On June 12th, gamers were treated to the 8th annual PC Gaming Show chalk full of upcoming games and announcements. The showcase is a one-of-a-kind event where gamers can see new game trailers, interviews with developers, and world-first gameplay footage. For the second year in a row, the PC show was held alongside Summer Game Fest. This is the second annual SGF hosted by Geoff Keighley and the eighth PC Game Show hosted by Sean “Day[9]” Plott. In June of 2015, the very first “official” PC Gaming Show took place.
Since then, it has been host to legendary guests like Warren Spector and Gabe Newell along with first looks at some of the biggest titles in gaming. Fast forward to 2022, and this year’s show, which included more than 45 games.
I have summarized some of the most notable announcements below, plus you can still catch the full replay of the showcase on YouTube.
The Invincible
One of my biggest highlights was seeing the debut of gameplay for “The Invincible” a retro sci-fi adventure title. The game is based on Stanisław Lem’s novel of the same namesake. 
The game looks like it is evolving into a big narrative experience set against a detailed, but harsh sci-fi universe. You’ll explore planet Regis III as scientist Yasna, using atompunk tools looking for a missing crew while facing a hostile alien environment.
The Alters reveal trailer
The reveal of a new 11 Bit Studios game, The Alters was revealed along with an interview with Lead Artist Tomasz Kisilewicz. The fully CG trailer didn’t offer any gameplay, but did give a first-look at the synopsis of the game. You are a maintenance worker named Jan, stranded on a distant space station. In order to survive you must bring more helping hands on board. The twist? The only way to do this is to make alternate versions of yourself. These alt versions, or “the alters” each have a personality shaped by Jan’s previous life paths. No release date was shared, but keep this unique looking title on your radar, 11 Bit Studios has created some very unique titles in the past like, This War of Mine and Frostpunk.
Demonschool Announced
The reveal of Demonschool from developers Ysbryd Games and Necrosoft, offered a look at new game with a very unique premise: a tactics RPG where “motion equals action.” In the game, you will defeat enemies between human and demon worlds as “Faye” joined by her trusty companions. This all takes place while you try to navigate university life on a mysterious island.
The game is inspired by the Persona series and fan-favorite tactics games like Into the Breach. Demonschool looks like it will offer a fresh take on the RPG genre, and I am excited to see more!
The world premiere of Nivalis
Pack your bags CyberPunks, the sprawling city of Nivalis awaits! During the PC Gaming Show, we got to see “Nivalis,” the first public presentation of the game, and the virtual metropolis within it that is “a slice-of-life cyberpunk sim.” Developer Ion Lands, explained, “In Nivalis, you choose how to spend your time in the city… you can grow your business, meet strange and diverse characters, form friendships and experience the danger and wonder of this cyberpunk voxel city.”
In the trailer we got a look at the sim featuring realistic weather simulation, night / day cycles all in the neon glow of a Bladerunner-like environment. Along with this, we saw indoor environments that could be upgraded, like restaurants, green houses and even swanky apartments.
New gameplay from Stormgate
We also got to see the highly anticipated RTS title, “Stormgate.” When the game launches, it will be a free-to-play PC game with a hyper futuristic setting, hundreds of years in Earth’s future. Players will be able to take command of the human resistance, demonic invaders, or other factions yet to be revealed.
As a big StarCraft fan, I am excited for this one, as it has many similar trappings to the iconic series. You gather resources, amass plus train forces and lead your army to victory. The new gameplay footage looked exciting, plus the interview with Frost Giant Studios Production Director & CEO Tim Morten shed more light on what’s to come. Morten invited players to sign up for the upcoming BETA, discussed the game’s deeper mechanics and made exciting hints about the inclusion of modding.
Uncut Half-Life Alyx: Levitation Gameplay
During the presentation, gamers were treated to uncut gameplay from Half-Life: Alyx – Levitation, an original campaign developed by community modders. The virtual reality based footage showed off a new environment not seen in the main game, with some very creative puzzles. What’s most remarkable is the fact that it’s made by volunteer designers, animators, and voice actors.
Lead by artist Shawn Snelling “FMPONE” and animator Corey Laddo, the upcoming free DLC looks official and incredibly polished. The piece of unofficial story content looks to last four to five hours, and I can’t wait to check it out. It shouldn’t be that long until we are diving into Levitation, as its release is being targeted for the third quarter of 2022.
There are some seriously talented people out there working on some very cool things for Half-Life: Alyx. Let’s hope we also get an official sequel to the game and dare I say it, some sort of Half-Life 3 update.
That’s all for now, but stay tuned for more updates from the vast and diverse world of PC Gaming on Best Buy Blog.
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