Is there anything quite like the summer game reveal season? First with E3 and now with Summer Game Fest and all the associated publisher-led events, early June is the time when the industry shows off its biggest games. As players, it’s also the time when we set absolutely unrealistic expectations and have our hopes crushed underfoot.
We all have our perpetual picks for a game we hope to see, but know that we probably won’t. For a long time the classic example was Hollow Knight: Silksong, a game that became so notorious for fan hype and a disappointing no-show that it became synonymous with the clown applying makeup meme. Now that Silksong has been released, that curse has been broken. But in its place grew a thousand clown noses, as all of us don our own personal big red schnozes in hopes of the game we really want to see, even if deep down we know we probably won’t.
Bloodborne
At this point I’d be content with a remaster, but if we’re out here throwing out games we’d love to see take center stage at this year’s Summer Game Fest, either a remake or a follow-up to 2015’s moody masterpiece is at the top of my list. For years now, From Software fans have been clamoring for a Bloodborne remake–one that retains the original’s aesthetic sensibilities but delivers the smooth, 60fps gameplay associated with modern consoles. While I’d argue Bloodborne is already a masterpiece, a performance upgrade would certainly help in making the action game stand the test of time. And while they’re at it, I wouldn’t say no to a few quality of life upgrades, such as the ability to rest at lanterns or travel directly between them.
However, if I am truly allowed to dream big here, what I really want is to return to Yharnam for a new adventure. Not a sequel, mind you, but something that uses the lore established in Bloodborne to weave an entirely new scenario. Though there is delight in what parts of Bloodborne are simply unknowable, I wouldn’t mind learning a bit more about Castle Cainhurst and its Vilebloods, or about the early expeditions into the Chalice dungeons. — Jessica Cogswell
Splinter Cell
The Splinter Cell remake was first announced in late 2021, meaning we are quickly approaching the five-year mark and have yet to see any actual gameplay or even a cinematic trailer. While it has been confirmed by Ubisoft relatively recently that the game is still in production, despite layoffs at developer Ubisoft Toronto, it remains entirely unclear when we’ll see more of it. Like Sam Fisher, perhaps it’s just really, really good at hiding, but the last Splinter Cell game was released all the way back in 2013.
Sure, the animated Netflix series sort of makes the wait easier and at least shows there’s fan interest in the franchise, but since Splinter Cell Blacklist’s launch, two console generations have passed, and it looks like a third might be on the way. We’ve gotten two The Division games since then, along with two Ghost Recon games, and two Rainbow Six games (remember Extraction?). Sam Fisher has even made guest appearances in several of them, but his own game remains as mysterious as Third Echelon. — Gabe Gurwin
Rez 2
While a small part of the credit for this can go toward various re-releases (HD, Infinite, VR support), there’s no game I have returned to on a regular basis, on as long a time horizon, as Rez. And while I think it’s already brilliant, I would not by any means complain about more: The incredible blend of music and gameplay that Rez offers has never been matched by another game for me. The foray into a more open environment in Rez Infinite’s Area X felt like only a taste of where Rez could go. I’ve been happy to see developer Enhance branch out with fantastic games like Tetris Effect, but every time we get any kind of showcase, I’m secretly wishing for some kind of sequel to Rez more than anything else.
