In case you hadn't noticed, 2020 is looking like a very different year when it comes to gaming news, events, and showcases. Due to the overwhelming effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the traditional lineup of gaming-related news and announcements that would come from events like E3 and Gamescom has changed with nearly every major games industry event being cancelled or postponed this year.
Instead, the majority of developers and publishers are moving towards digital showcases and livestreams to reveal new games, debut new trailers, and make many more announcements this summer. That has led to...a lot...of different digital events to keep tabs on, and there are still plenty more that are going to be announced in the coming weeks and months.
It's a lot to keep track of, but we've got you covered. Below, you can find a (mostly) complete schedule of the upcoming gaming digital events and livestreams that will be happening in summer 2020. We've kept this list mainly organized by when each event is happening, and we'll update this schedule periodically as new events are announced.
Ongoing Events
Summer Game Fest (Now - August)
Produced by Geoff Keighley and The Game Awards, Summer Game Fest is one of the biggest events that has been announced to help fill in the gaps of summer gaming events left by the cancellation of E3, Gamescom, and more. Taking place over the course of four months, Summer Game Fest encompasses a ton of different reveals, new trailers, announcements, and more in its ongoing "celebration of gaming" for 2020. Given the nature of the event and that it spans several months, we'd suggest visiting the official Summer Game Fest website for the full schedule of events now through August.
Xbox 20/20 (Monthly streams leading up to the Xbox Series X launch)
With the Xbox Series X set to debut later this year, Microsoft is continuing its trend of giving us a closer look at what's in store for its next console. The company started off its slate of reveals for the Xbox Series X with a new episode of Inside Xbox in May that showed us several upcoming titles that will arrive on the system. Starting in June, Microsoft will kick off Xbox 20/20, which will give new looks at Xbox Series X and reveal new facets of the system and what it will offer for the next generation of gaming. So far, we know that the July presentation will focus specifically on new exclusive titles coming from Xbox Game Studios, with more planned every month until the launch of the Xbox Series X this holiday season.
GameSpot's Play For All (June - July)
Alongside other outlets this summer, GameSpot is hosting a several-week-long event highlighting upcoming games and announcements, and giving inside information on the games that we're looking forward to playing. In addition to that, Play For All is also running charity events and livestreams to benefit both COVID-19 relief efforts and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. You can check out their full schedule of programming here.
TBD Events
IGDA Indie Showcase
The International Game Developers Association, which highlights the efforts of indie devs around the world, will plan to showcase upcoming indie games in collaboration with Twitch and the Summer Game Fest. According to the organization, we can expect to see "some of the best content from indie studios before anyone else," along with developer AMAs, trailers, gameplay demos, and more. The IGDA will also be hosting a Twitch "e-Jam" from June 26-28, which will showcase indie devs working with students in a contest to create small games in 48 hours. Currently, there is no set date yet for when the IGDA Indie Showcase is airing.
June Events
Indie Live Expo 2020 (Saturday, June 6 @ 4am PT/7am ET)
Coming to us live from Japan, as its name implies the Indie Live Expo will bring us an entire presentation dedicated to upcoming indie games. Notably, the Indie Live Expo will feature some prominent appearances from developers such as Swery, Toby Fox, Kazuya Nino, Zun, and many others during the showcase.
IGN's Summer of Gaming (Wednesday, June 10 - Tuesday, June 30)
In a similar vein to the Summer Game Fest and other ongoing game events, IGN is hosting its Summer of Gaming event with several new reveals, developer interviews, and much more over the course of several weeks. Starting early next week, IGN's Summer of Gaming will kick off with tons of schedule programming, including news from publishers and studios like 2K, CD Projekt Red, Square Enix, Ubisoft, and many others. You can check out their full schedule here, which will be running throughout most of June.
