Recap: Everything that happened at Summer Game Fest 2022

I think we need E3

Well, it’s here! The initial “big push” Summer Game Fest stream just ended. Here’s a big old Summer Game Fest 2022 recap: emphasis on old.

Vibe check? I was heavily reminded of the low-key artifice of the PC Gaming Show throughout, where it was hard to tell what was actually a reveal and what had been shown weeks or months ago. There were lots of ads and a few “exclusives/world firsts” that were basically modified existing trailers. The Rock stopped by through a Zoom call to plug his energy drink (twice) and showed off a trailer for his new movie, Black Adam. The “one more thing” final announcement was a The Last of Us remake, which wouldn’t have hit that hard for a lot of people (myself included) even if it wasn’t leaked.

The lower energy aura has been the prevailing wind in the air since E3 left the main stage in 2020. Instead of a unified weekend/slice of time where everyone can hone in, take off work, and get excited together: we’re once again repeating the formula of spreading out split-up showcases. Despite the call to have less of those, there’s actually a healthy amount on track for next week, not to mention the rest of the summer. I wouldn’t have as much of a problem with a never-ending cavalcade of these things if they all delivered (even on an unintentionally comical, “laser/tag Mr. Caffeine” level): not all of them do.

At the end of the stream Geoff noted that Summer Game Fest will return as an “in-person and digital event” in 2023. Hey, what a coincidence: the ESA just said E3 is allegedly doing the same! 2023 is going to be wild y’all.

Everything that happened at Summer Game Fest 2022:

• Summer Game Fest kickoff confirms Guile in Street Fighter 6
• Aliens: Dark Descent is coming in 2023
• The Callisto Protocol shows off its gory nightmare gameplay
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II takes to the sea in new campaign footage
• Thirty years later, Flashback is making a return to PC with a sequel
• Summer Game Fest confirms Witchfire early access is exclusive to Epic Games Store
• New sci-fi thriller Fort Solis stars Roger Clark and Troy Baker
• Routine is a creepy-looking android adventure headed to PC and Xbox
• Stormgate is a new F2P RTS from former Blizzard developers
• Highwater is an upcoming adventure indie that contemplates the end of the world
• American Arcadia has an interesting dystopian TV setup
• A new look at Marvel’s Midnight Suns includes Venom, Hulk, and more
• Goat Simulator 3 is going all in on co-op chaos
• Midnight Fight Express brings fast-paced isometric action this August
• Neon White speedruns through paradise on June 16
• Warframe is finally ready to show the Duviri Paradox expansion soon
• More funky fast action revealed from Zenless Zone Zero
• Super powered battle royale Super People is in final beta
• TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge hits June 16, with Casey Jones in the lineup
• Honkai: Star Rail got a flashy Summer Game Fest trailer
• Nightgale blends survival and card-crafting in a fantasy gaslit world
• Warhammer 40,000: Darktide gets a new gameplay trailer
• Saints Row Boss Factory lets you craft your own Boss starting today
• Humankind is coming to consoles/Game Pass, new DLC out today
• Gotham Knights looks to the shadows for the aerial avenger, Nightwing
• Layers of Fears captures the whole series in one new game