Summer Showcase 2026 Recap: Best reveals from PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and more

Summer showcase season is always one of my favorite moments of the year. For a couple of days, the entire gaming industry throws trailers, reveals, release dates and surprises at us, and even though not every show is equally strong, there is always something exciting about discovering what’s next. This year was no different. We got big returning franchises, some unexpected revivals, smaller surprises and more than enough trailers to talk about for weeks. Here’s my personal top three of all the showcases. Let’s jump right in!

PlayStation State of Play

PlayStation kicked things off with a State of Play that had some pretty strong moments. It wasn’t the most surprising show ever, but it did have a couple of games that immediately caught my attention. Sony once again leaned into cinematic action, darker worlds and stylish trailers, which is exactly what you expect from them by now. Still, the three games convinced me the most:

1. Marvel’s Wolverine

Marvel’s Wolverine was probably the easiest pick here. We already knew Insomniac was working on the game, but this trailer finally gave us a much better idea of what to expect.  What I liked most is that Wolverine doesn’t seem to fight like a clean superhero. He looks heavy, angry and dangerous. It’s as bloody as I would hope since I don’t want a Wolverine game where he feels too smooth or too elegant. He needs to feel like someone who tears through enemies because that’s simply what he does.

Insomniac already proved with Spider-Man that they know how to handle Marvel characters, but Wolverine is something completely different. This game needs to be rougher, more aggressive and maybe a bit nastier. Based on this trailer, they seem to understand that very well. I’m really curious to see how far they’ll go with the combat and the tone.

2. God of War Laufey

 

God of War Laufey took me a little bit by surprise. Not because a God of War spin-off is unexpected in itself, but because I’m always a bit careful when big franchises start expanding too much. Not every character needs their own game, but with Laufey, I do think there is something interesting there. She has always been such an important part of the newer God of War games, even though she isn’t really present in the same way as Kratos or Atreus. Her absence is part of the emotional core of those games. Giving her more space could actually make the Norse story feel richer instead of just turning God of War into another franchise machine.

That’s what makes this one exciting to me. If it’s just another action game with a familiar name attached to it, I’ll be disappointed. But if it really explores Laufey as a character and shows us another side of that world, this could be a very strong addition to the series. I’m just not sold on the gelatine cube yet…

3. Kemuri

Kemuri was probably my favorite smaller reveal from the PlayStation show. The game comes from UNSEEN, the studio led by Ikumi Nakamura, and you can really feel that different creative voice here. Kemuri looks strange, colorful, supernatural and very stylish. There are yokai, rooftops, city streets, co-op action and a lot of movement, but the most interesting thing for me was the atmosphere.

I also liked that the trailer didn’t explain everything. So many trailers nowadays immediately try to show you the combat, the upgrade systems, the world map and the main hook all at once. Kemuri mostly showed a world and a vibe, and that was enough to make me interested. I still need to see how it actually plays, but this was definitely one of the more original-looking games of the showcase.

Summer Game Fest Live

This year, Summer Game Fest had some of the biggest trailers of the entire showcase season. My top three:

1. Resident Evil Veronica

Resident Evil Veronica was one of those reveals that really took me by surprise. Capcom has been doing great things with the Resident Evil remakes, and Code Veronica always felt like one of the games that still needed that modern treatment. What makes this one extra interesting is that Code Veronica is a bit weirder than some of the other classic Resident Evil games. Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 are obvious masterpieces, but Code Veronica has always been a stranger entry.

That’s exactly why I hope Capcom doesn’t make it too clean or too modern. I want the remake to modernise the controls, the visuals and the pacing, of course, but I also hope it keeps some of that weird energy. Resident Evil is at its best when it is scary and over-the-top at the same time. If Capcom can find that balance again, this could be a very exciting remake.

