At some point soon, we’ll all (or just me, at least) will stop calling Game Fest “not E3,” but until then…this past weekend was, indeed, not E3. It was the Summer Game Fest, plus Sony’s own State of Play, that brought forth a slew of gaming content, known and unknown, that players will see this year, next year, and beyond. Since things have been rather slow in the industry since the start of the year, I eagerly tuned into the various showcases hoping to see both things that I wanted (more Dragon Age!) and anything that was completely new, different, and amazing. That last is what I was hoping for the most…to set aside my ever-growing cautious optimism and be in awe again of something, anything in the gaming industry. Thankfully, my hopes were not dashed, and came away from the weekend feeling like a player rejuvenated. These are the Game Fest (and more) reveals and announcements that have me the most excited for the near future of gaming.

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Dragon Age: The Veilguard gameplay trailer

With recent Dragon Age news, some skepticism set in on two front. One was the name change from the more compelling “Dreadwolf,” and the other was the reveal trailer presented during the Xbox showcase. Neither set my heart all a’flutter. The gameplay trailer that BioWare released after the festivities, however, did. And it did in a big way. I am absolutely ready to visit new spots in Thedas through the eyes of newcomer Rook, and with friends old and new at their side. Best of all, the game is coming out THIS YEAR! I can’t set aside the possibility of delays, because I’m just not that much of an optimist, but if I’m playing Veilguard before or by the end of the year, I’ll be one happy camper.

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Street Fighter 6 Season Two Characters

Over the weekend came Capcom’s reveal of the newest set of characters to join Street Fighter 6’s roster in season two, and among them is the formidable M. Bison. Though nowhere to be found initially, his presence was all over the World Tour’s storyline, and it was all with the assumption he had somehow been sent to that grand street fighting arena in the sky (or, um…deep below ground). Apparently, though, he’s still alive and literally kicking, and I can’t wait to see what happens when he returns. Of course, all I really want to do is add his Psycho Crusher to my move set…but I’ll get to know him first. Alongside M. Bison, players will also see the additions of versatile brawler Terry, capoeira challenger Elena, and Ninjitsu specialist Mai.

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Fable’s newest trailer

The best thing I saw all weekend was Playground Games’ latest look at Fable, the newest addition to the series. The next best thing I saw was that the game is coming out next year! I will be first in line to visit this new iteration of Albion, complete with a new hero (heroes?) and new adventures. It was great to see that the devs have retained some of the charm and wit that goes hand-in-hand with the series, and that the game’s world will be something that’s both familiar and new. I have been wracking my brain a little over the unseen character at the end of the trailer…who could they be? One other thing that’s unclear is where in time this version of Albion is set. Have months, year, or centuries past since Fable 3’s revolution? Or will Albion’s past not matter? So many questions, still!

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A Talos Principle II expansion

I have yet to play the second Talos Principle, and the reveal of new DLC for it during the Devolver Direct showcase reminded me that I really should. The game itself looked fantastic from the get-go; the additions made to it via the Road to Elysium expansion make look even more spectacular. I really can’t say enough good thing about the Talos Principle – it’s such a satisfying game with excellent puzzles and a rousing story. In this case, more of a good thing is definitely better!

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Fallout 76: Skyline Valley is out now!

Speaking of expansions, Fallout 76’s map is finally expanding to include a brand new area in its southern region – Skyline Valley. While that news itself isn’t new, I was extremely surprised with the reveal of its almost immediate availability (released June 12th). I’ve been a little out of the Fallout 76 loop and haven’t even “vacationed” in Atlantic City yet, but an actual expansion of the game’s map is something I’ve been waiting for, along with everyone else playing, of course. Not that I need a reason to revisit Appalachia, but Skyline Valley makes an excellent case for doing so now…like right now.

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Avowed is coming out this year, too?!

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t even recognize Avowed when its newest trailer played during the Xbox Games Showcase. It just looked so…different…from what I had in my head from its initial showing. Not that earlier reveals looked bad, but I had visions of dungeons and deep, dark fantasy in place. This latest look revealed a much more vibrant, action-oriented, and fast-paced game, and I’m totally onboard. And, is it really coming out this year, too?? It’ll be wild if that actually pans out, and it’ll make for a jam-packed back half of 2024, too.

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What were some of your favorite announcements from the recent Game Fest weekend?

Lede image captured by author from summergamefest.com.