San Diego Comic Con is typically engulfed with movie and tv content, and of course comics. Gaming is usually present, but it doesn’t really match up to those other two. Having said that, the gaming presence this year is sizable. Whether it is from panels to booth activations, gamers can rejoice this year.
There are a ton of great gaming panels this year. Some focusing on specific upcoming titles, and others featuring things such as game preservation and diversity in gaming. We whittle down the list and make it ever so slightly less huge.
Panels of Upcoming Games/Experiences
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2: Symbiotic Relationships
Thursday, July 20 • 2:30pm – 3:30pm | Hall H
Spider-Man 2 is likely to be one of the biggest games of the year. Coming off the heels of the outstanding Miles Morales title, Spider-Man 2 will be Sony’s pivotal “winter game.” With so many of the voice actors attending, you don’t want to miss this one.
Tekken 8: The Art of Fighting
Thursday, July 20 • 4:15pm – 5:15pm | Room 6A
There isn’t too much info about the panel… except for the fact that Katsuhiro Harada will be talking all about the evolution of fighting games. Tekken 8 is at best a 2024 game, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a treat to learn from someone that has been in the fighting game scene for over 25 years!
Genvid Slate Reveal: SILENT HILL: Ascension; Special Guests from DC and Gearbox
Friday, July 21 • 11:30am – 12:30pm | Room 6BCF
There are more selling points for this panel than any we’ve mentioned thus far. Greg Miller is the host, and he is an amazing host and has been in the gaming scene for decades. Genvid Entertainment will give an exclusive look at SILENT HILL: Ascension. Motoi Okamoto (producer of Silent Hills) is going to make a special announcement. Jim Lee is making a special appearance. Oh, and there will be an exclusive giveaway for attendees. This might sneakily be one of the best panels at the entire show. Do not miss this one!
Resetting Mortal Kombat: A New Beginning with Mortal Kombat 1
Friday, July 21 • 3:15pm – 4:15pm | Room 6BCF
What more is there to say?! Mortal Kombat is back! Not only will we get more info from the upcoming title, we are getting news on a new character, and the panel is stacked. The who’s who of NetherRealm will be there, as are at least three voice actors. There is a note about special guests for the panel as well. Since the game is coming out soon (September 19, 2023), we are sure to get a nice blowout of information.
Star Wars Outlaws: Becoming the Galaxy’s Most Wanted
Saturday, July 22 • 5:15pm – 6:15pm | Room 6BCF
I feel like we are in a renaissance of Star Wars games recently, and Outlaws looks to continue that trend. Since the game is still in early development, there won’t be any of the voice cast at the con, but it will feature directors for the game. Peep the trailer, and you are sure to get as hyped as I did.
Gaming Related Panels
Doom Guy: The Man, the Myth, the Legend
Thursday, July 20 • 4:00pm – 5:00pm | Room 25ABC
The co-founder of iD Software leads this panel all about how early shooters paved the way for shooters we are playing today. He will share stories from his new memoir DOOM Guy. With the ultra-popularity of the fps genre, learning from one of the OGs is always a special moment.
Lessons on Playable Video Game Preservation
Thursday, July 20 • 7:30pm – 8:30pm | Room 29CD
Video game preservation has been in the cross-hairs as more and more companies are opting for forcing internet check-ins and avoiding any sense of backwards compatibility. A recent study by The Video Game Foundation found that “87% of classic video games released in the United States are critically endangered (of being unplayable).” The panel will discuss video game preservation and community building at the Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment (MADE) in Oakland.
Games: Pioneers of 1990s Gaming Animation
Friday, July 21 • 4:30pm – 5:30pm | 24ABC
Video game nerds rejoice, this panel is all about the monumental shifts in gaming technology that has reverberated into how games are made today. The panel will touch on Myst and Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and their achievements and impact today.
How to Make Video Games and Designs More Inclusive and Accessible
Friday, July 21 • 7:30pm – 8:30pm | Room 3
The gaming industry has finally realized that their titles are reaching a wider and wider audience. The only problem is they rarely design games from an inclusive or accessibility standpoint. There are some standouts and it seems like things are moving in the right direction, finally. The panel will talk about what they are doing to help push forward a more diverse and inclusive gaming community.
These are by no means all the gaming or gaming related things to see at Comic Con this year. It is, however, a decent start of what you can begin checking out if you are looking for the gaming side of San Diego Comic Con. Be sure not to miss the various game demos happening all across the con including the below:
- Capcom Booth 215 – Play Rashid before his release. Play Exoprimal and get an exclusive pin.
- Bandia Namco Booth 3729 – Play the first ever demo of Sand Land.
- Certainly more we are missing!