The Month in Games – June 2023

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June’s lineup of gaming releases includes some of the most eagerly anticipated of the year, with beloved franchises releasing their next chapters. Taking players to hell and back, around the racetrack at top speed, battling it out both in and out of the ring and on their own journeys to glory, there is something for everyone to enjoy this month.


Street Fighter 6

Test your skills in the latest from the world of Mortal Kombat. With three distinct modes, Street Fighter 6 will have something for all fans of the franchise, both old and new to enjoy. Fighting Ground puts players to the test in the classic Street Fighter style, but with a highly evolved combat system. Battle Hub is all about PvP – a place where players from around the world can come together to challenge each other and create truly unforgettable rivalries. World Tour is your story – as a newly trained fighter fresh out of Buckley Security, travel the world and encounter more than a few familiar faces to truly become the best version of you.

Players who pre-order will receive a bonus outfit colour pack for six characters (Chun-Li, Jamie, Manon, Dee Jay, Juri and Ken) with those who pre-order any digital versions from the PlayStation Store receiving a pack of player titles and chat stickers as an additional bonus. The Deluxe Edition includes a copy of the game and the Year 1 Character Pass – which includes four additional characters, four additional character colours and 4,200 Drive tickets. The Ultimate Edition includes the game and the Year 1 Ultimate Pass – which includes 4 additional characters along with additional outfit colours, costumes, 2 bonus stages and 7,700 Drive tickets.

Also available will be the Mad Gear Box, which includes a copy of the game, an artbook, a sticker set, figure diorama boards and 2 Pop-Up Parade figures of Luke & Kimberly along with the Year 1 Ultimate Pass and pre-order bonuses.

Street Fighter 6 will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC from June 2*


Diablo IV

Hell welcomes all to the next chapter of the Diablo series. Following the events of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls, Diablo IV takes players to the world of Sanctuary. Originally created by Lilith and Inarius, Sanctuary was a haven for those wishing to escape the Eternal Conflict. This co-existence of angels and demons led to the creation of the Nephalem, a hybrid race. A plot to destroy them was exposed by Lilith, which led to her own banishing into the void as she killed any who defied her. Now, with the forces on both sides depleted, Mephisto’s daughter has returned to Sanctuary to regain her power and spread darkness once again.

Players who pre-order will unlock the Light-Bearer mount for their character. The Standard Edition includes the game, a set of armour for your mount, Diablo III Inarius Wings and Inarius Murloc Pet, a World of Warcraft Amalgam of Rage mount and Diablo Immortal cosmetics set. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the game, all the content in the Standard Edition, up to four days Early Access, a Temptation mount, Hellborn Carapace mount armour set and the Premium Seasonal Battle Pass post-launch. The Ultimate Edition includes the game, all the content from the Digital Deluxe Edition, an accelerated Season Battle Pass unlock with bonus tier skips and a Wings of the Creator emote.

Diablo IV will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC from June 6*


F1 2023

A new season brings new challenges and new opportunities. In F1 2023, players will be able to create their dream team of racing or try their luck against other players to see who can get that top spot on the podium. This year’s story mode puts players into the shoes of Aiden Jackson – a rising star in F1 racing for Konnersport Butler. Constantly at odds with his veteran teammate Devon Butler, Aiden will have to navigate both team and family dynamics, as Devon’s sister Callie – a recent F2 champion – enters the picture. Devon isn’t the only member of the Butler family at odds with Aiden, as patriarch – and team sponsor – Davidoff Butler will stop at nothing to secure his legacy.

Players who pre-order will unlock an F1 World starter pack, 5000 PitCoin and dual entitlement on console editions. The Champions Edition includes the game with three days Early Access, 18,000 PitCoin, an XP boost, F1 World bumper pack, 4 new MyTeam Racing icons, Breaking Point 2 MyTeam icons and vanity item and a set of exclusive in-game items designed by Max Verstappen.

F1 2023 will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC from June 16*


Crash Team Rumble

Let battle commence in this comical combat title. Crash Team Rumble is a 4v4 team-based contest, where each team must gather more wumpa fruit than their opponents in order to win. Featuring iconic heroes and villains from the Crash Bandicoot universe, each character will have their own unique skills and abilities that can be used either individually or in tandem with other characters to help complete objectives, seize control of key map positions and build up that all-important wumpa bank balance one victory at a time.

Players who pre-order will unlock the Retro Threads skin for Tawna. The Standard Edition includes the game, access to the Closed Beat and a season one unlock for the Premium Battle Pass. The Deluxe Edition includes the game, all the content in the Standard Edition, a season two unlock for the Premium Battle Pass, 25 tier instant unlock for season one and the Digital Proto Pack – which includes a unique banner, Blocky hero skins, backpack and hat, Pixelated shadow along with a new victory music piece and score FX.

Crash Team Rumble will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 from June 20*


Final Fantasy XVI

A new world beckons in the latest from the iconic Final Fantasy series. For Final Fantasy XVI, players will travel to the land of Valisthea. Consisting of various realms, this country has been blessed by the light of the Mothercrystals – massive crystals which tower over the realms to provide aether to the people, which they use to conjure magicks in their daily lives. However, this power is dwindling and the Deadlands are spreading thanks to the Blight. Playing as Clive Rosfield, the passed-over son of one of the realm’s ruling families as he travels Valisthea on a quest for revenge against the dark Eikon Ifrit, who has manifested in all the chaos of the Blight.

