This summer, we’re living in a brave new world. E3 is officially dead — for real this time. That means there’s a vacuum to be filled as publishers still look to showcase their games during high-profile events. There’s both good news and bad news for anyone who looks forward to E3 season. The good news? Summer Game Fest is filling that gap, alongside several streams that’ll orbit around it. The bad news? Keeping track of it all is a huge pain.
Related Summer Game Fest: June 7 If you only watch one games showcase this summer, make sure it’s Summer Game Fest’s kickoff stream. This is essentially the big replacement for E3, as it’ll feature new reveals and announcements on some major games coming this year and beyond. And if you want more, stay tuned to Digital Trends the weekend after it airs. We’ll be on the ground for Summer Game Fest’s press event and getting hands-on with games and interviewing the people behind them.
Xbox Games Showcase + Secret Game Direct: June 9 Following a controversial decision to shutter several Bethesda studios early this month, Xbox will have to work to win players’ goodwill back this summer. It’ll take a small step toward that with its annual Xbox Games Showcase, which will need to assure players that exciting titles are on the horizon. We can expect to see new details on games like Avowed here, but the most interesting detail is what’s happening directly after the show.