Despite the demise of E3, summer remains the season for all kinds of gaming presentations. One of them is Summer Game Fest, which took place on July 6th. Despite the abundance of advertising for Asian gacha games and MMOs at Geoff Keighley's show, viewers still received several truly explosive and unexpected announcements and trailers for already announced projects. We've compiled the most interesting and memorable games from the first day.
Mortal Shell 2
The sequel to Cold Symmetry's action RPG is a step closer to more dynamic and aggressive gameplay. In doing so, the developers eliminated stamina to concentrate on freedom, weapon diversity, and enemy diversity. The player, as the Harbinger, can animate fallen warriors to become hosts of their skills. The world has grown a lot larger and darker, and the monster grotesqueness scale has been flipped to its highest setting. Here's hoping From Software doesn't relinquish their throne messing around with cooperative action titles! Release in 2026.
Death Stranding 2
A fresh trailer dedicated to the sequel of the adventure action game from Hideo Kojima. Hideo himself took the stage to show a gameplay excerpt featuring two characters.
The release will happen very soon - June 26th. Currently only on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro consoles. In the future, the game will most likely be released on PC.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Capcom announced a new Onimusha - an action game with RPG and Edo period setting. The game involves the player as a samurai with a magical Oni gauntlet, fighting Genma demons in a precision- and parrying-based combat system. Visually, the game is as atmospheric as in the classic series but with modern graphics. Release is expected in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.
ARC Raiders
Embark's ARC Raiders received a release date - October 30, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. It's an action PvPvE game in a post-apocalyptic world where raiders search for loot on the surface, fighting ARC robots and other players. Its key feature is losing all loot upon death, adding a very high risk element. The game evolved from a PvE shooter with co-op to a hybrid game with survival elements and PvP fights.
Game of Thrones: War for Westeros
PlaySide, in partnership with Warner Bros. and HBO, are developing an RTS based in the Game of Thrones universe. The players will have the potential to play as any of four factions - Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens, or the army of the Night King, each with varying mechanics and troops. There will be a diverse army, from infantry to dragons, and the story campaign will allow the rewriting of key moments from the series. The game is a full premium title with no aggressive monetization.
Mafia: The Old Country
A fresh trailer for the new Mafia. The video showed cutscenes with characters. The game will be sold for $50, which is pleasant in times when everything is getting more expensive and some companies aren't shy about charging gamers $80.
Release will take place on August 8th on PC and consoles. Pre-orders are already open on all platforms, including Steam.
MindsEye
First trailer for an action game from Leslie Benzies' studio - the former GTA producer. No one has high hopes for the game, but it is possible that it will turn out to be awesome. All will be known on June 10th - that's when the game is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Dying Light: The Beast
Dying Light: The Beast - once a Dying Light 2 expansion, was broken off into a standalone title and scheduled for publication on August 22, 2025. The story takes place 13 years after the events of the original game and follows the return of Kyle Crane, seeking revenge against the Baron in the new environment of Castor Woods. The greatest novelty is the "beast mode" with unlocking superhuman abilities, along with traditional parkour, zombie combat, and off-road driving. The game boasts an 18-hour campaign with co-op for up to four players, free of charge for the owners of the Ultimate edition of Dying Light 2.
Acts of Blood
Indonesian game developer Eksil Team is working on a third-person beat 'em up action title set in dystopian Bandung. It follows a student who plays as an avenging protagonist battling his family's murderers through hand-to-hand combat, parkour, and minimal fire use. The combat framework is centered around realism and brutality with the ability to utilize the environment strategically. The game is clearly inspired by Sifu both visually and in terms of gameplay. The title does have a demo on Steam with a summer 2026 release scheduled.
Stranger Than Heaven
A new Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (Like a Dragon) game sends us back to Japan in 1943 and blends noir detective investigation and mysticism, survival, and the studio's signature combat mechanics.
Its protagonist is detective Mako Daito, who investigates a string of mysterious events in a city where decadence is coupled with brutality and moral uncertainty. The combat system was rendered more challenging and realistic than in the other numbered Yakuza series titles, yet elements of familiarity abound. The game's release is scheduled for 2026.
Felt That: Boxing
A boxing comedy game. The ring won't feature real sportsmen but funny fluffy puppets. According to the plot, Ezra "Fuzz-E" Wright is about to beat everyone in the Million Punch Tournament to save an orphanage.
Sans Strings Studio is working on the game. There is no release date so far, but the game is already ready to be added to your Steam wishlist.
Lies of P: Overture
The story expansion-prequel to Lies of P named "Awakening" is now available today, June 7th. Action takes place before the puppet catastrophe in rich Krat, where the player controls Geppetto's deadly puppet in search of the Legendary Guardian. The expansion brings new city zones from mansions to ruins, new fighting styles, distinctive arms, and Legion Hand mechanics. The storyline consists of time travel, complex moral choices, and revealing forgotten secrets of the past.