Players who pre-order any edition will receive the Braveheart weapon and Cait Sith charm, with the Scholar’s Spectacles being an extra bonus on certain editions. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the game, a digital mini artbook and a digital mini soundtrack. The physical Deluxe Edition includes the game, a cloth map of Valisthea and a specially designed Clive Rosfield SteelBook case. The Collector’s Edition includes the game, an Eikon Pin collection, Blood Sword DLC, a digital min artbook, a digital mini soundtrack, a SteelBook case, a cloth map of Valisthea and a premium Phoenix vs Ifrit statue.

Final Fantasy XVI will be available on PlayStation 5 from June 22*


AEW: Fight Forever

Step into the ring with the first console game from All Elite Wrestling. In AEW: Fight Forever, players will be able to work their way up the ranks of the promotion in their quest to become AEW World Heavyweight Champion. Using minigames to train your wrestler, build your move set your way with full customization for attire, entrances for both solo and team matches and even the rings you wrestle in. There is also the option to team up with friends to take down opponents, with both cross-platform and online co-op available so players can get that winning count and claim the gold.

With more than 50 playable members of the AEW roster available at launch – including Kenny Omega, Britt Baker, MJF, Jon Moxley, Eddie Kingston, Jade Cargill and more – players will be able to put together their own dream matches. AEW: Fight Forever also features 10 Exhibition match types – ranging from tag team and trios matches, to ladder matches, Casino Battle Royales and even the iconic Stadium Stampede and Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match will be ready for players to step into from day one.

AEW: Fight Forever will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC and Switch from June 29*


Free to Play

Xbox users with either a Gold or Game Pass Ultimate subscription will have two new titles to add to their library for free this month. Adios – a poignant tale about a pig farmer and a hitman – will be available from June 1-30*, while audio-driven narrative adventure The Vale: Shadow of the Crown will be available from June 16 to July 15*

Over on PlayStation, PS Plus subscribers of any tier will have three titles to download and keep for free this month. From June 6 until July 3* NBA 2K23, Jurassic World Evolution 2 and Trek to Yomi will be available on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

Prime Gaming‘s June selection of games will feature 13 titles released throughout the month, starting on June 1*. The full June line-up is as follows:

  • June 1*Sengoku 2 and Mutation Nation
  • June 8*Soccer Brawl and Over Top
  • June 15* – The Super Spy, Top Hunter and SteamWorld Dig 2
  • June 22* – Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition, Autonauts and Revita
  • June 29* – Roguebook, Once Upon a Jester and Gems of Destiny: Homeless Dwarf

Details on how to claim these titles – along with drops for Hi-Fi Rush, League Legends, PUBG Mobile and more – can be found on the Prime Gaming website.

Also Released This Month

June 1* – Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection (Switch, PC), Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengeance of the Slayer (PC), Killer Frequency (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), SkateBIRD (PS4, PS5)

June 2* – Super Mega Baseball 4 (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch)

June 5* – Tiny Thor (PC)

 June 6* – Loop8: Summer of Gods (Xbox One, PS4, Switch, PC),

June 7* – Nocturnal (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch)

June 8* – Moto GP (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), Bleak Sword (PC, Switch), Harmony: The Fall of Reverie (Switch, PC)

June 9* – Greyhill Incident (PS4, PS5, PC), Toy Soldiers (Switch), Garden Simulator (PS4, PS5, Switch), Miasma Chronicles (Xbox Series X, PS5), Death or Treat (PS5), Seeker My Shadow (PS5)

June 12* – We are Eva (PC)

June 13* – Dordogne (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Switch), Powerwash Simulator physical release (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch)

June 14* – Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow (PC), Heist Kitty (PC), Dubium (PC – Steam Early Access)

June 15* – Goodbye Volcano High (PS4, PS5, PC), Fall of Porcupine (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), Jack Jeanne (Switch), Layers of Fear (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC), Gal Guardians: Demon Purge (PS4, PS5, Switch), Cuphead Limited Edition (PS4, Switch)

June 16* – Park Beyond (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC)

June 20* – Aliens: Dark Descent (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC)

June 21* – Trepang2 (PC)

June 22* – Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2 (PS5, Switch)

June 23* – Sonic Origins Plus (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), Alchemic Cutie (PS4, Switch), Pretty Princess Magical Garden Island (Switch)

June 26* – Soulvars (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch)

June 27* – Little Friends: Puppy Island (PC, Switch), Destroy All Humans 2 – Reprobed: Single Player (Xbox One, PS4), Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, PC)

June 28* – Revival: Recolonization (PC – Steam Early Access)

June 29* – Noob – The Factionless (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch)

June 30* – Master Detective Archives: Rain Code (Switch), Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Xbox One, PS4, PC, Switch), Inner Ashes (PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), Crime O’Clock (PC, Switch), Moonscars (PS4, PS5, Switch), Celeste (PS4,  Switch), Goodbye World (PS4, PS5, Switch), Shame Legacy: The Cult Edition (PS5), Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion (PS4, Switch), Ben 10: Power Trip (PS4, Switch), Hotel Transylvania 3: Monsters Overboard (PS4, Switch), Ben 10 (PS4, Switch), Transformers: Battlegrounds (PS4, Switch), TrollHunters: Defenders of Arcadia (PS4, Switch).

*Release dates refer to UK release only. International dates may vary. Information correct at time of writing.

Words by Megan Roxburgh


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