I Regret Not Staying Up For This One
Just when I thought Summer Game Fest would be one of the quieter showcases of E3, Geoff Keighley has rightly slapped me across the face. Kicking off E3 2021 in style, the Summer Game Fest went off with a bang, dropping some HUGE announcements, including teasers for beloved franchises, release dates and an incredible trailer for one of the most highly anticipated games in recent memory, From Software’s Elden Ring.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
Early 2022
A spin-off from the highly successful Borderlands series, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands will see the titular Tiny Tina take on all sorts of mythical creatures on her high-fantasy adventure, a continuation of Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep expansions released for Borderlands 2. The game looks to have some serious acting talent behind it, too, with Andy Samberg and Wanda Sykes involved in production.
Metal Slug Tactics
Marco, Eri, Fio, and Tarma are back in this turn-based reimagining of the classic Metal Slug series. Despite its new isometric viewpoint, the game still looks to keep a lot of the pixel art charm of the original, with gorgeously crafted cut scenes interspersed throughout.
Death Stranding Director’s Cut
Oh, Hideo. If the Death Stranding I played on PlayStation 4 is anything to go by, a director’s cut version of the game, including ideas that were too much for the initial release, is going to be fucking bonkers. The trailer doesn’t give away too much about what exactly is being added to the game, but it does feature some not so subtle reminders of the Metal Gear Solid series and…look, that hurt my soul. While we have no release date at this time, a full reveal is just ‘weeks away’.
Jurassic World Evolution 2
Late 2021
A sequel to Frontier’s beloved dino-park builder, Jurassic World Evolution 2 will be adding the one thing I wanted most during all my hours playing the original – deepwater dinos!!! If they include all the best sea beasts like the plesiosaur, ichthyosaur and the big daddy megalodon, I will buy this game ten times over.
Lost Ark
Although this fantasy MMO has been available for some time in Korea and Japan, 2021 will be the first time the series has crossed over to America, Europe and Australia. If big monsters, big knights, big space mantas and some sort of bizarre clown-ghoul sound like a good time to you, keep an eye out for the beta dropping later this year.
Call of Duty Warzone Season 4
June 17th,2021
The battle-royale juggernaut keeps rolling on, with season 4 bringing out-right madness to Verdansk. The new season will introduce falling satellites, giant fire monsters, new and returning maps, dirt bikes, a new operator and more zombies than you can shake a Kar98k at.
Among Us
2021
The indie-darling keeps going from strength to strength with new maps, game modes, roles, cosmetics, colours and achievements all coming soon. Innersloth has been very busy!
Salt and Sacrifice
2022
Announced by Shuhei Yoshida, head of PlayStation indies, Salt and Sacrifice is the sequel to 2016’s critically acclaimed metroidvania/soulslike, Salt and Sanctuary. This time, you’ll have the opportunity to be utterly eviscerated by enemies alongside a pal with online multiplayer being rolled into the sequel. This original kicked my ass, and I am sure the sequel will too.
Solar Ash
2021
Every time I see this game, I am happy. That being said, I feel like I have seen half a dozen trailers for it now. I just want it in my hands! The new trailer gives some real Shadow of the Colossus vibes with massive creatures hunting down the titular Ash while she glides around the environments like a laser-infused painting come to life. I am so in love with this game already.
Valorant
Riot is certainly holding its cards close to its chest regarding the new agent entering into Valorant, with nothing more than a cool cybernetic Daft Punk-esque helmet being shown. Maybe we will get to play as a cool French DJ soon? Either way, can they please make it easier for controller plebs like myself to play Valorant?
Escape from Tarkov
Tarkov heads to the streets with the new urban and claustrophobic Streets of Tarkov map, a nice change-up from the more open design of the current map roster.
Two Point Campus
2022
Lauren is already losing her mind about this one. Two Point Campus, a successor to Two Point Hospital, will see players managing a college campus complete with dorms, study halls, sports teams and…magic?
Stranger Things Coming To Smite
Hi-Rez’s free MMO Smite is turning things up to Eleven (fuck, I’m funny) with a huge Stranger Things battle pass event featuring Hopper, Eleven, the Mind Flayer and some Demogorgons thrown in for good measure. There will also be a whole new Upside Down arena to really get you in the spirit of all things Stranger.
Painkiller
There’s not much to see here, but at least we now have confirmation that Saber Interactive’s resurrection of People Can Fly’s 2004 cult hit FPS horror game is actually happening. And don’t worry, the below asset is from the original game. When I say there wasn’t much to see, I mean it.
