We are only a few days away from that Summer Game Fest — an event that now seeks to fill the rather large hole that E3 left behind. Geoff Keighley’s Big Summer Party may not have the grandeur of those legendary stages, but it’s still prominent enough to attract announcements and news from publishers around the world.
We took this opportunity to gather the usual suspects from the editorial team and ask for their predictions for Summer Game Fest — but there’s a little twist to this particular talking point. Each of our writers has been asked to provide an educated prediction and predicting ‘dreams’ — the latter being something that seems unlikely to happen, but would make them incredibly happy if it did.
After you finish reading our madness, be sure to open the poll and comment section at the bottom of this article.
Aaron Bayne, video producer
Prediction: After casting a shadow over The Finals last December, I think we have a good chance of seeing Arc Raiders from Embark Studios again, with a potential launch date. This free-to-play third-person (and breathing) PvPvE shooter was originally slated to launch ago Final in 2022, before numerous postponements. Originally announced at The Game Awards 2021, it would be a moment to see a launch announcement at another Keighley show.
Dream: It’s been three years since Project 007 was announced and I can’t wait to hear something new about it. I was fully on the IO Interactive bandwagon after the brilliant Hitman 3, and a 007 game seems like a perfect fit for the studio. I doubt they’d see anything if it was just a cinematic, but I’d sacrifice Geoff himself for a modicum of gameplay and a 2024 release window.
Khayl Adam, staff writer
Prediction: BioShock 4 has been revealed again and will be released in late 2024. That might sound harsh, but 2K confirmed the game in a Tweet in 2019, along with founding developer Cloud Chamber. At the time, the publisher said the title would be in development for “the next few years,” and I think that time is fast approaching. Judah is coming out in March 2025, and I think that’s enough room for both of them to breathe. or we will see it only at the end of 2025.
Dream: I must have 2K on the brain, but my big dream is that the new game from one of its “biggest and most beloved franchises” isn’t, in fact, the fourth game in the BioShock or Borderlands franchises, but instead is XCOM 3. Firaxis’ groundbreaking take on the series was hugely influential in terms of game design, and while it never came close to GTA’s numbers, 2K was pleasantly surprised by the response to the 2016 title. Designer Jake Solomon has since left to start his own outfit, but there’s still plenty of talent at the studio and it’s about time for another major game.
Liam Croft, Assistant Editor
Prediction: At least three Xbox exclusive games will be announced for PS5 this week. I believe one of them will be the rumored new DOOM game that was confirmed as a cross-platform release during the Xbox Games Showcase. The other two will be revealed during Microsoft’s annual business update, which takes place just before the trade show — usually the day before. It makes too much sense for Microsoft not to bundle the upcoming Starfield expansion with the PS5 version, so I think the latest Bethesda RPG will be one of them. I’m not so sure about the third, but based on the fact that Microsoft used Sea of Thieves as a “key test” for their multiplatform efforts, I think they’ll want to build on that further with a co-op/multiplayer port. Halo: The Master Chief Collection on PS5, PS4 would really make a splash.
Dream: I don’t like to put my hopes in shop windows anymore; I usually enter procedures with a blank slate. Capcom teased that they would have more announcements during the SGF live show, so I’d love to see any of the recent Resident Evil rumors come true. Resident Evil 9 seems highly improbable as Sony seems to have those reveals locked down, but I guess that’s exactly why this is my dream prediction! The speculated remakes of Resident Evil Zero and Code Veronica seem a bit more realistic, so I’ll throw those two out as well.
Robert Ramsey, Associate Editor
Prediction: I like to think that Capcom will hit us with some sort of Dragon’s Dogme 2 news. It’s an open world RPG probably my favorite game of 2024 so far, and I’d be thrilled with a DLC announcement — or even just an update plan. The game was featured in the Summer Game Fest promotional trailer, and Geoff has publicly said that the showcase will mainly focus on existing titles. Put those two things together and this seems like a solid prediction, but I’ll go a step further and say that the expansion will be scheduled for early 2025.
Dream: I can’t foresee this happening since the franchise is focused on Japan and the timing doesn’t suit the Japanese audience, but my dream Summer Game Fest discovery is Dragon Quest 12. The game was announced years ago and I haven’t seen anything but the logo. To be honest, I just want to know what this thing looks like, what the tone is, and if we can expect it to be released before 2030.
Sammy Barker, editor
Prediction: Something is apparently brewing with LEGO Horizon, but it’s unclear at the moment whether it’s a physical set of the famous Danish bricks or a blocky adaptation of Aloy’s world for a video game. While it may seem strange that Sony avoided this announcement during its own State of Play last week, the manufacturer is moving in mysterious ways, and that is constantly was willing to give Geoff Keighley time. Don’t be shocked if this happens during Summer Game Fest, whatever it turns out to be.
Dream: A dream announcement? Wow, there are so many possibilities: a new Sly Cooper, maybe? Monkey escape? How about the excellent Gravity Rush series making a comeback? As for me, I’d like to see more from Project Mugen, the outrageously ambitious open-world gacha from Chinese developer Naked Rain. I’ve interviewed one of the creative directors and watched the trailer a billion times, but to be honest, I’m still not 100 percent convinced that this game actually exists. Prove me wrong, NetEase!
Stephen Tailby, Associate Editor
Prediction: I think we’ll see Astro Bot take the victory lap. I have a feeling that Sony will give Geoff an extra trailer for the upcoming PS5 platform, perhaps showing off a new gameplay trick or two, or perhaps increasing a few of those PlayStation cameos that were teased in the game’s debut. Pre-orders are set to begin on June 7th, which happens to be the day of the Summer Game Fest live performance; it occurs to me that Sony will want to remind viewers of Astro Bot and tell them that they can now pre-order it. That may be a pretty safe prediction, but I certainly won’t be complaining if we see that jolly little man again.
Dream: Of course, that won’t happen, but the announcement that would make me the most happy is the return of Burnout. Not only that, this new Burnout is amazing. It’s structured like the PS2 entry, plays just like Burnout 3: Takedown, and the visuals are absolutely stunning. Crash mode, online multiplayer, DJ Atomika, butt rock soundtrack. It’s a brand new game with all original tracks and stages, but you can also unlock classic tracks and stages. It’s just the current generation and outrageously fast. The mood is lively, fun and unabashedly arcadey. There is a cinematic intro that I never skip and no story. I can’t tell you how much I want this.
Now that you’ve read our predictions, it’s your turn. Vote for your favorites in our poll, then give us your totally (un)realistic hopes and dreams in the comments section below.