As summer gets into full swing, gamers will be able to test their skills on the track, save the kingdom, take a dive into Welsh folklore, defend against a Mongol invasion or just destroy the world and harvest humans with this month’s gaming releases.
F1 2020
Compete to be the best in the world with this year’s F1 release. Featuring all the official teams, drivers and courses, players will be able to put their driving skills to the test against the best the sport has to offer. In F1 2020, players will be able to shape their own careers as they form their own teams, choose sponsors, pick their teammates, and build their facilities from the ground up as the 11th team on the grid. Two new races – Hanoi Circuit and Circuit Zandvoort – will allow players to hone their skills as they forge their path in this fast-paced title.
The Seventy Edition will include a unique car livery, podium celebration, helmet, race suit, gloves and player badge with a Steelbook case included at select retailers to celebrate 70 years of Formula 1. The Deluxe Schumacher Edition includes a copy of the game – with Steelbook case at select retailers – with all DLC from the Seventy Edition along with a set of unique liveries inspired by Michael Schumacher, a Schumacher in-game model, race suits, helmet designs and podium celebration as well as four of Schumacher’s most iconic cars from his Formula 1 career. Players who purchase the Deluxe Schumacher Edition will also be able to play three days early from July 7*.
F1 2020 will be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC from July 10*
Paper Mario: The Origami King
Save Toad Town in this Switch adventure. In Paper Mario: The Origami King, the titular king has ransacked Toad Town and turned Princess Peach into a paper prisoner, sealed in her castle by enchanted streamers. In order to help their friends, Mario and Luigi will have to work their way through this new world, with a little help from new ally Olivia, in order to put things right and end the evil King’s reign.
Players who purchase either the physical or digital edition will receive an Origami Sheet and Magnet set featuring an assortment of characters from the game.
Paper Mario: The Origami King will be available on Nintendo Switch from July 17*
Ghost of Tsushima
Defend your home in this samurai tale. Set in 1274, Ghost of Tsushima follows Jin Sakai, the last remaining samurai on Tsushima Island. With the island under threat from the invading Mongol Empire, Jin’s clan are wiped out and he is left shattered as a result. With his few remaining allies, Jin realises that he needs to take a new path and find a new way to take on this seemingly unstoppable and insurmountable force – the path of the Ghost.
Players who pre-order any edition of the game will receive a digital mini soundtrack and a Dynamic theme and Avatar inspired by Jin. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes a copy of the game, an additional Technique Point, Charm of Hachiman’s Favor, a skin set, Digital Artbook, Director’s Commentary, and a Samurai Theme. The Special Edition includes a copy of the game in a Steelbook case, Technique Point, Charm of Hachiman’s Favour, Golden Mask skin set, Digital Artbook and Director’s Commentary. The Collector’s Edition includes a copy of the game in a Steelbook case, all the content from the Digital Deluxe Edition along with a cloth map, Sashimono (War Banner) and Furoshiki (Wrapping Cloth), 48-page Artbook and Sakai mask with stand all in a collector’s box.
Ghost of Tsushima will be available on PlayStation 4 from July 17*
Maid of Sker
Explore and survive in this atmospheric survival horror. Inspired by the Welsh tale of Elizabeth Williams, Maid of Sker is set in a remote hotel in 1898 with players exploring the building and the grounds, all the while hiding from the creatures that dwell within and the nightmares of the Quiet Ones. With no weapons to fight with, players will have to use their wits to find their way around as they uncover this tale of torture, slavery, piracy and the supernatural.
With a 3D sound-based AI as the core survival mechanic, players will be able to immerse themselves in the story, which fuses gothic horror with British folklore. The game also features re-imaginings of several Welsh hymns – including Calon Lân, Suo-Gân and Ar Hyd Y Nos – brought to life for this adventure by Welsh singer Tia Kalmaru.
Maid of Sker will be available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 from July 24*
Destroy All Humans!
