2020 Summer Gaming Preview: It's Gonna Be A Hot Summer

Ryan L. Fox

​It’s a safe assumption to say that spring of 2020 hasn’t not been the kindest to us. With COVID-19 running rampant and many states on lockdown or slowly easing up on lockdown, there hasn’t been much to do or much to look forward to in the upcoming summer. For gamers though, spring of 2020 had its fair shares of goodies such as the release of the highly desired Final Fantasy 7 remake for the Playstation 4, Animal Crossings: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and more.

Now with Summer 2020 just around the corner, there are a plethora of game releases as well as system updates that many gamers can look forward to. Here are a few that could peak your interest.

Game: Destiny 2 Season 11
System: PlayStation 4, X Box One, PC
Release Date: June 9

The MMORPG Shooter continues to plod on. Like in previous seasons, Season 11 will introduce players to not just improvements on bounties, the Season Pass, and activities from the previous seasons but as well as a new exotic quest, a brand-new exotic weapon, and more.

Game: The Last of Us II
System: PlayStation 4
Release Date: June 19

​After the success of The Last of Us, Naughty Dog has finally released the much-desired sequel. Set five years after the first game, The Last of Us Part II focuses more on Ellie from the first game as she embarks on a journey of vengeance after her peacefully life with Joel was shattered by a ‘violent event’ (sorry, no spoilers here). Like in the first game, players are reintroduced to character customization to tailor Ellie to their playing style as well as help her survive in a world where it’s kill or be killed. 

Game: Pokemon Sword & Shield: Isle of Armor Expansion
System: Nintendo Switch
Release Date: June TBD

​​Grab your Switch and your Pokedex you Pokemon fans as the next Sword & Shield DLC heads your way. In the Isle of Armor expansion, you will continue off from your adventures in the Galar region as you battle your way through a new dojo training area, get a new costume for your attire, and capture more Pokemon including a new legendary one.

Game: NASCAR Heat 5
System: PlayStation 4, X Box One, PC
Release Date: July 10

If you are a big NASCAR fan then this is a big one to mark down on the calendar. Building off the success of NASCAR Heat 4, 704Games pretty much kept the same gaming engine but also tweaked their game a little to accommodate players (i.e. solo practice sessions without A.I. cars, reduced pit stop times, more in-depth car customizations) as well as an improvement in the game’s A.I. and more.

Game: Death Stranding
System: PC
Release Date: July 14

The hit game on the PlayStation 4 comes to the PC via Steam and the Epics Game Store. Although there really is no difference between the PC version and PS4 (slightly better graphics on the PC) it’ll introduce a whole new audience to the post-apocalyptic world where death is around every corner as well as jar babies (still haven’t quite figured out that part yet).

Game: Ghost of Tsushima
System: PlayStation 4
Release Date: July 17

After enjoying much success with the InFamous series, Sucker Punch has changed it up this time around. Instead of a futuristic city scene with characters that have superpowers, Ghost of Tsushima is set in Fedual Japan where player can explore the historical open world environment and create their own samurai adventures.

​Game: Nioh 2: The Tengu's Discipline DLC
System: PlayStation 4
Release Date: July 30

​The first of three Nioh 2 DLCs that Team Ninja plans to release for their renowned and extremely difficult horror/action adventure game. The Tengu’s Disciple will introduce players to a new plot device, a mystical whistle called the Sohayamaru, which, according to the game, will allow whoever wields it to charge into battle and restore peace to the land. Better sharpen your katana because you won’t be the only one after that whistle. 

Game: Madden 2021*
System: PlayStation 4, X Box One, PC
Release Date: August TBD
(*=Ravens QB Lamar Jackson will be on the cover, there hasn't been an official box art put out by EA Sports)

There are 3 certain things in life: death, taxes, EA Games putting out another Madden game. As expected, EA will release another version of Madden during the month of August, possibly during the first week as they have in the past. With the uncertainty of the actual 2020 NFL Season being played due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it could give football fans a means to cope should something happen to the NFL in the 2020 season. Though most of the gameplay has been relatively the same over the past few years, there could  be a few twists and turns that EA could put in theier game that we haven't seen or haven't seen in a long time. 

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