Here’s All the Major Video Game News & Upcoming Releases for June 2021

Ahead of E3 2021 and the releases of 'Mario Golf Super Rush' and 'Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart,' here's all of the major video game news for June 2021.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Part
Sony

Image via PlayStation

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Part

The summer has arrived, and in the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic is finally easing up. That means more outdoor activities, more family reunions, and more traveling. And, when you need a break from all that, you could always use more video games. Amid the misery of the past year-and-a-half, video games have been people’s mental health break and—via online play—a way to interact with friends and loved ones while remaining socially distant.

 

For those waiting for new video games to dive into, this June features a new Mario title, the latest entry in a legacy PlayStation franchise, and the biggest video game press conference in the world, E3. Here is your video game roundup for June 2021.

Xbox Games With Gold Free Games for June 2021

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Xbox One

The King’s Bird (June 1-June 30)

This is a beautifully rendered game, where you use physics and momentum to leap from platform to platform. Think Sonic the Hedgehog, but much artsier.

Shadows: Awakening (June 16-July 15)

This is a combat RPG, where you switch between the mortal plane and monstrous Shadow plane while battling all sorts of hideous monsters.

Xbox 360 (backwards compatible)

NeoGeo Battle Coliseum (June 1-June 15)

A fighting game with old school, two-on-two tag-team mechanics, this game includes characters from the Fatal Fury franchise, The King of the Fighters franchise, and more.

Injustice: God Among Us (June 16-June 30)

The brains behind Mortal Kombat took a calculated step outside their wheelhouse, and made a fighting game featuring the heroes and villains of the DC Universe. What would happen if the Joker used Superman to kill Lois Lane and destroy Metropolis. This game gives us the answer, and it’s not pretty.

Playstation Plus Free Games for June 2021

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Star Wars: Squadron (June 6)

In this game, you play as an X-Wing, a TIE fighter, and more, as you partake in space dogfight battles—and take down massive Star Destroyers—in a battle for galactic supremacy.

Operation Tango (June 6)

This is an online co-op game, where you and your partner have to guide and help each other through missions using only your voices.

Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown (June 6)

An enhanced version of the 2006 arcade classic, this game has been universally acclaimed as one of the most complex fighting games in genre, with deep gameplay and frame-specific controls.

Google Stadia Free Games for June 2021

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Chronos: Before the Ashes (June 1)

This dragon-battling RPG was originally developed and released for the Oculus Rift. But a remastered version in 2020 allowed for a traditional console release and took away the VR requirement.

MotoGP20 (June 1)

It’s motorcycle racing—enough said. This game is a peek into what could have been; its career mode mirrors how the Grand Prix tour would have gone in real life, had COVID-19 not mucked things up.

Blue Fire (June 1)

Roam the post-apocalyptic world of Penumbra. This is a 3D platformer with an accessible, whimsical art style, paired with particularly difficult gameplay.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III (June 1)

An RPG with a metric ton of established lore, this game is part of the Legend of Heroes franchise and the smaller ‘Trails’ sub-franchise. Play as a group of school students, caught in a civil war between the Nobles and Reformists of the Erebonian Empire.

Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 (June 4)

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A first-person shooter with long-range sniping mechanics, the latest entry allows you to headshot enemy combatants from over a mile away. The single-player campaign takes place in the Middle East, on the Syrian and Lebanese borders. Expansive maps and stealth are the name of the game.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Intergrade (June 10)

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This was one of the best video games of 2020 when it launched on the PlayStation 4; now, an even more polished version, ‘Intergrade,’ will be released exclusively on the PlayStation 5. It will feature photo mode, more gameplay options, faster loading times, additional story content, and more. And best of all: if you already own the original, this upgrade to the next generation is free.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection (June 10)

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It’s difficult to think of a reason why you wouldn’t want this collection, especially if you’re new to the franchise. You get three games for the price of one: Ninja Gaiden Σ, Ninja Gaiden Σ2, and NINJA GAIDEN 3: Razor’s Edge, plus most of the DLC content, plus the options to play as Ayane, Rachel, Momiji, and Kasumi.

Guilty Gear: Strive (June 11)

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The sixth fighting game in the main Guilty Gear franchise, this new sequel will feature 15 characters at launch, including two newcomers: Giovanna and Nagoriyuki. The developers describe the new game as a creative risk and a reassembling of the franchise, designed to draw in new players while also retaining the legacy crowd.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart (June 11)

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One of the most critically acclaimed 3D platformer franchises is coming to PlayStation 5. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart casts you as the titular characters, but also as a new female character named Rivet. The main hook is the use of dimensional rifts and your spaceship for inter-and intra-planetary travel; you explore a wide range of diverse environments as a result. Complex will be publishing an official review of this game prior to its launch.

E3 2021 (June 12-15)

E3 2021

Mario Golf Super Rush (June 25)

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Only Mario could take a subdued game like golf and turn it into a party-driven, chaotic free-for-all. You hit the ball and then you run after it, all while trying to slow down and hinder your opponents who are doing the same thing. Play as your favorite Mushroom King residents, or use your Mii in ‘Golf Adventure’ story mode to train, upgrade, improve, and climb your way to the top.

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