Summer Game Fest Archives

AppWizard

May 27, 2026

Cities Skylines may get the Lego treatment, as Korean ratings for new Paradox game, Persona 4 Revival, and more appear online

The Cities Skylines series has experienced mixed reception, with the original game being well-received and its sequel earning a score of 7/10. Developer Colossal Order has handed development responsibilities for the sequel to Iceflake Studios. A new title, Lego Skylines, is anticipated, as indicated by the Game Rating and Administration Committee of Korea (GRAC). This game aims to combine Cities Skylines mechanics with Lego's charm, reminiscent of earlier Lego simulation games. The last significant Lego construction game was Lego City Undercover in 2013. The development landscape for Lego games is fragmented, with major studios tied to larger corporations, leaving Paradox Development Studio as a potential candidate for the project. Other titles revealed by GRAC include Gears of War: E-Day, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, and Persona 4 Revival, with the gaming community looking forward to announcements during the Summer Game Fest.

AppWizard

May 17, 2026

The Talos Principle 3: The Trilogy Will Be Realized on PC and Console

Developer Croteam and publisher Devolver Digital have announced The Talos Principle 3 for PC and consoles, concluding the trilogy. A specific release date has not been provided, but more details are expected during gaming events like Summer Game Fest or Gamescom. The game takes place in the Anomaly, a world with altered physics, where players will solve puzzles and explore themes of existence and mortality. It features a mix of familiar and new puzzle mechanics, a narrative crafted by Jonas Kyratzes, Verena Kyratzes, and Tom Jubert, and an original soundtrack by Damjan Mravunac.

AppWizard

May 16, 2026

How Poppy Playtime made ‘free game, paid DLC’ work on PC

GameDiscoverCo held its annual offsite gathering, discussing various industry developments. Footprints.gg reported significant buzz for Forza Horizon 6 ahead of its launch, with GTA 6 also trending due to trailer speculation. Xbox plans include Project Saluki, a new Game Pass tier for the Chinese market, and Positron, potentially introducing a disc-to-digital entitlement program. Steam's bundle discounting interface has sparked discussions about pricing strategies. The PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for May includes Star Wars Outlaws and Red Dead Redemption 2. Roblox is experiencing shifts in user-generated content rights and cost models. The Source 2-powered s&box has launched on Steam, but interest is waning. Hushcrasher's analysis indicates rising game production costs are due to project scope rather than base costs. Concurrent user metrics suggest week one sales can reach 20 times peak concurrent users. Poppy Playtime, a horror puzzle game, has expanded from a free title to four paid chapters, with Huggy Wuggy becoming a popular character. Mob Entertainment, founded by brothers with a background in 3D animation, has seen Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 sell 408,000 copies on Steam and 19,000 on Epic Games Store. The free base game has 2.76 million downloads on Steam since the chapter's release. The franchise's revenue from four DLCs exceeds a million on Steam, with potential total revenue approaching 100 million when including console and mobile sales. The development team employs a parallel strategy for annual chapter releases, with varying DLC structures across platforms. The pricing of DLC has increased over time, reflecting greater ambition in production. Game director Bryce Clark emphasizes balancing puzzles and chase sequences to enhance player experience.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Summer Game Fest 2026 schedule and all the other summer showcases full of gaming announcements you won’t want to miss

As summer approaches, numerous video game showcases are scheduled, including the return of the PC Gaming Show. A comprehensive schedule of events includes: - Six One Indie Showcase: May 21, YouTube - Access-Ability Showcase: June 5, 8 am Pacific / 4 pm BST, YouTube - Summer Game Fest: June 5, 2 pm Pacific / 10 pm BST, YouTube, Twitch, TikTok - Day of the Devs: June 5, following SGF, YouTube - Wholesome Direct: June 6, 9 am Pacific / 5 pm BST, YouTube - Future Games Show: June 6, 12 pm Pacific / 8 pm BST, YouTube, Twitch - Xbox Games Showcase: June 7, 10 am Pacific / 6 pm BST, YouTube, Twitch - PC Gaming Show: June 7, 12 pm Pacific / 8 pm BST, YouTube, Twitch - Black Voices in Gaming: Day/time TBA, YouTube, Twitch - Women-Led Games: Day/time TBA, YouTube, Twitch Unconfirmed showcases include Sony's State of Play, typically held in late May or early June, and Nintendo Direct, which may not participate this year. There is speculation about a gameplay reveal for GTA 6 during the summer showcases, but Rockstar Games may choose to announce it discreetly after the major events.

