GTA 6, Resident Evil 9, AI and EA: Gaming trends to watch in 2026
Like this year, when publishers manoeuvered around GTA 6's original "late 2025" release date, 2026 is front-loaded with significant releases.
Japanese giant Capcom unleashes Resident Evil Requiem, the ninth main entry in its blockbuster horror series, in February, followed by sci-fi action adventure Pragmata in April.
Sony is also planning to drop PlayStation exclusive Saros, a follow-up to 2021's widely-praised Returnal, in April.
While Wolverine, the next superhero smash from Spider-Man studio Insomniac - another in-house Sony developer - is set to arrive in the autumn.
May will see the arrival of 007 First Light - the celeb-filled James Bond adventure from Hitman developer IO Interactive.
Nintendo will be looking to maintain the momentum of its record-breaking Switch 2 launch this year.
Ones to watch include Pokopia - a cosy take on Pokémon - and online multiplayer The Duskbloods from Elden Ring maker FromSoftware.
Fans have complained about the lack of a brand new Mario or Zelda game and, as things stand, neither has been announced yet. But the company's got form for announcing big new games mere months before they release.
Microsoft recently teased big reveals for its January 2026 Developer Direct showcase and, unless we're told otherwise, is due to release Fable - its reboot of the very British fantasy RPG series - and Gears of War: E-Day sometime during the year.
Marking 25 years of its Xbox brand could also give the company a chance to win back fans after backlashes over studio closures, price rises to its Game Pass subscription service and its decision to release flagship series on rival consoles.
And that's just the major publishers. Expect more indie surprises to take centre stage next year.
Our one-to-watch is Raccoin - a score attack game inspired by arcade coin-pusher machines.
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007 First Light delayed to May 2026
Electronic Arts (EA), the publisher of Battlefield 6, EA FC and The Sims, is one of the world's biggest video game companies, responsible for titles that regularly top bestseller charts.
The announcement it had accepted a record-breaking $55bn (£41bn) bid from a Saudi Arabia-led investment group came as a shock.
It's the country's latest big move into gaming, which it says is part of wider efforts to make its economy less reliant on oil.
But critics believe it's a form of "sportswashing" - investing in entertainment in an attempt to soften its international reputation due to its anti-LGBT laws and human rights record.
The country's conservative cultural values have prompted concerns over the impact the deal could have on certain EA series.
The Sims, which has a big LGBT fanbase, faced a revolt from some of its best-known content creators when some cut official ties in protest against the buyout.
EA replied with a statement saying the game would "always be a space where you can express your authentic self".
There are also concerns that the deal could result in further lay-offs at EA, which has taken on $20bn of debt to finance the purchase.
If all goes to plan, the deal should be completed by the summer, when there should be more clarity on the future of some of gaming's most popular series.
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Why Saudi Arabia spent $55bn on EA