Summer Game Fest 2024: all the news, trailers, and announcements

After months of teases and speculation, Summer Game Geoff is finally here kicking off a weekend full of presentations and special announcements. Even though the showcase is essentially a hype trailer for the video game industry, filling in the marketing hole E3 left behind, Summer Game Fest got its own hype trailer reminding us of what games to expect.

But even though the SGF hype train has left the station, MC Geoff Keighley has cautioned viewers not to get too excited for surprise reveals. During a Q&A livestream, Keighley said that it’s a quieter year for big releases and announcements compared to last year. He also threw cold water on Kingdom Hearts IV fans who are hoping that the game finally gets some kind of update after its initial announcement two years ago.

The Summer Game Fest keynote presentation begins on June 7th at 5PM ET and will stream on Twitch and YouTube.

• Thank goodness this has a release date.

  One of the more charming upcoming titles under Panic’s growing publishing label, Thank Goodness You’re Here is launching very soon: it’ll be out August 1st on PC, Switch, and PlayStation. There’s also a demo out on Steam so you can check it out, and a new trailer featuring none other than Matt Berry, of What We Do in the Shadows fame.

  
  

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  Sony teases Bloodborne in Astro’s Playroom update hours ahead of Summer Game Fest.

  Astro’s Playroom got a stealth-dropped update today, with new trophies, collectible in-game gatchas, and secret “PS Labo” rooms.

  It also features a riddle-like mystery to rescue special bots — including a Bloodborne one. Forum-goers are donning tinfoil hats ahead of potential announcements at Summer Game Fest, which starts within the hour. Team Asobi already has an upcoming Astro Bot game.

  
  

  

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  A trapped Bloodborne bot is now in the GPU Jungle level.

  Screenshot captured from Solestro16’s Twitch stream

• The Access-Ability Summer Showcase featured the latest in accessible games

  

  Videoverse.

  Image: Kinmoku

  Running concurrently with Summer Game Fest, the Access-Ability Summer Showcase redresses what gaming events leave out. Organized by accessibility consultant and critic Laura Kate Dale, it’s a reaction to events designed to build hype and how disabled gamers too often have to temper excitement with caution over whether revealed games will be accessible. A frustration, Dale told The Verge, driven by “the industry’s unwillingness to be open and transparent about gaming accessibility.” 

  Now in its second year, the showcase continues to push back against a lack of inclusive gaming events as it grows — it includes a dedicated Steam page this year. Already, developers are not only viewing it as an opportunity to show off their games, Dale said, but also as encouragement to implement accessibility earlier in development to be ready for the event. “The idea that a place to proudly promote their accessibility would help push developers to have more features ready at earlier milestones makes me feel like the show is having a tangible impact,” Dale added.

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• How to watch the Summer Game Fest 2024

  It’s that time of year again. Summer Game Fest kicks off this week, and we’re expecting to see new game trailers and other exciting updates during the two-hour-long presentation.

  There might not be as many new game reveals as previous years, as Summer Game Fest host Geoff Keighley says this event is “largely focused on announced stuff.” Even still, the event is bound to have a few surprises. Here’s how and when you can catch the show.

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  The next Dragon Age is now called The Veilguard

  

  Image: EA

  The game formerly known as Dragon Age: Dreadwolf has a new name — BioWare is calling its next RPG The Veilguard. In a blog post, the studio explained that the change was made in order to “capture what this game is all about,” as the previous name “didn’t show just how strongly we feel about our new heroes, their stories and how you’ll need to bring them together to save all of Thedas.”

  The studio didn’t reveal much else about the game but did have this to say:

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  Your guide to this year’s summer video game events

  

  Illustration: Cath Virginia / The Verge

  As the corpse of E3 lies a-mouldrin’ in its grave, its spirit marches on in the form of a bevy of video game showcases and events. There’s a hefty number of them — some notable, some not (but they should be) — and they encompass a wide range of games and genres. Here’s your guide to the whats, wheres, and whens of this year’s summer of games.

  Accessibility has become a major feature of games, with developers often incorporating accessibility features in their marketing materials. The Access-Ability Showcase takes that one step further, curating an entire digital event around games with robust accessibility features. “Our aim is to make sure that if a game looks exciting, you don’t have to worry about getting hyped, only to learn later that a game doesn’t support your needs as a player,” wrote Laura Kate Dale, host of the Access-Ability showcase. The showcase starts on June 7th at 11AM ET on Twitch and YouTube and will feature viewing options for American and British sign language and audio descriptions.
  

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