Summer Showcases
Summer Showcases
E128: A look at the Summer Game Fest and the Xbox Games Showcase.
Good morning gamers! Summer Game Fest hosted by Geoff Keighley showcased nearly two hours worth of video game announcements and reveals. If you didn’t get the chance to tune in, or simply wanted a recap, here ya’ go.
Major Announcements
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 by Insomniac Games is officially releasing on October 20, 2023. New key art featuring Peter Parker, Miles Morales and Venom (who is confirmed not Eddie Brock).
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a brand-new entry in the Prince of Persia series by Ubisoft. It’s an action-platformer with a whole new art style, coming January 18, 2024 for Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth showed a magical new gameplay trailer featuring the entire Final Fantasy gang discussing Sephiroth’s return. The game launches in “early 2024” for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Mortal Kombat 1 came in hot with a brand-new gameplay trailer showcasing the games characters, the new assist mechanic, and various crazy fatalities.
Sonic Superstars is a modern take on the classic Sonic side scrolling games. Filled with 3D art and modern mechanics, the game launches on all platforms Fall 2023.
Other Announcements
Alan Wake 2 showcased some brand-new gameplay featuring its new protagonist, Saga Anderson. The game launches October 17, 2023.
Toxic Commando, a first-person zombie-slaying horror game by John Carpenter arrives in 2024.
Banishers: Ghost of New Eden is a new action RPG by Life is Strange 1 and 2 developer Don’t Nod, and publisher Focus Entertainment.
Street Fighter 6 and Exoprimal are doing a crossover this Fall.
Baldur’s Gate 3 revealed another major antagonist named Lord Enver Gortash.
Lies of P, a soulslike game based on the story of Pinocchio releases on September 19, but a free demo is live now.
Immortals of Aveum got an extended gameplay trailer showcasing some of its magical action.
Xbox Games Showcase
The Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct did not disappoint. The event revealed an exciting line-up of games that Xbox will use to build the foundation for the future of their platforms. 27 games were featured, 21 of which will be available for Xbox Game Pass and/or PC Game Pass.
Starfield Direct featured the Bethesda Game Studios team sharing some exciting new details for the upcoming sci-fi role-playing game (RPG). Starfield is Bethesda Game Studios’ first new universe in over 25 years. The game will allow players to explore over 1,000 planets while completing missions and collecting resources. Players can choose to play in 1st or 3rd person, and gamers will have access to numerous character and spaceship customization options.
Avowed is an upcoming RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. It will take players on a journey through the Living Lands, full of mysteries and secrets. The game will be released in 2024 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows 10/11 and Steam.
Clockwork Revolution is a time-bending steampunk action RPG from inXile Entertainment. Players are able to travel back in time and see the consequences of their choices in a narrative driven world. The game will launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Fable is the new beginning for the iconic franchise from Playground Games. The game takes players to Albion, a fairytale land of adventure that is also the home of heroes.
Forza Motorsport announced their next game will be launching on October 10th for Xbox Series X|S and PC. The game will feature collaborations with General Motors: the stunning 2023 No.01 Cadillac Racing V-Series.R race car and 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is the next chapter in Senua’s story. The developer Ninja Theory will take players on an intimate journey of overcoming the darkness both within and without. The game is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Cloud and PC in 2024.
Microsoft Flight Simulator will be getting a new game in 2024 powered by the improved Asobo Studio engine. The simulator was designed to take advantage of the newest technologies in cloud, machine learning, graphics and simulation.
South of Midnight is a third-person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South. Players will take on the role of Hazel, who will have to confront and subdue dangerous creatures and untangle the web of her family’s past.
Star Wars Outlaws is the first open world Star Wars game by Ubisoft. The game is set between the events of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and it will take players to iconic locations across the galaxy.
Payday 3 is the third instalment in one of the most popular co-op shooter franchises ever. Players will be able to feel the thrills of planning and executing a heist. The game is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Cloud and PC on September 21st.
33 Immortals is a co-op action-roguelike game for 33 players from developer Thunder Lotus Games. The game will allow you to dive into epic 33-player co-op battles with an instant “pick-up and raid” matchmaking system.
Cyberpunk 2077 introduced their official trailer for the upcoming Phantom Liberty expansion scheduled to release on September 26th. The trailer was introduced by Keanu Reeves, who reprised the role of Johnny Silverhand. Idris Elba will be playing the role of a sleeper agent called Solomon Reed.
Xbox Series S now comes in Carbon Black with a 1 TB SSD. The console will be available as of September 1st, and players can already preorder the console worldwide.
Esports Corner
💛 This week's Esports Corner is dedicated to VALORANT pro Karel “Twisten” Ašenbrener who sadly passed away last week. On behalf of the entire Weekly Recon team, we wish his family and friends our deepest condolences.
Activision Blizzard is reportedly forgiving all Overwatch League teams of their “outstanding entry fees”. Toronto Defiant parent company OverActive Media is the first team to announce the deal publicly. It is estimated that the Call of Duty League and the Overwatch League were still owed about $400 million in unpaid franchise fees.
Riot Games and the LCS Players Association (LCSPA) have reached a mutual agreement regarding the long-term sustainability and success of the North American Challengers League. As a result, the 2023 LCS Summer Split will officially begin on June 14 and they have added a third weekly match day.
🥇Congratulations to HEROIC for winning the BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2023.
If you enjoyed this week’s edition of the Weekly Recon, please send it to some friends and share it on social media. We strive to be your best source of gaming news.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube for more gaming news. To contact us directly email us at gaming@weeklyrecon.com.