The Escapist Indie Showcase (Thursday, June 11 - Sunday, June 14)
In collaboration with GOG.com, The Escapist Indie Showcase will join in on the summer gaming event spectacle with a show dedicated to indie gaming. The event will kick off with a digital showcase on June 11 that will feature over 70 different indie games from developers across the globe, including new trailers, developer interviews, and more. After that, from June 12-14, the showcase will continue with dedicated livestreams featuring hands-on gameplay demos, presentations, and interviews with developers on their upcoming titles.
PlayStation 5: The Future of Gaming (Thursday, June 11 @ 1pm PT/4pm ET)
After months of waiting, Sony is finally pulling back the curtain on the PlayStation 5 and giving us a closer look at its next generation system. While it's not likely that we'll know everything about the PS5 this time around, it's likely we'll at least get to see some of the games that will be coming to the system, see more of the DualSense controller in action, and (hopefully) get our first look at what the PS5 actually looks like.
The Guerrilla Collective (Saturday, June 13 - Monday, June 15)
One of the biggest indie-focused showcases announced for this summer is the Guerrilla Collective, which has collected an assortment of different developers together for new reveals, trailers, gameplay demos, and more. So far, the showcase is confirmed to feature studios and publishers such as Larian Studios, Sega, New Blood Interactive, Kitfox Games, and many more to highlight upcoming games and projects. You can check out their full website for a breakdown of what to expect over the three-day event.
- How to Watch: Twitch
Paradox Insider (Saturday, June 13)
Originally planned to take place during the Guerrilla Collective, Paradox Insider will bring direct news and reveals from Paradox Interactive and what they have in store for the future from the world of grand strategy, unique sim games, and more. However, in the wake of the protests in response to the death of George Floyd, Paradox has postponed their presentation to a later date.
The PC Gaming Show (Saturday, June 13 @ 12pm PT/3pm ET)
Produced by PC Gamer, The PC Gaming Show returns once again to give us the good news on all things PC-gaming related. This year's show will be hosted by Sean "Day[9]" Plott and Frankie Ward, The PC Gaming Show will feature a mix of pre-recorded segments and live interviews with developers and publishers, alongside a bunch of different reveals and announcements targeted towards the PC gaming crowd.
The Future Games Show (Saturday, June 13 @ 2:30pm PT/5:30pm ET)
A sister show to The PC Gaming Show, The Future Games Show (which is being produced by GamesRadar+) will follow this Saturday with additional gaming-related announcements, news, trailers, and more from this year and onward. Additionally, the show will be hosted by Uncharted's Nate and Elena themselves, Nolan North and Emily Rose, so we should be in for a good time.
The Steam Game Festival: Summer Edition (Tuesday, June 16 - Monday, June 22)
Returning once again this year, the Steam Game Festival is a bit different from the rest of the events on this list by giving actual, playable builds of upcoming games. Focusing on games coming out within the next year, for nearly a week the Steam Game Festival: Summer Edition will highlight plenty of games on the horizons by featuring playable demos that you can download and tryout from home, get insights from their developers, and learn more about the games before they release. Your Steam Wishlist is probably going to get a lot bigger this summer, so get ready.
- Where to Join: Steam
UploadVR Showcase: Summer Edition (Tuesday, June 16 @ 9am PT/12pm ET)
VR isn't missing out on its chance in the spotlight, and UploadVR is making sure of that. This VR-centric showcase is returning again this summer to highlight upcoming VR titles in collaboration with IGN and the Summer Game Fest. So far, we can expect to see the debut of some new VR games along with updates on recent hits like The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, Pistol Whip, and many more.
EA Play Live 2020 (Thursday, June 18 @ 4pm PT/7pm ET)
EA has always made an appearance at E3, and is continuing that trend with a digital press conference for this summer. While we don't know exactly what EA has in store for this summer, we can expect the publisher to at least show off what it would have had ready for E3 this year. At the moment, we can at least expect to see some updates on EA's lineup of sports games, most likely some updates on hits like Apex Legends and The Sims, and definitely some new game reveals.
