Summer Game Fest is once again fighting the pre-show leak cycle as major reveals slip out early. This week, the release date for Respawn's highly anticipated strategy game Star Wars Zero Company leaked online just days before its official gameplay debut.
On Kinda Funny Games Daily, host Blessing Adeoye Jr. broke down the blunder, pointing out that the "release date for Star Wars Zero Company has leaked ahead of its reveal at Summer Game Fest." The title, which is being developed by Bit Reactor in collaboration with Respawn, was positioned as one of the show's major tactical highlights before the internet got to it first.
But the leaks are only part of the gravity well surrounding the event. SGF is also acting as the gatekeeper for the rest of the summer's showcase season. Blessing Adeoye Jr. reported that "a Nintendo Direct's reportedly coming next week just after Summer Game Fest", setting up a massive back-to-back week of announcements for Nintendo fans.
Even with publishers struggling to keep their secrets under wraps, the industry's eyes remain fixed on Geoff Keighley's stage. Whether the showcase can deliver enough genuine surprises to outshine the leaked reveals and the looming Nintendo Direct broadcast remains the big test for this year's kickoff.