July 23 is set to be a massive day for millions of gamers

The gaming calendar for late summer and early autumn is exceptionally dense this year, likely as studios scramble to avoid the massive shadow cast by Grand Theft Auto 6’s November 19 debut. July has already been a standout month, highlighted by high-profile launches like Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced and the full release of Palworld.

While the past week favored indie titles, the upcoming Thursday is set to host a wave of major releases from several blockbuster franchises.

What’s arriving on July 23?

After a three-week postponement, Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game makes its arrival on Thursday across Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.

Avatar Legends is a 1v1, 2D fighter that packs both a narrative-driven story mode and robust online competitive play. At launch, players can choose from a roster of twelve iconic figures from Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, including Sokka, Kyoshi, and Zaheer. Each fighter can be paired with a support character, allowing for deep customization of playstyles. Recognizing that not every fan is a seasoned fighting game veteran, the developers have also included a dedicated entry-level mode tailored for newcomers.

Image: Gameplay Group International/PM Studios, Inc., Skydance Games

Thursday also marks the debut of Splatoon Raiders on the Switch 2, which stands out as the franchise’s first dedicated single-player experience.

In this outing, you step into the role of a mechanic whose helicopter crash-lands on the uncharted Spirhalite islands. Accompanied by Deep Cut—the musical trio introduced in Splatoon 3—you will explore these islands to secure loot, which is essential for upgrading your gear. From specialized ink tanks to customizable gadgets, you’ll need every advantage to hold back swarms of Salmonids, a callback to the fan-favorite Salmon Run mode from Splatoon 2.

Image: Nintendo

Finally, the long-awaited Halo: Campaign Evolved—a total reimagining of the original Halo: Combat Evolved—launches in early access this Thursday for Windows PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

Serving as the first Halo title since 2021’s Halo: Infinite and a centerpiece for the series’ 25th anniversary, this project is far more than a simple remaster. Built from the ground up, the game features modernized mechanics, completely redesigned mission structures, re-recorded audio, and high-fidelity graphics. Players looking to jump in up to five days ahead of the general public can do so by pre-ordering the premium edition or upgrading their existing standard pre-order.

Image: Halo Studios/Xbox Game Studios

Beyond these heavy hitters, Thursday’s schedule includes the arrival of the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster on Switch 2, the launch of Disgaea Mayhem across consoles and PC, and the debut of the dinosaur-themed adventure Theropods. Regardless of your genre preference, this Thursday is shaping up to have something for everyone.