Save the Furon Empire in this extra-terrestrial remake. Set in 1959, Destroy All Humans! follows Cryptosporidium-137, a Furon soldier sent to Earth to rescue his clone – Cryptosporidium-136 – who has been captured by the U.S. Army following a crash. Advised along the way by the Furon scientist Orthopox, players will journey to different spots across America as Crypto to try and find out what happened, by any means necessary. Along the way, players will also be tasked with harvesting Furon DNA from humans, which will be key to Crypto’s mission and the survival of the Furon Empire.
Players who pre-order via select retailers will receive an exclusive keyring. The DNA Collector’s Edition includes a copy of the game, a Crypto stress ball, a set of six lithographs, all in-game skins for Crypto and a 9” Crypto & Cow figurine in a special collector’s box. The Crypto-137 Edition includes a copy of the game, stress ball, Crypto keyring, lithographs, in-game skins, Crypto backpack and 23” Crypto figurine in a limited-edition collector’s box.
Destroy All Humans! will be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC from July 28*
Free to Play
Xbox users with a Gold subscription or Game Pass Ultimate will have four new games to download and play for free. On Xbox One, WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship will be available from July 1-31* with Dunk Lords available from July 16 – August 15*. On Xbox 360 – and Xbox One via Backwards Compatibility – Saints Row 2 will be available for free from July 1-15* followed by Juju from July 16-31*
On PlayStation, Plus members will have three games to download and play for free this month. From July 7* NBA 2K20 and Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration will be available. As an added bonus to mark 10 years of PlayStation Plus, immersive cinematic Erica along with a free PS4 theme and free online multiplayer weekend July 4-5* will also be available on PlayStation 4.
Those with connected Amazon Prime and Twitch accounts will be able to claim five new games this month via Twitch Prime. From July 1* Dark Devotion, Dear Esther, GRIP: Combat Racing, KUNAI and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil will be available to download and play for free. Full details on how to claim these games, along with the full range of benefits, can be found on the Twitch Prime website.
Also Released This Month
July 1* – Trackmania (PC)
July 2* – Biped (Switch)
July 3* – The Wonderful 101 Remastered (PS4, Switch), Marvel’s Iron Man VR (PSVR), Down The Rabbit Hole (PS4), Gun Club VR (PSVR), Big Pharma Special Edition (PS4, Switch), New Super Lucky’s Tale (PS4), Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack (PS4)
July 7* – Catherine Full Body (Switch), NASCAR Heat 5 (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
July 10* – Namco Complete Collection (Switch), Budget Cuts (PSVR), Story of Seasons – Friends of Mineral Town (Switch), Hard West: Collectors Edition (Switch), Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris (Xbox One, PS4), Guacamelee! One-Two Punch Collection (PS4, Switch), Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise (Switch)
July 14* – Rocket Arena (Xbox One, PS4), Death Stranding (PC), Neon Abyss (Xbox One, PS4, PC, Switch)
July 16* – Hunting Simulator 2 (PC), Radical Rabbit Stew (Xbox One, PS4, PC, Switch)
July 17* – The Persistance (Xbox One, PS4), Warhammer 40K Mechanicus (Xbox One, PS4, Switch)
July 20* – Into The Radius (PC)
July 21* – Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break (Xbox One, PS4, PC, Switch, Stadia)
July 23* – Roki (PC)
July 24* – Streets of Rage 4 (Xbox One, PS4, Switch)
July 28* – Skater XL (Xbox One, PS4), Grounded (Xbox One, PC), Ary and the Secret of Seasons (Xbox One, PS4, PC, Switch), Othercide (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
July 30* – Fairy Tail (PS4, Switch)
July 31* – The Sojourn (Xbox One, PS4), Lovecraft’s Untold Stories (Switch), The Persistence (Switch), Headmaster Extra Time Edition (PSVR), Cat Quest 2 (PS4, Switch), Monster Crown (PC)
*Dates refer to UK release only. International dates may vary and are subject to change. Information correct at time of writing.
Words by Megan Roxburgh.