I watched this summer’s big gaming showcases. This one was the best
It’s been a busy June for gamers. Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, Ubisoft, and Summer Game Fest all held dedicated video game showcases over the past month. It’s the most exciting time of year for the video game industry as we get updates on highly anticipated games, get stoked for newly revealed games, and learn more about when some games we are looking forward to will launch. For work and for pleasure, I have watched all five of these major video game showcases and have a lot of feelings on each.
Just like I did in 2023, I’ve decided to give the major players a report card on their shows. Lots of factors went into my very serious and scientific rubric. That includes the amount of new game reveals we saw, how cohesive and engaging each show’s game lineup felt, and how confident the showcase left me for the future. There’s also a clear winner for me, but let’s walk through each show one by one first.
PlayStation State of Play
Rating: D
Related- After the Xbox Games Showcase, play these Game Pass greats this weekend (June 14-16)
- The best games we played at Summer Game Fest 2024
- Avowed’s release date remains under wraps after the Xbox Games Showcase
Sony was the first to hold a video game showcase this year, airing a State of Play in late May. It wasn’t a full-blown PlayStation Showcase, and for good reason. The State of Play kicked off with a first look at Concord, a sci-fi multiplayer shooter that underwhelmed with its derivative tone and shooting. That dud of an opening lowered the entertainment value of the showcase, even with some high-profile peeks at Monster Hunter Wilds, Silent Hill 2‘s remake, and Dynasty Warriors Origins.
By far, the best announcement of the show was the one that closed it out: Astro Bot, a 3D platformer starring the robot that’s quickly becoming an iconic PlayStation mascot. Still, those few highlights weren’t enough to make this State of Play that exciting, which made me question how necessary it was for PlayStation to hold it. It also got