BIG Digital - Brazil's Independent Games Festival (Monday, June 22 - Friday, June 26)
As the biggest gaming event in Latin America, Brazil's Independent Games Festival (or BIG) definitely earns its namesake. While the in-person event was cancelled this summer due to the pandemic, BIG is shifting to a digital event this year to continue celebrating indie games on an international scale. The digital will offer livestreams and demonstrations of new titles from international developers, while also providing networking and professional development events and opportunities for developers and studios.
- Where to Join: Official Website
Day of the Devs + The Game Awards Developer Showcase (Monday, June 22 @ 8am PT/11am ET)
Day of the Devs, a popular indie showcase produced by Double Fine and iam8bit, is joining in the summer celebrations by hosting a two-part indie showcase. As part of Summer Game Fest, Day of the Devs is teaming up to highlight new and upcoming indie games by teaming up with The Game Awards.
New Game+ Expo (Tuesday, June 23 @ 8am PT/11am ET)
Combining tons of different studios and publishers together, the New Game+ Expo is joining in summer-long celebration of gaming that will especially appeal to anyone interested in Japanese games. This digital event will feature a big presence from Japanese game studios and publishers such as GungHo America, Idea Factor, Inti Creates, Koei Tecmo, Sega, Atlus, Arc System Works, and many more, so be sure to tune in for plenty of new Japanese game announcements and reveals.
- How to Watch: Twitch
Marvel's Avengers: War Table Livestream (Wednesday, June 24 @ 10am PT/1pm ET)
Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics' upcoming Marvel's Avengers has been one of the most anticipated games to arrive this year by bringing Earth's Mightiest Heroes to your TV. Originally planned to launch in May, the game ended up being delayed to this September, but we'll at least get a brand new look at the game before release. An upcoming "War Table" stream will show new footage from Marvel's Avengers, along with giving us a look at its co-op gameplay in action.
Cyberpunk 2077: Night City Wire Livestream (Thursday, June 25 @ 9am PT/12pm ET)
As one of the most anticipated games of 2020, it wouldn't be a year with major gaming events without a look at Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red is set to unveil a dedicated livestream all about their upcoming futuristic RPG, which is now scheduled to release this coming September after being delayed from its planned April launch. Let's hope for more Keanu.
BitSummit Gaiden (Saturday, June 27 - Sunday, June 28)
One of the biggest indie gaming events in Japan, BitSummit has been a big celebration for indie development over the years, including in 2020. This year, BitSummit Gaiden will mark the event's first fully-digital event, with livestreams happening over on Twitch to highlight upcoming games and demos. Additionally, the BitSummit Discord will act as the "virtual show floor" for attendees to chat and learn more about upcoming games with developers.
- How to Watch: Twitch
July Events
EVO Online (Saturday, July 4 - Sunday, August 2) [CANCELLED]
EVO is among the biggest gaming tournaments in the world along with being a celebration of the fighting game community. While this year's installment was cancelled due to the pandemic, EVO is transitioning to an online event this year to keep the fighting spirit alive. EVO Online will host various competitions for fan-favorite fighting games such as Dragon Ball FighterZ and Tekken 7, while also hosting several open tournaments to participate in.
[UPDATE: In the wake of allegations of sexual harassment and assault made against members of the fighting game community and EVO founder Joey Cuellar, EVO Online has officially been cancelled.]
Limited Run Games #LRG3 Showcase (Wednesday, July 8 @ 12pm PT/3pm ET)
As one of the first press conferences announced out of the gate for E3 2020, Limited Run Games is sticking to their guns with their upcoming #LRG3 presentation. At the digital show, we can expect the limited edition games publisher to share some of the new titles it has up its sleeves for physical releases in the coming year, and probably a few other surprises. The event was previously scheduled for Monday, June 8, but Limited Run Games has stated that a new date will be announced soon.
[UPDATE: Limited Run Games has announced that the event will now take place on July 8, 2020.]
