Summer game fest: how to watch this summer’s digital gaming events
Even though E3, Gamescom, and other summer gaming events have become online-only or outright canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems there’s still going to be a lot of gaming news this summer. Publishers and media have already scheduled many digital events, promising news and announcements, which could help fill the void left by the loss of the big tentpole events. And it seems likely that some of these events will provide early looks at the first Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 games, making them particularly intriguing.
To help you keep track of everything that’s planned, we’ve collected every event that we know about in this post. We’ve put together details about each event, when they’re scheduled to happen, and how to watch them. Be sure to check back here often; we’ll be updating this post as more events are announced.
Summer Game Fest
What: Geoff Keighley, who created The Game Awards, will be hosting a series of digital events throughout the summer featuring “breaking news, in-game events, and free playable content.” Many large publishers are already on board, including Bethesda, Blizzard Entertainment, CD Projekt Red, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Riot, Sony, and Square Enix.
When: There will be multiple events throughout the months of May and August. You can see the full schedule here, which is updated as events are added.
How to watch: Watch Summer Game Fest events on Twitch, Twitter, and YouTube. (Note that some of these are the accounts for The Game Awards.)
June Events
IGN’s Summer of Gaming
What: IGN will be hosting a “global, digital event” to “bring you the latest news and impressions around upcoming games and the next generation of console hardware.” There will be live broadcasts and on-demand programming. IGN’s event will also feature many publishers, including Blizzard, CD Projekt Red, EA, Facebook (including Oculus), Google Stadia, Humble, Microsoft, PC Gaming Show, Sega, Square Enix, Twitter, and Ubisoft.
When: Planned to kick off in June
How to watch: You can watch IGN’s coverage on Facebook, Mixer, Twitch, and Twitter
GameSpot’s Play for All
What: Play for All is a “multi-week event” with news, previews, interviews, and more. The event will also be raising money for COVID-19 relief efforts in partnership with Direct Relief. Publishers including EA, Bethesda, CD Projekt Red, Deep Silver, Devolver Digital, Larian Studios, Google Stadia, Bandai Namco, Private Division, Square Enix, Sega, and 2K Games will be participating in the event.
When: Begins in early June
How to watch: Watch Play for All on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube
Guerrilla Collective, The PC Gaming Show, and the Future Games Show
What: Guerrilla Collective is a new “digital games festival” taking place from June 6th to June 8th, produced by Media Indie Exchange and the Kinda Funny Games Showcase. Studios on board with the event include Humble Publishing, Larian Studios, Paradox Interactive, and many more.
The first day, June 6th, will have three different shows: Guerrilla Collective Live, hosted by Kinda Funny Games’ Greg Miller; the PC Gaming Show focused on PC gaming news and reveals; and the Future Games Show, which will have have reveals, developer interviews, and “wholesome gaming chatter.” There’s an “online press event” scheduled for June 7th and another day of programming with live demos and developer interviews on June 8th.
When:
- Guerrilla Collective Live: June 6th, 10AM PT / 1PM ET
- The PC Gaming Show: June 6th, 12PM PT / 3PM ET
- The Future Games Show: June 6th, 2:30PM PT / 5PM ET
- June 7th press event: TBA time
- June 8th event: TBA time
How to watch: Watch the Guerrilla Collective events on Twitch
Limited Run Games’ #LRG3
What: Limited Run Games says #LRG3 will be its “third totally-live, totally-bitchin press conference for the biggest announcements in the future of physical video games.”
When: Monday, June 8th, 12PM PT / 3PM ET
How to watch: Watch on Limited Run Games’ Twitch channel
EA Play Live 2020
What: EA says its EA Play Live 2020 will be a live digital broadcast, but the studio hasn’t shared many details beyond that just yet.
When: Thursday, June 11th, 4PM PT / 7PM ET
How to watch: TBA
July Events
Ubisoft Forward
What: Ubisoft is holding a digital “E3-style showcase” with “plenty of exclusive game news, exciting reveals, and much more.”
When: Sunday, July 12th, 12PM PT / 3PM ET
How to watch: TBA
August Events
Gamescom’s Opening Night Live
What: Geoff Keighley will be hosting another Opening Night Live event timed with Gamescom, which is now an all-digital event. It will be a “spectacular, industry-wide finale” to the Summer Game Fest, according to the Summer Game Fest calendar.
When: Monday, August 24th, 11AM PT / 2PM ET
How to watch: Since it’s a Summer Game Fest event, it seems likely you’ll be able to watch Opening Night Live on all of the Summer Game Fest platforms, including Twitch, Twitter, and YouTube. (Note that some of these are the accounts for The Game Awards.)
Even though E3, Gamescom, and other summer gaming events have become online-only or outright canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems there’s still going to be a lot of gaming news this summer. Publishers and media have already scheduled many digital events, promising news and announcements, which could help…
