On The Ground At Summer Game Fest
I had the privilege of attending two very different gaming showcases in Los Angeles earlier this month: Summer Game Fest and The MIX Summer Game Showcase. The primary Summer Game Fest event came first, thanks to an early birthday gift from my fiancee. I had a ticket to the live show at the YouTube Theater, attached to SoFi Stadium (home of the LA Rams). Later that day, I was invited to the MIX Summer Game Showcase, held on the rooftop of the Grammy Museum in Downtown LA, courtesy of a PR contact. Together, these two VERY different events offered a fascinating snapshot of where gaming is headed in 2025.
Summer Game Fest
The morning started early with a quick drive-thru breakfast before I made the trip from Southern Orange County up the 405 to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. I arrived with plenty of time to spare, having pre-paid for parking—luckily, my spot was so close you could almost spit on the stadium. Once I was inside the venue, I quickly noticed how tight the seating was. Legroom was nearly nonexistent and was not designed for tall or bigger folks. I spent most of the show shifting and contorting to stay comfortable, but once the lights dimmed and Geoff Keighley strode on stage in his bright yellow shoes, followed by the announcements rolling out, it was all worth it. While Marc Szymanski covered the event remotely, I was there for the vibe and the moments that captured the room’s attention.
My view of the stage
Notable Highlights
Over the course of two hours, Summer Game Fest 2025 felt like stepping into another universe. I’ve watched the show online in years past, but nothing will match the energy of being there in person. The crowd was locked in for every single trailer and reveal, and the hype was absolutely real. Just like every other SGF showcase, there was something for everybody, especially with a whopping 58 games featured. The biggest surprise of the night, hands down, was when Hideo Kojima—The man. The myth. The legend—walked on stage. Seeing him in the flesh talking about Death Stranding 2: On the Beach felt surreal. Even stuff that had already leaked—like Jurassic World Evolution 3—still slapped from the room’s energy.
Mads Mikkelsen showing up to reveal he’s returning as Le Chiffre was another standout moment. Not for the new Bond game like some folks assumed, but for a special Hitman: World of Assassination crossover—he’s the next Elusive Target. Some other notable highlights I’m looking forward to were new trailers for Mafia: The Old Country, the reveal of Sonic Racing CrossWorlds, and Troy Baker being cast as the lead in Mouse PI For Hire. But then came the closer: Resident Evil: Requiem. Earlier in the showcase, Keighley and company teased about a new RE game announcement. It turned out to be a bait-and-switch. But then slowly as the trailer progressed, the audience started piecing things together. As soon as that title popped up, the place absolutely exploded! I couldn’t even hear myself think for a solid thirty seconds. I’m not a diehard Resident Evil fan, but being there in the moment, utterly unreal. That’s something no livestream will ever capture.
The MIX Summer Game Showcase
Later in the day, I made my way to downtown LA and attended a press event held on the rooftop of the Grammy Museum. I was graciously invited to attend by one of our PR contacts, representing a single game, Fallen Tear: The Ascension. I assumed I’d be attending a standard, more focused press conference—something formal, with a seated audience of journalists and a presentation dedicated to this one game. Instead, what I walked into felt more like a rooftop mini-E3. It was a casual and energetic showcase packed with developers, PR reps, and press, all mingling and demoing a variety of in-progress games with rows upon rows of PC and console setups. It had a vibrant, arcade-like atmosphere. Some stations had small crowds gathered around them, some were more low-key, but it all carried that unspoken “quarter on the cabinet” vibe, where people waited for their turn to play.
With so many games on display, it was easy to get caught up wandering from booth to booth, playing anything that caught my attention. But since my invite came through the team behind Fallen Tear, I made it a priority to track them down. After all, they were the reason I was there in the first place. Eventually, I found their booth—and I’m glad I did. It gave me a chance to go hands-on with the game and chat directly with the developers. What stood out most was the lush, hand-drawn art style. The game is a 2D, gear-gated adventure inspired by classic JRPGs—not so much in gameplay structure, but in tone and aesthetic. The developers mentioned Final Fantasy as a key influence, and it shows. From the ornate fantasy architecture to the detailed character designs, there’s a level of polish and world-building ambition that’s rare to see in indie games of this scope.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay at the event for too long. I found a parking garage attached to the venue, but I was on a tight clock. If I stayed too long, I’d have to pay the all-day rate. So, I technically only had about 90 minutes to check out some games, talk to the Fallen Tear team, and then vamoose! Overall, it was an awesome day. It’s such a treat being involved with the podcast and the site that gives me opportunities to attend events like this. And, of course, it’s a huge bonus having a kick-ass fiancée who buys me tickets to events like Summer Game Fest—and getting the chance to share the same space with gaming legends like Kojima-san! I’m already looking forward to next year.