TennoCon (Saturday, July 11 @ 8am PT/11am ET)
As the annual home for all things Warframe, TennoCon is gathering fans of the immensely popular online shooter together virtually this year in place of an in-person event. Taking place on Saturday, July 11, TennoCon will host a day-long stream with exciting new reveals and announcements as in years past along with much more. Developer Digital Extremes is also offering various bundles with digital items for Warframe and TennoCon merch, with a portion of the proceeds from TennoCon 2020 supporting Autism Ontario London and the Alzheimer Society London and Middlesex.
Devolver Direct 2020 (Saturday, July 11 @ 12pm PT/3pm ET)
Devolver Digital is not only a publisher known for their eclectic and subversive indie games, but also for making equally eclectic and subversive press conferences. After its last few years of extremely memorable (and often quite bloody) press conferences, the publisher is once again planning for a digital showcase that was set to take place during E3 2020. At the moment, the publisher hasn't announced an official date or time yet for this year's Devolver Direct, but it'll happen sometime this year...and there will probably be carnage.
[UPDATE: Devolver Digital has announced that the presentation is currently planned to air sometime in July, depending on how production moves forward.]
[UPDATE 2: Devolver Digital announced that the presentation will officially take place on Saturday, July 11.]
- How to Watch: Twitch
Ubisoft Forward (Sunday, July 12 @ 12pm PT/3pm ET)
Ubisoft has been a regular at E3 over the years, and while E3 2020 isn't happening, Ubisoft is still lining up an exciting digital event later this summer. As "an E3-style showcase," we can expect to see Ubisoft reveal some new information on its upcoming titles--which most likely will include games such as Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, Gods & Monsters--and more alongside brand new game reveals and announcements.
Day of the Devs + The Game Awards Developer Showcase (Monday, July 20)
Day of the Devs, a popular indie showcase produced by Double Fine and iam8bit, is joining in the summer celebrations by hosting a two-part indie showcase. As part of Summer Game Fest, Day of the Devs is teaming up to highlight new and upcoming indie games by teaming up with The Game Awards.
August Events
Play NYC 2020 (Monday, August 10 - Sunday, August 16)
Since its debut in 2017, Play NYC has brought together developers and studios from around the world to celebrate the gaming community right in the heart of New York City. Like other conventions and events, this year Play NYC is shifting from an in-person gathering to a virtual event, and will be expanding from a weekend-long event into a full week of livestreams, digital presentations, and more. The event itself will be entirely free for the public, and you can find out more about where to watch and join in from the official website.
- Where to Join: Official Website
Summer Games Done Quick 2020 (Sunday, August 16 - Sunday, August 23)
Games Done Quick has been one of the biggest celebrations of the speedrunning community around, and the organizations annual run (no pun intended) of speedrunning events has raised millions of dollars to support various charities over the years. While originally planned for earlier this summer, the organization delayed Summer Games Done Quick to August in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Stay tuned to their website and Twitter for more information and updates on the event as the summer progresses.
- How to Watch: Twitch
Gamescom 2020 (Thursday, August 27 - Sunday, August 30)
While Gamescom traditionally takes place in-person towards the end of the summer, this year the massive gaming convention is also making the jump to a digital format in its place. As one of the biggest gaming events of the year, this time you can enjoy all that Gamescom has to offer from home starting with Gamescom's Opening Night Live, which is hosted by Geoff Keighley.
- How to Watch: Twitch
September Events
PAX Online (Saturday, September 12 - Sunday, September 20)
Alongside events like E3 and Gamescom, PAX and its several conventions each year are some of the biggest highlights of the year for the gaming community. After PAX South and PAX East took place earlier this year, PAX West and PAX Australia were next in line to take place in the fall. However, due to the ongoing concerns around the coronavirus pandemic, both events have been cancelled and consolidated into PAX Online, an online event that will take place in September. In lieu of an in-person gathering, PAX Online will bring its livestreams, panels, and more for over a week, while highlighting the community aspects that have made PAX a mainstay in the games industry.
Where to Join: Official Website