The Anacrusis
Spring 2021
A new FPS from former Riot and Valve developers, The Anacrusis will pit teams of four against hordes of alien creatures swarming through a 70s art-deco inspired space ship, with an errant AI system reshaping the map on every playthrough to ensure all HAL breaks lose (fuck, I’m funny…again)
Rocket League goes Fast and Furious
June 17th
Skylines, Chargers and Pontiac Fieros from Fast and Furious coming to everyone’s favourite vehicular ball sport? Yep, I’m in.
Bloodhunt
Well, this looks interesting. A vampire-themed battle royale game set in the Vampire: The Masquerade universe filled with guns, swords, magic, arterial blood gushes and a moody soundtrack. Based on the concept alone, this game has my attention.
House of Ashes
October 22nd, 2021
The upcoming entry into the Dark Pictures Anthology looks just as dark, mysterious and spooky as its predecessors. In House of Ashes, we will follow a group of Iraqi and American soldiers sent to investigate a facility thought to be housing chemical weapons. But, of course, they end up being hunted down by a demonic horror.
Tales of Arise
September 10th, 2021
The latest in the Tales Of JRPG series, Tales of Arise, finally has a release date. Other than that, I have no idea what is happening here, but I can say there will be dragons, monsters, revealing armour sets and a dude with an eye patch.
Planet of Lana
2022
While at first I was disappointed that this wasn’t a game about a planet overrun with Lana Del Rey zombie/robot/aliens, Planet of Lana’s charming hand-painted design and side-scrolling gameplay reminiscent of games like Inside and Limbo is speaking to me in special ways. Good thing it is ready to wishlist on Steam ahead of its launch next year.
Overwatch 2
It’s as if Blizzard knew I was right on the edge of falling in love with Overwatch all over again, so they threw a new look at the sequel and a bunch of new skins my way to finally push me right back in. I cannot wait for this!
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
July 9th, 2021
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin will feature a slightly different direction to other Monster Hunter games in the franchise, focusing more on the story, with a Breath of the Wild-esque art style across the game. But don’t worry, Simon (I know you’re reading this), there will still be a whole host of Rathalos, Nergigante and other beasties to turn into coats and hats. The trailer also features one of the best lines of dialogues I have ever heard in a trailer, with one character exclaiming, ‘So, you’re going to be born, huh?’.
Endless Dungeon
We got another look at Amplitude and SEGA’s Endless Dungeon, a roguelike that sees you trapped on a spaceship having to protect crystals with the help of other heroes you meet along your journey.
Nier’s 2B comes to Fall Guys
June 12th, 2021
Ah, Fall Guys, how I suck at thee. But at least I can now be awful in style with a new Nier Automata crossover that allows us to play as a bean-shaped 2B.
Deviation Games
Summer Games Fest was the stage for the announcement of a new studio, Deviation Games, headed up by former Treyarch developers Dave Anthony and Jason Blundell. While it is unclear what games the studio will be working on, PlayStation is backing the project. So maybe they’re working on that roster of big first-party PlayStation announced a few months ago?
Back 4 Blood
October 12th, 2021
The spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead, Turtle Rock Studios’ Back 4 Blood is well…back, with a bloody new trailer showcasing massive undead hordes and some sort of zombie kaiju? Whatever it is, I am keen to rip it apart. Those who pre-order the game will get access to an open beta from August 5th.
Tribes of Midgard
July 27th, 2021
Master the land in Norsfell Games and Gearbox’s upcoming survival RPG. Players will need to explore, hunt, and grow their tribe to create resources, tools, and weapons to expand their village and defend it from those who wish to do it harm. It’s like a survival Sims game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and I like the sound of that.
Evil Dead: The Game
2021
If you get Bruce Campbell to narrate your trailer, then you get me as a fan. Saber interactive’s Evil Dead: The Game is another entry into the asymmetrical co-op genre ala Gun Media’s Friday The 13th. You and your band of survivors will use melee weapons and the rare guns at your disposal to dispatch Deadites across various maps based on iconic locations from the film franchise.
Elden Ring
January 21st, 2022
Geoffrey Keighley delivered the goods, giving long-awaiting fans their first look at the new game from From Software, in conjunction with Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin, Elden Ring. The trailer gives some broad strokes to the story, lore and combat, and looks at all sorts of horrid wet creatures and twisted cursed hags. You know, the regular From Software shit. And if that wasn’t enough to get fan’s blood pumping, Elden Ring will be available much sooner than most anticipated.