AppWizard

May 11, 2026

Shift Up says Stellar Blade 2 news is on the way this year, and it could be a day-one PC launch

Shift Up has announced plans for the sequel to Stellar Blade, with new information expected to be revealed within the year. The sequel is set to launch before 2027 and aims for a simultaneous release on PC and console platforms, as Shift Up is bringing publication in-house to avoid previous exclusivity issues with Sony. Development of Stellar Blade 2 is reportedly progressing smoothly, meeting targeted quality standards. Additionally, Shift Up is working on a new intellectual property called Project Spirits, which is also progressing well, with more details expected by the end of the year.

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

The Epic Games Store will give away two ‘Mystery Games’ next week

The Epic Games Store offers free games weekly, with two new titles set to be revealed next week. Currently, users can claim "Arranger" and "Trash Goblin," which will be replaced by mystery games on May 14th. The upcoming reveal is anticipated to be significant, coinciding with the Summer Game Fest.

AppWizard

April 26, 2026

Last Flag, the multiplayer shooter from the Imagine Dragons guy, is free to play for every weekend until its first update comes out

Last Flag, a multiplayer shooter from Night Street Games, was released on Steam earlier this month but has received a subdued reception despite promotional efforts. The game is priced at £12 and aims to stand out in a crowded market. In response to its lukewarm reception, Night Street Games announced that Last Flag will be available for free every weekend until its first update this summer. Early impressions suggest it offers an engaging experience, described as a mix of capture the flag and hide and seek. The game currently holds a 'Mostly Positive' rating of 73% on Steam, with player feedback highlighting core mechanics while noting issues such as the lack of regional servers and matches filled with bots. The free weekend initiative is intended to grow the player base and address these concerns.

AppWizard

April 15, 2026

Future Games Show and PC Gaming Show Return on June 6th and 7th

June will feature several gaming showcases, including the Future Games Show on June 6th at midnight PDT, which will present world premieres and trailers. Following that, the PC Gaming Show will take place on June 7th at midnight PDT, showcasing over 50 PC titles. The Xbox Games Showcase is expected to reveal release dates for titles like Halo: Campaign Evolved in July and Fable in autumn, along with speculation about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Gears of War: E-Day, the latter of which will have a dedicated Direct with a gameplay reveal and is anticipated for release in the latter half of the year.

AppWizard

March 1, 2026

GDC is an opportunity to celebrate the games that defined 2025, and explore the new technology that will shape the future of gaming

The Game Developer's Conference (GDC) will take place from March 9 to March 13, 2026. GDC focuses on the intricacies of game creation and explores emerging technologies and innovative techniques in gaming. Attendees can expect potential game announcements from companies like Epic Games, Blizzard, Nintendo, and Xbox. The GDC Vault and the Festival of Gaming YouTube channel provide resources for game creators to share their design philosophies. A central theme for GDC 2026 will be the role of artificial intelligence in game development, with discussions led by developers from companies such as Google, Capcom, NVIDIA, Xbox, and Sega.

AppWizard

February 24, 2026

You could get Crimson Desert and two other games for just $5 in Fanatical’s new VIP Mystery Bundle

The game Crimson Desert is set on the continent of Pywel, where players control Kliff, a member of the Greymanes faction. Kliff's journey involves navigating rival groups and mythical creatures after a brutal attack from the Black Bears, aiming to find surviving clan members and confront the Black Bears' leader, Myurdin. The gameplay features fast-paced combat and innovative mechanics, drawing inspiration from various RPGs. Crimson Desert is available for .99 / £4.99 through the Fanatical VIP Mystery Bundle, which includes three Steam keys and the possibility of receiving additional games like Nioh 3 and Resident Evil Requiem.