form of brand-new games: Mario & Luigi: Brothership, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and Super Mario Party Jamboree. Most significantly, we finally got a look at Metroid Prime 4 gameplay, a title in development since at least 2017. Its visuals were stunning, even with a 2025 release date.
The Nintendo Direct maintained a consistent pace and was brimming with compelling first-party announcements, as well as solid third-party games like Mio: Memories in Orbit, Fantasian Neo Dimension, Farmagia, Metal Slug Attack Reloaded, and Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics.
The Winner: Nintendo Direct
While this wasn’t the strongest year for video game showcases, both Nintendo and Xbox delivered solid presentations. Ultimately, the edge goes to Nintendo, mainly due to its firm release dates for many of its first-party titles. Nintendo has consistently proven itself a master of video game showcases, rarely faltering in pacing, balancing big and small games, and almost always delivering surprising announcements for imminent first-party titles.
Nintendo operates on a different wavelength than the rest of the video game industry, which was evident in this year’s Direct. Despite the general perception of 2024 as a down year for gaming, the Nintendo Direct effectively dispelled this notion, allowing viewers to simply enjoy the games on display. If you only have time to watch one showcase this year, make it the Nintendo Direct.
