It's been a relatively quiet year for new game releases, but even by 2026 standards, June feels extra slow. That applies to everything really—both big-budget releases and indie games—but that doesn't mean the month is a total wash.
You'll just have to break out a few old reliables with new updates. I know I'll stay busy trying out Dead by Daylight's new killer, Jason, and the new Final Fantasy 14 patch. As someone who also spends too much time in an online game, I feel for folks grieving for the Destiny community, and I'm watching to see how, or if, that carries over into Marathon.
June is also time for the industry's annual pilgrimage to Los Angeles for Summer Game Fest, where we'll hold the traditional 'cram as many announcements as humanly possible into one weekend' ceremony. It's also the time of year where I spend the most hours poring over our annual new game release date calendar. So, if you happen to need me anytime within the next week or so, you now know where to find me.
The games we're watching in June 2026
Marathon (Steam) begins Season 2 this month with its usual playlist of challenges and a new, experimental "PvP-lite" mode, Sponsored Survival. I thought it would be a more laid-back Marathon experience, but then I saw how everything turns very Battle Royale in the end, so never mind—still terrifying.
Gothic Remake (Steam) is just as the name implies—a ground-up overhaul of the 2001 RPG. My colleague Fraser went hands-on with it last month, and while he wasn't entirely impressed with the combat in his Gothic 1 preview, he's got a lot of hope it'll renew interest in "eurojank roleplaying romps" along with Kingdom Come.
Solarpunk (Steam) brings an eco-conscious element to survival crafting this month, and it's one I've had on my wishlist for a while. More than anything, I'm just keen on the classic farming sim mechanics that seem present here and its building system. You can craft some pretty neat structures in the demo, and it's still available in the lead-up to launch.
Destiny 2 (Steam) gets its last live service update this month, and it's making me weirdly sentimental for a game I only played for a week at launch. Perhaps it's just a little MMO camaraderie, but Lincoln's Destiny 2 sendoff really got me. I'm not sure how a successful service game is supposed to end, but it's still sad to see it go out like this.
Burglin' Gnomes (Steam) is one of two ridiculous friendslop games on the list this month, and one I'm eyeing for my own raucous group of Discord hooligans. My colleague Elie tried out Burglin' Gnomes earlier this year and said it's "got all the right stuff to warrant a REPO-like explosion," so consider me interested.
Shift at Midnight (Steam) missed its original May release date, so I'm highlighting its new June target. I enjoyed running my own hellish gas station with friends that much. If sussing out bodysnatching monsters from normal customers at your roadside convenience store sounds like a good game night for your group, the demo is still up on Steam.
June gaming events and sales
It's a busy month with Summer Game Fest, the PC Gaming Show, and more
As is the ancient E3 tradition, June is a big deal for new game reveals and announcements. You can check out our full Summer Game Fest 2026 schedule for more on where to watch streams, specific times, and predictions, but I'll hit the SGF highlights with other happenings in June.
- The Sony State of Play returns for an hour-long showcase on June 2
- Summer Game Fest officially kicks off its weekend of game announcements on June 5
- Wholesome Direct hosts another showcase for comforting, cozy games on June 6
- The Future Games Show airs its second 2026 showcase on June 6
- The Xbox Games Showcase and Gears of War direct air on June 7
- Our very own PC Gaming Show returns with host Frankie Ward on June 7
- The Dead by Daylight 10th Anniversary Party kicks off in Montreal on June 14
- Unreal Fest 2026 hosts its weekend conference in Chicago on June 16
- EVO 2026 holds its next Las Vegas brawl on June 26
-
And more
Steam sales
continue with themed weeks, plus another Next Fest:
- June 8 – 15: Bullet Fest
- June 15 – 22: Steam Next Fest: June Edition
- June 25 – July 9: Steam Summer Sale
Early access games and 1.0 launches in June 2026
OddFauna (Steam) A cozy crafting sandbox with a little Where the Wild Things flavor that PC Gamer's Lauren Morton gushed over in her preview
Fatekeeper (Steam) Paraglacial and THQ Nordic's dark first-person action RPG that impressed my colleague Jody Macgregor last year with Dark Messiah vibes
Witchspire (Steam) An open-world crafting adventure for up to four witches, and another June cozy game recommended by our very own Jess Kinghorn
SpaceCraft (Steam) Gather resources, build your own spaceship, and set out to explore unknown solar systems to expand your intergalactic corporation
Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions (Steam) System Era's next co-op, planet-hopping adventure set in the same universe as Astroneer
GoblinAmerica (Steam) The bizarre, psychedelic FPS that PC Gamer's king of weird recommendations, Ted Litchfield, praised last year
Major game updates and events in June
Final Fantasy 14 (Site) expands the Dawntrail endgame again when one of the series' most iconic villains steps into the ultimate raid arena on June 2
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (Steam) launches its third story expansion, The Infinite Museion, when it opens Trazyn the Infinite's vault on June 11
Dead by Daylight (Steam) finally brings one of horror's most iconic terrors into The Fog when Jason joins its roster of killers on June 16
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (Steam) adds a playable Adeptus Mechanicus class with new weapons when it introduces the Skitarii on June 16
Dave the Diver (Steam) adds a freshwater ecosystem to explore, more missions, and new systems when its In the Jungle DLC launches on June 18
More games releasing in June 2026
Upcoming June 2026 games
June 1 |
BrokenLore: Follow (Steam) |
Social media horror story |
June 4 |
House Flipper Remastered Collection (Steam) |
The house flipping collection refreshed |
June 8 |
Puni the Florist (Steam) |
Cozy narrative flower shop sim |
June 9 |
NBA The Run (Steam) |
An NBA Street spiritual successor |
June 9 |
Voidling Bound (Steam) |
Sci-fi creature collector |
June 10 |
Crushed In Time (Steam) |
Sherlock Holmes point-and-click |
June 10 |
Burglin' Gnomes (Steam) |
Co-op breaking and entering |
June 11 |
Beastro (Steam) |
Save the world through cooking mini-games and deckbuilding |
June 11 |
Tabletop Tavern (Steam) |
Miniature wargame RTS |
June 16 |
Copa City (Steam) |
Manage and organize major football events |
Denshattack! (Steam) Perform sick rail grinds with a train
The Adventures of Elliot (Steam) The Octopath and Bravely Default devs' next HD-2D RPG
Let Loose: Vietnam (Steam) Wage 50v50 battles in a '60s-era conflict
June 18 |
R-Type Tactics I - II Cosmos (Steam) |
Tactics spinoff of side-scroll shooter |
June 19 |
Maseylia: Echoes of the Past (Steam) |
3D metroidvania set in a sci-fi fantasy world |
June 19 |
Thank You For Your Application (Steam) |
Side with capital or the workers in a narrative interview sim |
June 25 |
Dead or Alive 6: Last Round (Steam) |
The DoA 6 roster with another batch of fighters |
June ?? |
Deer & Boy (Steam) |
Cinematic platformer with a deer pal |
June ?? |
Momento (Steam) |
Cozy room decorator chronicling design choices over a lifetime |
