Summer Game Fest is on the horizon with big questions surrounding what to expect regarding the E3 replacement for 2022. With several companies opting to participate this year, the showcase seems to be the place to be for gaming news for the year sans Gamescom, Tokyo Game Show, and The Game Awards. With that in mind, there's fair reason to speculate this showing will stand tall above the fledgling showcases' initial offerings this year.
Geoff Keighley kicked off Summer Game Fest back in 2020, shrugging off the pomp and circumstance of the E3 publisher showcase in favor of a remote option. This digital event gives companies the chance to spotlight individual titles and focus less on the schmoozing and courting of developers and press outlets. However, the event itself didn't feel like a genuine replacement for E3 despite 2021's paltry digital showing. As E3 2022 has been canceled, many have rushed over to Keighley to get the word out for more visibility in an arena with a growing viewer base. The knowledge that many publishers have decided against holding their conferences this year means the showcase is projected to grab even more attention in 2022.
According to Keighley (in a Twitter spaces conversation reported by PlayStation State of Play on June 2, with the Xbox and Bethesda showcase three days after Summer Game Fest on June 12. It's safe to expect several announcements in these conferences to overlap depending on agreements made with first and third-party studios. Still, the major Sony and Xbox titles will likely stay mostly on their independent showings. However, what is likely is some updates on hotly anticipated titles. A few companies have significant titles expected to be revealed due to the flurry of rumors and leaks over the last two years.
Capcom Is One To Watch At Summer Game Fest 2022
Though Capcom will be skipping an individual press conference, all signs point to the inevitability that the Japanese publishing giant will be prepped and primed to tackle this year with some big announcements. The rumor mill has been churning for the last half-year, surrounding notable titles like the much-anticipated Resident Evil 4 Remake and the previously announced Resident Evil: Village DLC that has yet to be detailed. In addition, Capcom has the Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak expansion for PC and Nintendo Switch on the horizon, so the release catalog is a little slim; slimmer still is future titles on the docket. For 2022, Capcom's entire slate consists of Capcom Fighting Collection, Sunbreak, and a new Arcade Stadium entry, with Pragmata and Exoprimal due next year.
It's more likely that the Resident Evil reveals will occur during the PlayStation State of Play event if recent rumors are trusted, leaving the Summer Game Fest in charge of more details on these titles and updates on Exoprimal and Pragmata. As Mega Man gets a 35th anniversary game alongside the other series' mainstays. It's also very likely that this will be when Street Fighter 6 finally gets a full reveal. Many believe the title is slated for later this year now that Street Fighter 5 has finally concluded development.
Square Enix Will Likely Be Participating In Summer Game Fest
Whatever the capacity, Square Enix will most likely have a presence at the Summer Game Fest this year. Square is prepping for a launch for a cult classic revival of Live A Live for the Nintendo Switch, a title that was initially released on the SNES and never made it westward. Though this game will likely get some exposure during one of the events, what's even more likely to see during this time frame is more information surrounding Final Fantasy's anniversaries. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Final Fantasy franchise and, even more interesting, the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy 7. New information regarding the beloved series is set for reveal in early June, aligning with the season of reveals. However, as PlayStation's event is only 30 minutes long and will be dedicating a portion of it to the PSVR 2, it's more likely that a reveal of this title will be shifted over to Summer Game Fest.
As for the strongest candidates for the reveal, Forspoken and Final Fantasy 16 will likely make subsequent appearances during Keighley's event. Final Fantasy 16, in particular, is a game many have been waiting for any update on, and the producer of Final Fantasy 16 has promised a trailer soon, and that the title is near completion. Though it may seem more prudent to put a more significant focus on Forspoken, these fan bases don't entirely cross over, and hype for the new IP and the classic franchise won't cannibalize on one another. It's also safe to assume that another remaster will pop up for yet another classic Square RPG franchise, possibly one such as a SaGa series title. A more hopeful dream would be the recent Final Fantasy pixel remasters released on modern consoles.
Though Square Enix and Capcom will be the big ones to watch this year due to the highest-profile announcements anticipated by them, Western developers are no slouches either. Though Xbox and Bethesda will undoubtedly show most Western titles at their conference, some titles like the indie cyberpunk title Replaced may finally re-emerge at Summer Game Fest. Games like Starfield are less likely to emerge due to the recent delay, but it's safe to expect an avalanche of independent reveals from developers worldwide. With most game companies keeping silent over the last couple of years, all eyes are squarely focused on Keighley's attempt at supplanting E3. While it's typically better to say for players to manage expectations, this year may be the year to keep an eye on what's coming in the future and to expect some great things from Summer Game Fest 2022.
Sources: Video Games Chronicle, Capcom
