The video game industry is one of the most fast-paced in the world due to the need to keep up with the demands and expectations of players, as well as the rapid tech advancements and the nature of the sector itself. Expectations are high, and there are many deadlines that have to be met, and when you couple that with the latest innovations and the changes in hardware, it makes sense why players are always looking forward to the latest developments.

Some of the advancements and trends that have been changing the ecosystem recently include the advancements in cloud gaming, the increased focus on the players’ experiences, the rise of ecosystems such as crypto gaming, which got players looking into XRP price prediction and other estimates to determine the best choices, the integration of virtual reality tools, cross-platform playing, and the growing push for better player representation.

With that in mind, players are already looking forward to the games that are expected to arrive in 2026.

Grand Theft Auto VI

Grand Theft Auto VI is the series’ eighth main game and the sixteenth story overall. The game has been highly anticipated for years, and many of the fans became frustrated at the continued silence, especially following the 2020 announcement of a Grand Theft Auto V re-release. In 2022, Rockstar announced that the game was in development, while in 2024, it won both the Most Wanted Game at the Golden Joystick Awards as well as the Most Anticipated Game at the Game Awards. Many publishers waited for an official release date (which is now known to be May 26th) before scheduling their own games to avoid competition, while others said that they were prepared to reschedule as well.

According to rumors, the game could be the most expensive ever made, with a budget surpassing $1 billion, but the figure is currently unverified. Based on the map leaks and the precedent set by GTA V, you will need around 150 GB of SSD space for a PC download. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are the platforms you’ll need to play the game, while the setting will parody the American culture of the 2020s, from social media and influencers to police body cameras.

GTA VI will only include the series’ first non-optional female character, Lucia Caminos.

Resident Evil Requiem

Requiem is expected to launch in late February and will include third-person gameplay as well, a break from recent entries that were designed exclusively for single-player mode. First-person will most likely remain the default for most players, though, as it is, according to Capcom, the best way to replicate the realistic and tense atmosphere of the survival horror genre. However, if you prefer the action to the ambience, third-person is the choice for you.

As a player, you will get into the role of Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst who has to deal with monsters similar to Lady Dimitrescu and Mr. X. The monsters can stalk you through ceilings and walls, but you can distract them, and you’ll also have access to a lighter that illuminates dark areas but which will attract more creatures as well. Ashcroft is dispatched to investigate the strange deaths taking place at Wrenwood Hotel, where her mother, Alyssa, died 8 years previously. Apart from Xbox Series X/S and Windows, you can also play on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.

Nioh 3

The Third installment of the Nioh series will be released on February 6th for PlayStation 5 and Windows. You can play in either single-player or multiplayer modes, all from a third-person perspective. You’ll play as Tokugawa Takechiyo, grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu, but you’ll be battling yokai and other supernatural beings instead of warriors and warlords. Just like in the case of Nioh 2, you will have the ability to customize the appearance of your character entirely. The game provides you with access to three weapon stances, with all combat actions consuming your Ki.

However, you can use Ki Pulse to restore stamina, and your Arts Proficiency will increase as you keep causing damage to your enemies. New parrying mechanics will be introduced, as well as the Ninja playstyle, which is faster and focused on evasion. Aerial attacks are more efficient in this mode as well. Nioh 3 will be less linear than its predecessors and include more explorable places so you can complete side quests. You can get another player to assist you during challenging boss fights and even explore the open landscapes together.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV

The exact release date of Dawn of War IV is yet to be announced, but players already know that they can play on Windows, that the modes include single-player and multiplayer, and that the game will be set on Kronus, the same setting as the 2006 Dark Crusade. There will be four factions: the Necrons, Orks, Adeptus Mechanicus, and Space Marines. During certain segments, you’ll need to make decisions that will alter the later course of the campaign, and every single one of the factions comes with unique campaigns and capabilities.

As a player, you will command different units in order to engage with the other factions and complete your tasks. You will also have to reinforce your base, capture requisition points from where you can expand your operations, and allocate resources to getting more soldiers and sending out your units.

Halloween

Made with a budget of around $300K and scoring $70 million at the box office, the 1978 independent slasher Halloween became a cult classic that still enjoys a lot of popularity to this day. It was included in the US National Film Registry due to being considered culturally significant. Now, an official video game is set to be released as well, and while there’s no official date yet, the trailer has already revealed more than enough hints regarding the atmosphere and the setting of the game. Single and multiplayer modes will be available, and the announcement included the fact that the game can be played on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Halloween is set to feature a story campaign for solo play, meaning that there will be a good narrative for single player mode as well. Fans have noted that the trailer has the vintage look of a 70s or 8s movie. The game will follow the standard 1v4 structure so that you can play either as a heroic character attempting to save the people of Haddonfield or as Michael Myers himself.

If you’re a gamer, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for 2026. There are so many new games to choose from that there’ll definitely be at least a handful that you’ll be excited about.