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Journalist and host Jeff Keely said fewer third-party digital showcases are expected this summer as companies instead choose to include content at events like his Summer Game Fest show.
In the past year, companies like Capcom and Square Enix have received somewhat negative critical reactions for their own digital events, which fans felt had fewer announcements than expected.
Speaking during the Twitter Spaces audio session this weekend, Keely said players should expect fewer third-party conferences this year as those publishers with less content opt to participate in Summer Game Fest and “in-house conferences” like Xbox instead. & Bethesda Showcase.
“There were a lot of shows last year that everyone was disappointed that they weren’t actually press conferences, right? For example, Take-Two, Capcom, Square Enix and the like,” he said. “I think they’ve learned that if you’re going to have a press conference, you have to give it 30+ minutes, and sometimes they only have one or two great games, which can be enough to run a full event.”
Keely added:
“So I think it will be sort of a shift. I have a pretty good idea of what’s coming next month and I think people will be excited about games in general. There are still not enough games coming out right now, I guess this is the Covid hiatus year… a lot of games are being delayed because they were launched during the pandemic. We’re still hopeful that a lot will come out.”
As previously announced, Summer Game Fest will begin with a “live demo” on Thursday, June 9th. The show promises to showcase “what’s next in the industry with huge new game announcements, world premieres, special guests and more.”
During a Twitter chat, Keely revealed that more than 15 guests will be appearing during the show and confirmed that members of the media will take part in some of the featured games this year.
“I don’t think people will necessarily get everything they want in June, which they never get, but I hope people enjoy it,” he said. “It’s just going to be different, and that’s what I keep telling people: it’s not an E3 replacement, it’s a different atmosphere and sense of things. I don’t make games, so I just sit here and pray there’s something cool to show people.”
