The big video game events happening this summer in lieu of E3 2020

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With E3 2020 canceled, the summer is without a major event to anchor the biggest video game announcements. But in E3’s absence, publishers, media outlets, and event organizers are filling the vacuum with events of their own. They’ll be spread throughout the summer, with many events scheduled for the week that E3 2020 was supposed to take place, stretching out through late August’s Gamescom, which will exist in a digital format only.

Major companies like Microsoft and Sony are sure to have plenty of events throughout the summer (and fall) to hype up the launches of the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, respectively. Xbox will get its big coming-out event in July, while Sony will reportedly lift the veil on PS5 games in June. As for Nintendo, it appears content to drop big game announcements on any given Thursday, Nintendo Directs be damned.

Here’s an ever-evolving look at the gaming events, livestreams, and digital showcases that will run throughout summer 2020.

June

PC Gaming Show - June 6

The annual show from PC Gamer, which has been timed with (but not officially sanctioned by) E3, will return in 2020. On Saturday, June 6, the PC Gaming Show will broadcast a full day of livestreamed programming with help from GamesRadar, Paradox Interactive, and The Guerrilla Collective.

EA Play Live - June 11

Electronic Arts is turning its annual E3-adjacent showcase into a digital event. The EA Play Live broadcast will feature game reveals, updates, community content, and more. Viewers can tune in on Thursday, June 11, at 7 p.m. EDT on EA’s website.

Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire - June 11

The highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077 will be the focus of a livestream from CD Projekt Red. Details are scant, but expect the developer to do another deep dive on the game ahead of its Sept. 17 release.

Day of the Devs - June 22 / July 20

Double Fine Productions, iam8bit, and The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley will hold two separate developer showcase events, one on June 22 and another on July 20. Both events will be livestreamed and feature gameplay, news, and musical performances. Developers and publishers confirmed to appear include Akupara Games, Annapurna Interactive, The Behemoth, Finji, Kowloon Nights, Longhand Electric, MWM Interactive, Panic, Sabotage Studio, Skybound Games, Team17, thatgamecompany, Tribute Games, and ustwo games.

New Game Plus Expo - June 23

The New Game Plus Expo will bring together 14 developers and publishers, many of which are headquartered in Japan, for an event livestreamed on Twitch on June 23 from 12-7 p.m. EDT. Confirmed to appear are companies like Sega, Koei Tecmo, Arc System Works, NIS America, SNK, and Spike Chunsoft.

BitSummit Gaiden - June 27-28

Since 2013, Japanese indie developers have had BitSummit in Kyoto to showcase their wares. This year, with BitSummit canceled, the organizers are taking the show online, with livestreams and demos from 80 developers.

July

Xbox Game Studios showcase - date TBD

After giving third-party publishers time to showcase their upcoming Xbox Series X games, Microsoft will give its in-house studios a dedicated event of their own. Expect new details on Xbox Game Studios titles like 343 Industries’ Halo Infinite and Ninja Theory’s Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, and hopefully many more, considering Microsoft’s deep bench of owned game developers.

Ubisoft Forward - July 12

Ubisoft Forward will be a “fully digital showcase with exclusive game news, reveals and more,” according to publisher Ubisoft. With plenty more to reveal on games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and updates on delayed games like Watch Dogs Legion and Rainbow Six Quarantine, Ubisoft is likely to have a packed event. The show starts at 3 p.m. EDT.

Evo Online - July 4-Aug. 2

The annual Evo fighting game tournament will take place online this year over the course of five weekends — an event called Evo Online. And while the focus at Evo is the tournament itself, publishers like Bandai Namco and Capcom always show up with something new. So expect reveals after the day’s fighting game action wraps up.

August

Gamescom Opening Night Live - Aug. 27

Germany’s massive gaming convention, Gamescom, won’t have a physical event this year. Instead, like everything else, it’s going online. The big reveals will likely happen at Opening Night Live, the Geoff Keighley-produced live event that debuted in 2019 and was full of new game reveals.