The summer is finally here, and with it comes games. Normally, E3 would be eating up headlines and spitting out trailers en masse. Unfortunately, due to extenuating circumstances this year, that won’t be happening. Even Sony’s PlayStation 5 press conference show didn’t escape a postponement.
With the USA in turmoil and a virus floating around, things might look pretty bleak. But you always have video games. These are the Games to Look Out For in June 2020.
The Last of Us Part II (June 19th, 2020 on PlayStation 4)
This one kind of goes without saying; even I’ve pre-ordered it, and that’s rare for me. Naughty Dog’s second entry in their grim franchise gives the player control of Ellie a few years after the first game ends. The world looks to be even more brutal/emotional than the first, with attack dogs, facial features that display incredible emotions and upgraded infected.
There has been some controversy around the release, as leaks were originally attributed to a disgruntled employee. It turns out it was breach in security, instead. Fortunately, Naughty Dog has a pedigree with series like Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter, and Uncharted. I can’t see this being the game that ruins it.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom–Rehydrated (June 23rd, 2020 on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One)
Originally released in 2003, this 3D platformer is being dredged back up for the modern consoles. You take control of SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy in an effort to defend Sandy Bottom from Plankton’s robots. Most of the actors even voiced their characters for the game, with one or two absences. This new version will have updated graphics and more than likely some other additions, so fans of the show will want to keep this game in mind.
Beyond Blue (June 11th, 2020 on PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One)
Last month we had a game where we played as the shark. This month has a release that’s slightly more contemplative. In Beyond Blue, you control a deep-sea explorer and scientist through an “evocative narrative and…an untouched world.” But where this differs from other ocean games is in the developers.
A partnership of BBC Studios, OceanX Media, and leading ocean experts came together to create this title. They want players to experience the “awesome wonder and unbounded mystery that infuses our planets beating blue heart.”
Ostranauts (June 11th, 2020 on PC)
Have you ever watched a show like Battlestar: Galactica and thought you could do a better job? Well, now you can prove it. Ostranauts is a “detailed simulation of owning and living aboard a spaceship.” But don’t expect everyone to friendly– its set in a universe where scavengers and raiders abound.
In a capitalistic dystopia, players will “create their captain, build or customize their starting ship from the spoils of their career history, and find ways to keep fuel in their tanks, food on their plates, and the debt collectors at bay.”
From the vastness of space to the depths of the ocean, from cordyceps to sponges, the Games To Look Out For in June 2020 are vastly different from each other. If you aren’t inclined towards any of these picks, there is more than likely something you will enjoy.
Come back next month for Informed Pixel’s Games to Look Out for in July 2020. Or if you would like to see the picks for May 2020, you can here. You can talk to the team and keep updated on all things gaming on the Informed Pixel Facebook page or on the Informed Pixel Twitter account.
