First on the menu is Crazy Taxi: World Tour, which we’ve been pretty hyped about ever since it was announced. We’ve got good reasons, as the prospect of playing across several cities around the world sounds like a dream come true for those of us who can’t get enough of the franchise.

There’s also Persona 4 Revival, which we’ve been pretty eager to try out on account of its new voice actors. Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is definitely something we want to learn more about, given how the Marines and Orks are quite evenly matched on battlefields that let them make the best of their respective skill sets. Of course, there’s also Stranger Than Heaven, with that star-studded cast and an adventure that’s shaping up to be as complex as it is nuanced, to look forward to.

Oh, and let’s not forget about Alien: Isolation 2, a title we’ve been waiting for since its predecessor ended on quite the cliffhanger. We’ll tell you all about it when Gamescom kicks off on August 26th, though you can look forward to the usual announcements and world premieres on August 25th at Opening Night Live.

Cielo and Pai Chan pursue him, but when the latter enters a pitched battle and knocks away his mask, she’s shocked at his identity. While we don’t get a look at his face, the fighting style does all the talking, employing Wushu for some high-impact strikes. At one point, he even slams Pai into the ground without mercy before showcasing what seem to be Fu Jow Pai techniques.

Some speculate that he may be Lau Chan, which would be impossible given the character’s age. Others believe this is Lei Fei harnessing similar moves, but seemingly falling into darkness. Perhaps the Bakunawa Killer is just a brand new character with ties to both. Time will tell, but he’s playable in Versus Mode as well.

Virtua Fighter Crossroads launches next year, and thus far, this kind of storytelling really leans into producer Riichiro Yamada’s description of an “open sandbox RPG.” Besides Cielo’s journey, players will control other characters, each with their own respective tales. Of course, fighters from previous titles also figure, especially in the side content, which is touted as more grounded than, say, Yakuza. Head here for more details.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be a large game. In fact, studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama notes that the story ended up longer as the team continued development. Speaking to Automaton Media (translation via DeepL) about the overall scope, he said, “We haven’t measured it precisely, but I think it’s turned out to be quite substantial. The main story, in particular, is very extensive. It just ended up getting longer as we were developing it.”

However, when compared directly to the Yakuza series, he said the maps are “roughly the same scale.” “We didn’t artificially make the maps for each historical era larger or smaller, so they each have their own distinct size. The number of buildings with interior spaces you can actually enter has increased compared to the Yakuza series. However, given the historical setting, there are no skyscrapers or similar structures. Therefore, I believe the overall scale remains comparable.”

However, he reinforced that Stranger Than Heaven is a “completely new title” with UI, controls, and combat that are “entirely different.” That also extends to the kind of experience fans would typically be used to. For instance, side stories will play out differently, perhaps hinting at their more serious nature.

Play Spots return, but once again, they’re rooted in the specific era. “Elements like ‘Play Spots’ are fewer in number, reflecting the historical setting. After all, we haven’t done any corporate tie-ins like in the Yakuza series,” says Masayoshi, laughing.

Launching on January 15th, 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, Stranger Than Heaven is about Makoto Daito, who stows away on a ship to Japan after the death of his mother. Along the way, he meets the likes of Orpheus (played by Snoop Dogg) and Yu Shinjo, whom he’ll have continued run-ins with throughout the era, especially when they get into the music business together.

However, when you look at the single-player campaign, it looks much closer to a Yakuza, Like a Dragon or Judgment (albeit with fights adhering to the series’ usual format). That’s because producer Riichiro Yamada considers it an “open sandbox RPG” instead. Speaking to GamesRadar, he revealed that many were “kind of against” a Virtua Fighter revival when he pitched it.

As for the narrative, it seems he says that newcomer Cielo’s story, described as a “kung-fu movie,” isn’t the be-all, end-all. There are other protagonists (which you can likely spot here) with their own unique narratives, from “very dark and gritty” to investigative. Of course, there’s also a “lot of side content,” including “side quests with the legendary old cast,” and mini-games, though these won’t be as over-the-top as Yakuza.

For Crossroads, the development team “wanted to really ground it in this world,” noting IP like Watchmen as an inspiration. Yamada “really felt and loved about Watchmen was how the world – even if they’re dressed as superheroes – it feels so believable.”

But don’t be fooled into thinking the studio is developing another Yakuza with the Virtua Fighter name. Yamada said that “player choice really matters” with different decisions influencing the story. Rather than something like, say, Yakuza: Like a Dragon with its linear narrative, he likens it more to Detroit: Become Human “and stuff that, where you really change the story. Depending on how you play, it becomes a whole different game.”

It’s definitely an alluring prospect and could open up the title to an audience that favors a strong single-player component. Granted, we still need to see much more of Virtua Fighter Crossroads – and learn about its platforms – but RGG Studio is seemingly on the right path.

That might be faraway, but the trailer did drop some interesting hints at what awaits Makoto and the rest of the cast as the story unfolds. We already knew that he flees San Francisco, but we now know that his hopes of better treatment in his homeland are dashed thanks to his mixed heritage. The word gaijin immediately comes to mind. There are also hints at a quest for revenge, probably tied to the reason his mother was in America in the first place.

This one’s had us quite eager to see more of it ever since it was announced, thanks to a combat system that looks like it brings the best of Tekken to the table, and a bevy of other activities that could have you so steeped in being the showman of Makoto’s dreams it can be easy to forget about all the threats lurking about on the road to get there.

Of course, the revelation that got the biggest reveal was Tupac walking out of the shadows in a digital avatar that has captured the likeness quite well. he joins other well-known names like Snoop Dogg and Ado in a star-studded cast that’s sure to have us all tapping our feet when they drop the beat.