THQ Nordic headlines push to fill the void of E3 2022 with its own showcase

Darksiders Genesis
(Image credit: THQ Nordic)

THQ Nordic is one of the first publishers to announce an independent summer showcase following the cancellation of E3 2022.

THQ Nordic's show will air on August 12 via the studio's YouTube, Twitch, and Steam channels. A save the date-style video teaser promises a mix of new games and updates on announced titles from across the publisher's surprisingly broad stable of studios, which have collectively worked on everything from Star Wars and Spongebob to Darksiders and Destroy All Humans as part of the Embracer Group. 

"Which games exactly or who will be the host of the show are still top secret, but you'll get hints, when we are getting closer to that date," THQ Nordic says. "But you can look forward to everything from intense, dark and gritty to light, colorful and just plain fun!"

It seems there will also be a pre-show of sorts starring HandyGames, the creator of 3D platformer Scarf and animal noir story Chicken Police: Paint It Red, among plenty of others. 

With the games industry's biggest summer event officially canned, the improvised E3 2022 schedule will be defined by individual studios, publishers, and platform holders. THQ Nordic's standalone announcement follows news of aggregate events like the Wholesome Games showcase, as well as the independent Summer Games Fest hosted by Geoff Keighley. However, some E3 staples like EA Play Live won't be held this year. There are also rumors that Xbox is planning its own E3-style show for June, which is when E3 would normally be held, but we may see more companies follow THQ Nordic and host events deeper into summer. 

Why is E3 2022 canceled? Despite hopes for digital alternatives, a timeline of the event's recent woes has long indicated that it would get the axe this year. 

Austin Wood
Senior writer

Austin has been a game journalist for 12 years, having freelanced for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, IGN, Sports Illustrated, and more while finishing his journalism degree. He's been with GamesRadar+ since 2019. They've yet to realize his position is a cover for his career-spanning Destiny column, and he's kept the ruse going with a lot of news and the occasional feature, all while playing as many roguelikes as possible.

Read more
FGS Spring 2025
The Future Games Show Spring Showcase is back and will have a new live segment from the GDC event floor
Summer Game Fest
Summer Game Fest 2025 confirmed with Geoff Keighley back as host and a new "thought leader event" discussing the industry's "changes, challenges, and opportunities"
FGS Spring 2025
Everything announced at the Future Games Show Spring Showcase 2025
A close-up of the Doom Slayer in the upcoming PC game, Doom: The Dark Ages.
Xbox Developer Direct kicks off 2025 with Doom: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, Clair Obscur, and a "surprise" fourth game
FGS 2023 Multiple Logos
Future Games Show 2025: Watch the Spring Showcase on March 20
FGS Spring 2025
How to watch The Future Game Show Spring Showcase 2025 – and what to expect
Latest in Games
Mario faces the camera with a thumbs up pose in Super Smash Bros. Ulimate.
Nintendo Direct March 2025 live – all the Switch news, trailers, and reveals as they happen
Batman: Arkham Knight
Rocksteady's rumored single-player Batman game is in development for PC, PS5, Xbox, and "the next generation of consoles"
The Last of Us Part 1
The Last of Us director Neil Druckmann wanted to make sure the first game "was complete" because "I wasn't sure they would ever let me direct a game again"
Pillars of Eternity
10 years later, in a post-Baldur's Gate 3 and Avowed world, Obsidian is giving its own throwback CRPG Pillars of Eternity a turn-based combat mode
Destiny 2 Lightfall
When Destiny 2 "weekly active users dropped lower and faster than we'd seen since 2018," Bungie assembled an A-Team to put out some fires: "We needed to do something"
Astro Bot
Astro Bot went through 23 pitch iterations before its director promised PlayStation "happy gameplay" and "overflowing charm," though it did once end with robot decapitation that made "some people really upset"
Latest in News
Daredevil: Born Again episode 6
Daredevil's Charlie Cox isn't in the Avengers: Doomsday cast list – but Marvel fans have an idea about how he might still show up
Simu Liu in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Simu Liu had the best reaction to Shang-Chi’s announcement for Avengers: Doomsday, but fans think it's "criminal" there hasn’t been a direct sequel
Mario faces the camera with a thumbs up pose in Super Smash Bros. Ulimate.
Nintendo Direct March 2025 live – all the Switch news, trailers, and reveals as they happen
Batman: Arkham Knight
Rocksteady's rumored single-player Batman game is in development for PC, PS5, Xbox, and "the next generation of consoles"
The Last of Us Part 1
The Last of Us director Neil Druckmann wanted to make sure the first game "was complete" because "I wasn't sure they would ever let me direct a game again"
Pillars of Eternity
10 years later, in a post-Baldur's Gate 3 and Avowed world, Obsidian is giving its own throwback CRPG Pillars of Eternity a turn-based combat mode