2. Final Fantasy VII Revelation

Final Fantasy VII Revelation was always going to be one of the biggest moments of the show. The remake trilogy has been such a strange and ambitious project from the start. It’s not just retelling Final Fantasy VII, but also playing with expectations, memories and the idea that maybe this story isn’t going exactly where we think it is. That makes this final part very exciting, but also very difficult to pull off.

The trailer looked massive. We saw familiar characters, huge moments, big emotions and all the dramatic Final Fantasy energy you would expect. It also gave me that typical feeling these games often give me, where I’m not always sure if something is brilliant, ridiculous or both at the same time.

3. gen ATLAS

gen ATLAS was one of the most mysterious reveals of the entire showcase season, and that’s exactly why I liked it so much. This is the new project from Fumito Ueda and genDESIGN, and that alone is enough to make me pay attention. Ueda’s games are not games you remember because of skill trees, loot systems or big cinematic set pieces. You remember them because of the feeling they leave behind. ICO, Shadow of the Colossus and The Last Guardian all have this strange sense of silence, scale and loneliness.

gen ATLAS seems to follow that same idea. The trailer didn’t give us a clear explanation of what the game actually is, but it did give us a very strong mood. It looked mysterious, lonely and huge in a way that immediately made me curious.

Xbox Games Showcase

Xbox had a lot to prove this year but what were my favorites?

1. Gears of War: E-Day

Gears of War: E-Day was my favourite Xbox reveal. Not just because I like Gears, but because this looks like the kind of Gears game the series needed. The later games became bigger and more polished, but I always felt that Gears was strongest when it had a bit of horror in its DNA. E-Day can bring that feeling back. Going back to the start of the invasion is a smart move because it gives the series a chance to make the Locust scary again.

2. Halo: Campaign Evolved

 

Halo: Campaign Evolved brings back the original story of Master Chief and even gives us three new missions to learn more about the story. What’s not to like? It’s releasing next month and I’m so ready!

3. Fable

 

Fable remains one of the Xbox games I’m most curious about. It has to do something very difficult. It needs to feel modern, but it also needs to keep that weird British humour and fairy tale energy that made the older games special. That balance is not easy. If it becomes too serious, it’s not really Fable anymore. If it becomes too silly, it might not work as a big modern RPG. The new trailer made me happy because the world looked expensive, but still a bit odd. That’s exactly where Fable should be.

Nintendo Direct

Nintendo’s Direct was probably the showcase I was most hyped about. With Switch 2 celebrating its first anniversary; Nintendo needs to prove that the system has a strong future. The Direct had a lot of games. Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, Fire Emblem, Rhythm Heaven, Star Fox and more. That sounds strong on paper, but I also felt that Nintendo was playing it pretty safe. A lot of the biggest moments came from familiar names. Then again, when those familiar names are this strong, it’s hard to complain too much. Here’s my top:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

 

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was always going to be the biggest talking point of the Direct. This is not just another remake; this is Ocarina of Time. One of the most important games ever made. It’s a shame we only saw a couple of seconds of Link sleeping; actual gameplay might have been a better way of revealing such a legendary game, but I’m hyped nevertheless. Voice acting and realistic graphics, combined with that soundtrack, brought out the goosebumps. I’m really curious to see how this game looks in action.

2. Kingdom Hearts IV

 

Kingdom Hearts IV showing up during a Nintendo Direct was the flex I wasn’t expecting. Nintendo will always have its own games, and those games will always be the main reason to buy the system. But Switch 2 also needs big third-party titles if it wants to feel like a more complete platform from the start. Kingdom Hearts IV is exactly the kind of game that helps with that. Having the first gameplay in years and being confirmed as a launch day game for Switch 2 showcases how strong third-party support for the system really is, and it’s definitely the flex Nintendo thought it would be.

3. Nintendo Switch Sports Resort

 

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort might not have been the most impressive-looking announcement, but I actually enjoyed the fact that it’s coming! I often played Switch Sports during my break so having a new version makes me happy. Here’s hoping for new golf courses!