We’re fast approaching the period formerly known as E3, a time that once was and, to some extent still is, referred to as “gamer Christmas.”

While COVID officially put E3 out of its misery, like any fire, seedlings started to shoot in the fertile ground that was left behind. Developers started to take showcases into their own hands, the week-long period was extended, and Geoff Keighley decided that every piece of gaming news was part of his new Summer Game Fest. Summer gaming season is back and in a big way.

This year feels a little different though, and I’m worried about gamers, who always react reasonably to things.

Nintendo

Based on its last Direct, Nintendo has started to wind down on big announcements ahead of the console’s successor, which is reportedly due to be released in 2025.

February’s Direct was the first February that Nintendo hadn’t held its flagship showcase, and instead aired a Partner Direct, a telling sign that there isn’t a lot of first-party content in the immediate pipeline. There were some fine announcements during the show, but, when your “one more thing” is an Endless Ocean game, it ain’t looking good.

I don’t anticipate much changing when Nintendo inevitably holds a Direct this summer. There will surely be a remake or two to bolster the company’s holiday line-up, and if it’s the long-rumored Wind Waker remake, a lot of people, including myself, will be happy. But I just can’t see them announcing the Switch 2 or any new, major first-party titles until later this year. Cue disappointment.

Sony

Sony has already revealed that it doesn’t have “any new major existing franchise titles” coming before March 31, 2025. That means no new God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, or Returnal.

It’s hard to imagine that, unless Sony wants to show off games coming out in 2025 and beyond, it will even hold a major showcase this summer. You have to imagine most of the multiplatform games that would appear during a State of Play will be appearing in Geoff Keighley’s live show, so the Japanese giants might find themselves in a bit of a predicament. Maybe, they’ll pull the PS5 Pro out of the bag as a hail mary, though…

Xbox

Microsoft has already confirmed it’s holding an Xbox Games Showcase this summer. With 2024 looking relatively barren, at least from its major competitors, it’s time for them to step up and if there’s any event from the big three that I have faith in, it’s this one.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will have already been released by the time the event takes place; however, Microsoft is still sitting on Indiana Jones, Blade, Avowed, Fable, Starfield’s DLC, Call of Duty and Perfect Dark—a lot of heavy hitters. There’s also Elder Scrolls 6, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up here.

Alongside the first-party titles, Microsoft seems to have a deal with revealing ATLUS games (Persona 6 anybody?) and Silksong last appeared during an Xbox Games Showcase. There’s definitely lots to get excited about, but now it’s down to them not to fumble it. With so much to show, though, it feels like some games are going to be missing, inevitably leaving folk disappointed.

Summer Game Fest

With all hope thus far falling to Microsoft, it’s down to Geoff to knock it out of the park.

I think Summer Game Fest’s live event will be good this year. There are lots of third-party games that could be shown—Metaphor ReFantazio, Black Myth: Wukong, Dragon Ball: Sparkling! Zero, Jurassic Park Survival, and Star Wars: Outlaws, to name but a few, but, in terms of reveals, I feel like Gamescom Opening Night Live and The Game Awards tend to be stronger. That being said, there is loads of potential.

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With two of the three console manufacturers in a state of flux and the other having almost too much to show, it’s going to be an interesting summer with plenty of normal reactions.