Resident Evil 9: Requiem
Capcom has formally announced Resident Evil 9: Requiem to be released on February 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC. The game's protagonist is FBI agent Grace Ashcroft, who is investigating the murder of her mother in a hotel; the surname indicates a connection to reporter Alyssa from Resident Evil Outbreak. The trailer is presenting the return of the dark atmosphere of traditional survival horror and destroyed Raccoon City. The game is being pitched by Capcom as a new generation for the series; the gameplay information will be unveiled at Gamescom 2025.
Conclusion
Summer Game Fest 2025 introduced a solid lineup of games coming over the next two years. Standout mentions are the eventual launch of Death Stranding 2 (June 26th) and Resident Evil 9: Requiem announcement in February 2026. Capcom actively revives classic franchises with the forthcoming Onimusha, and the industry is witnessing healthy diversity with AAA blockbusters at one end and innovative indies at the other. All high-profile releases are lined up for 2026, indicating developers' seriousness regarding quality.
FAQ
Q1: When did Summer Game Fest 2025 take place and who hosted the show? Summer Game Fest 2025 took place on July 6th and was hosted by Geoff Keighley. Despite the abundance of advertising for Asian gacha games and MMOs, the gaming presentation featured several explosive announcements and trailers.
Q2: What is the earliest release date among the games announced at Summer Game Fest 2025? Death Stranding 2 has the earliest release date at June 26th, exclusively for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro consoles. Hideo Kojima himself took the stage to show gameplay footage featuring two characters.
Q3: Which games from Capcom were announced and what are their release dates? Capcom announced two major titles: Onimusha: Way of the Sword, an action game with RPG elements set in the Edo period scheduled for 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC; and Resident Evil 9: Requiem, featuring FBI agent Grace Ashcroft, releasing February 27, 2026.
Q4: What makes Mortal Shell 2 different from its predecessor in terms of gameplay mechanics? Mortal Shell 2 from Cold Symmetry eliminates stamina mechanics to focus on freedom, weapon diversity, and enemy diversity. As the Harbinger, players can animate fallen warriors to inherit their abilities, with the world becoming larger, darker, and featuring maximum monster grotesqueness.
Q5: How much will Mafia: The Old Country cost and when does it release? Mafia: The Old Country will be sold for $50, releasing August 8th on PC and consoles. Pre-orders are already available on all platforms including Steam, which is refreshing compared to some companies charging $80 for games.
Q6: What type of game is ARC Raiders and what's its unique risk mechanic? ARC Raiders from Embark is a PvPvE action game in a post-apocalyptic world releasing October 30, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. Its key feature is losing all loot upon death, creating high-risk gameplay as raiders fight ARC robots and other players.
Q7: Which game features the return of Kyle Crane and what's new about it? Dying Light: The Beast features Kyle Crane's return 13 years after the original, seeking revenge against the Baron in Castor Woods. The standalone title, releasing August 22, 2025, introduces "beast mode" with superhuman abilities, traditional parkour, zombie combat, and off-road driving in an 18-hour campaign.
Q8: What Game of Thrones game is being developed and which factions are playable? Game of Thrones: War for Westeros is an RTS being developed by PlaySide with Warner Bros. and HBO. Players can control four factions - Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens, or the Night King's army, each with unique mechanics and troops from infantry to dragons.
Q9: Which studio is behind Stranger Than Heaven and what's the setting? Stranger Than Heaven is developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (Like a Dragon) and is set in Japan 1943. The game blends noir detective work and mysticism, featuring detective Mako Daito investigating mysterious events with more challenging and realistic combat than numbered Yakuza series titles.
Q10: What free content is available for Lies of P owners? Lies of P: Overture, a story expansion-prequel called "Awakening," was released June 7th. Set before the puppet catastrophe in Krat, players control Geppetto's deadly puppet searching for the Legendary Guardian, featuring new city zones, fighting styles, weapons, and Legion Hand mechanics.
Q11: Which games have demos available and what are their gameplay styles? Acts of Blood from Indonesian studio Eksil Team has a demo on Steam, featuring third-person beat 'em up action in dystopian Bandung with hand-to-hand combat, parkour, and strategic environment usage inspired by Sifu. Felt That: Boxing can be wishlisted on Steam, featuring comedic boxing with fluffy puppets.
Q12: What makes MindsEye notable despite low expectations? MindsEye is notable because it's developed by Leslie Benzies' studio, the former GTA producer. While expectations are modest, the action game releases June 10th on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, leaving room for potential surprises.
