Summer Gaming 2017
Summer is traditionally a very slow period for video games as everyone gears up for the big holiday rush of releases, or has already released their titles during the spring. This can lead to a bit of a drought for games, with only an odd title here and there. 2017 looks like it could be a bit different, however, as it’s bringing quite a few promising titles over the next few months. It’s certainly not on the level that the Fall or Holiday season will be, of course, but there’s going to be plenty keeping you busy over the Summer months, especially if you’re a big Nintendo fan.
We’ll go over the big releases coming to your systems, including the rest of June, and what’s going to be your best choices for filling your hot Summer days. Of course, there are more releases coming out than what we’ll be talking about, we’ll just be focusing on the biggest and most promising.
June
June has already been a fairly impressive month for gaming, kicking things off with the huge release of Tekken 7 as well as the Morrowind expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online. Other big titles like Arms, Dirt 4, and Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood are sure to keep players busy for months if not the rest of the year. June isn’t over, however, and we’ve still got a few titles left to get to.
3DS owners will get a brand new RPG to occupy their time on June 23 with Ever Oasis, a title that has you exploring an expansive desert and building your very own oasis city. With elements of the Mana series and Animal Crossing, it could be the perfect title to take on the go. Meanwhile, RPG fans on other systems will get to play Valkyria Revolution on June 27, a more action-oriented spinoff of Valkyria Chronicles. That same day Elite Dangerous: Legendary Edition will finally hit Xbox One and PS4. Finally on June 30 a video game icon makes a return with the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. The first three Crash titles have been gorgeously remastered for PS4, giving fans a big dose of nostalgia while introducing the mascot to a host of new players. With everything from June you’re sure to have something to occupy your time for a while, at least before the July releases hit.
July
July is a big month for the big N, with the Switch receiving a huge multiplayer title in Splatoon 2 on the 21. The sequel brings shooter action to the Switch, along with a brand new story mode, a host of multiplayer options, and plenty of new weapons and equipment. It’s easily been one of the most awaited games coming to the Switch. Meanwhile on July 25, the Switch will also be getting Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star, a hack-and-slash action title based off of the anime. Then a few days later Nintendo brings Pikmin to the 3DS for the first time with the platformer Hey! Pikmin, along with a brand new amiibo.
For anyone not on a Nintendo system there’s still a few things to be excited about, starting with Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age on July 11. The remastered title comes with a number of improvements like a fast-forward feature, rebalanced combat, and reworked license board system. The rest of the month brings two indie titles, with Yonder: the Cloud Catcher Chronicles on July 18 for PS4, and Pyre the new game from the Transistor devs hitting PS4 and PC on July 25.
July is definitely the slowest of the Summer months this year, but there’s still some unique experiences coming for players.
August
August caps off the Summer in a strong way, with some big releases at the beginning, middle, and end of the month. There truly is something on offer for everyone, no matter what system and type of game you prefer. Both the Xbox One and PS4 get interesting console exclusives in the first week, with Tacoma on Aug. 2 on Xbox and Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice hitting PS4 on Aug. 8. The fast-paced mutliplayer FPS, Lawbreakers, also hits PS4 and PC on the 8th.
The very next week on Aug. 15 a number of big releases hit, with Sonic Mania bringing a dose of nostalgia, Agents of Mayhem providing intense and crazy action, and Matterfall providing some platforming on PS4. Things aren’t nearly over, however, as Aug. 22 brings Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, a new tale in the series focusing on Chloe and Nadine. Then Football fans should be excited for another yearly release, with Madden NFL 18.
Everything wraps up with a big final week across the industry with the absolutely charming looking Mario+Rabbids: Kingdom Battle arriving on Switch, Warriors All-Stars coming to PS4 and PC, Yakuza Kiwami a remake of the very first game coming to PS4, and a new XCOM 2 expansion called War of the Chosen arriving on PC. Everything is capped off by the release of the first episode of Life is Strange: Before the Storm on Aug. 31. Whew, talk about a packed month.
Summer 2017 certainly starts and ends with some strong releases, and there’s going to plenty to catch up on before the deluge of releases in the Fall. Which games are you looking forward to the most over the next few months. Feel free to leave a comment below and let us know.
