E3 is dead, but gaming’s biggest weekend just got better. Summer Game Fest 2025 kicks off Friday, June 6, promising more reveals than your backlog can handle. With over 60 partners confirmed and Geoff Keighley hosting from the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, this year’s event is shaping up as the largest in SGF history.
The main showcase starts at 2 PM PT and runs approximately two hours. That’s followed immediately by Day of the Devs, showcasing indie gems that’ll probably steal your heart and wallet.
The weekend breakdown matters more than your sleep schedule. Saturday kicks off with Wholesome Direct at 9 AM PT, spotlighting around 60 indie titles that redefine emotional storytelling. It’s followed by the Future Games Show and Green Games Showcase at 1 PM—stacked with releases that could quietly become some of the Best Video Games of the year.
Sunday closes with Xbox’s showcase at 10 AM PT, followed by a dedicated Outer Worlds 2 Direct, and wraps with the PC Gaming Show at noon.
Death Stranding 2 delivers its final trailer before the June 26 release. Hideo Kojima himself will present new footage during a dedicated showcase, likely revealing story elements that’ll have fans theorizing until launch day.
IOI drops new footage of 007 First Light, focusing on Bond’s origin story. Forget the gadgets—this Bond is earning his double-0 status the hard way. Early glimpses suggest a grittier take on the franchise that could redefine action games.
The rumor mill’s working overtime with potential bombshells. Resident Evil 9, a new Tomb Raider uniting classic and modern Lara Croft timelines, and even a BioShock remake are floating around industry insider circles. Take these with the usual grain of salt, but the whispers are getting louder.
Indie games get their moment to shine beyond the AAA spotlight. The Wholesome Direct alone features 60 indie titles, many revealing demos you can download immediately. These showcases historically uncover hidden gems that outlast triple-A disappointments.
Noticeably absent from the main showcases? Nintendo and Activision Blizzard, both opting for standalone summer events. It’s a smart play—why split attention when you can command it solo? Especially with growing anticipation around Nintendo’s next-gen console launch, the decision to go off-cycle feels less like avoidance and more like calculated dominance.
Your viewing options beat cable TV’s golden age. Free livestreams run across YouTube, Twitch, X, TikTok, and Steam. No subscriptions, no paywalls, just pure gaming announcements delivered straight to your preferred platform.
The industry is betting big on Summer Game Fest as the new standard for game reveals, with marketing budgets increasingly shifting toward these concentrated showcase moments rather than scattered traditional campaigns. With E3 officially dead and buried, SGF fills that void while improving the formula—global accessibility, diverse showcases, and zero admission fees make this the gaming event that puts fans first.
