The June 2022 State of Play for Sony and leaving Summer Game Fest to fill the gap. However, a year plagued with delays, setbacks, and empty showcase livestreams may be a poor omen for the games festival, with the State of Play acting as a bumpy start.
Showcase expos and festivals like E3 and Summer Game Fest are important for both gamers and developers. The showcases offer developers the chance to reveal large game announcements to a concentrated audience, while viewers can look for updates and reveals on AAA and indie titles. Additionally, it can be a great way to celebrate a love of gaming with the community, and combine updates and announcements with exciting entertainment like musical guests and celebrity hosts.
While Summer Game Fest won't officially start until June 9, 2022, many smaller showcases like the PlayStation State of Play are planned for similar timeframes. The State of Play, which went live on June 2, 2022, had many gamers hopeful for news on titles like Hogwarts Legacy or Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2. The State of Play instead focused on information surrounding updates for existing games, PC releases, and VR remasters. While Resident Evil 4's remake was confirmed, and Final Fantasy 16 received a new trailer and release window, the showcase was largely void of specific release dates and information that would actually be beneficial to those looking forward to releases.
State of Play Was A Disappointing Way To Kick Off Summer Game Fest 2022
While the underwhelming updates and lack of useful information during the State of Play showcase may have been disappointing, it could also foreshadow a poor outcome for the Summer Game Fest content. It is possible developers and publishers may choose to withhold big updates and reveals from the Summer Game Fest that otherwise would have made it into the E3 Expo. This could be because the game festival is seen as smaller or less valuable than past E3 opportunities. If this were to happen, gamers tuning in may be consistently presented with empty updates and bare-minimum details for a selection of less popular or lucrative titles.
However, it is possible that highly anticipated games like Hogwarts Legacy, Mass Effect 4, Dragon Age 4, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 2 will receive special updates or announcements independent of Summer Game Fest in the coming months. While the chance to see a big reveal during a game festival can be exciting, the lack of an E3 Expo platform could encourage developers to release information in more regular intervals, or in timeframes that are more spontaneous. While this does make it hard for gamers to plan ahead when searching for game news, it could add a fresh air of excitement when waiting for updates. Despite the PlayStation State of Play leaving much to be desired, it is still possible big updates could be just around the corner.