When looking back at 2025, the biggest stories will undoubtedly be the Switch 2 and the rise of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, but 2026 might actually be even bigger – and not just because GTA 6 is (hopefully) launching.
Just about every platform holder has a feather in their cap in terms of high-profile exclusives, but this year, PC gaming is having some more fun, too. Not only is Valve launching its own part-console/part-PC Steam Machine, but there are more handheld PCs than ever vying for attention.
It’s shaping up to be a fascinating year – here’s why.
All eyes on GTA 6
In terms of games, there’s only one place to start. Grand Theft Auto 6 is so big it’ll either suck the air out of the games industry since no one will be playing anything else, or it’ll lead to so many consoles being sold that it’ll bring even more players to the medium.
Either way, the game was slated to be here in May 2025, before being pushed to May 2026. Then, in November, the game was delayed again. Curiously, the game itself is less of a story right now than the development behind it, with Rockstar Games accused of unlawfully firing a group of developers, accusing them of leaking information about projects online.
RAM shortages to wreak havoc?
We’ll come to the likes of Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo shortly, but one thing that ties them all together (along with Valve and just about any manufacturer) is the current RAM crisis.
With RAM being shipped off to data centers to power the AI features shareholders can’t get enough of, the prices are skyrocketing. That’s meant it’s tough to get for consumers, but it could also mean manufacturing for consoles (and even the next generation) could slow to a crawl – or prices might climb even higher.
PlayStation to continue its hot streak?
Since the PS5 launched in 2025, it has dominated the current console generation. That’s thanks to games you can’t get anywhere else like God of War: Ragnarok and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and while Sony has started to explore putting more of its games on PC, the PS5 library has no real weak spots.
2026 will see more Marvel with the Wolverine launch from Insomniac Games, while it’ll also see PlayStation gamers finally able to play Halo on their console when Halo: Campaign Evolved launches.
Add to that third-party titles like 007: First Light, Resident Evil: Requiem, and Crimson Desert, and there’s a lot to look forward to if you have a PS5 or PS5 Pro.
One big question remains about Sony’s wider plans, though. The company seems to have (at least partially) pivoted away from its push to live service games after 2024’s Concord fiasco, and while Destiny 2’s Renegades expansion might get it back on track, expect plenty of attention on Bungie’s other title, Marathon, when it finally launches in March.
Xbox remains unpredictable – and not in the best ways
Microsoft’s 2025 will seemingly live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons. Thousands of layoffs, studio closures, project cancellations, and price hikes for its hardware and Game Pass service all left a pretty sour taste in the mouths of even its more dedicated defenders.
There were some positives, though. Obsidian Entertainment dropped not one, not two, but three great games with Avowed, Grounded 2, and The Outer Worlds – and only the latter is also on PlayStation, for now. The ASUS ROG Xbox Ally is also a great handheld PC model, albeit with a very silly name.
Still, Microsoft’s push to get its franchises into more hands put Gears of War and Forza Horizon on PlayStation for the first time – and that’s likely to continue in 2026.
This year will introduce the long-delayed Fable reboot, but players can also expect Clockwork Revolution and Gears of War: E-Day. With Microsoft keen to squeeze all it can out of the Activision Blizzard purchase, expect plenty of promotion for Call of Duty, World of Warcraft’s Midnight expansion, and the new Lord of Hatred content for Diablo 4.
Microsoft has also promised more than 75 day-one titles for Game Pass as part of its recent price hike, and needs to show customers why they should stump up for the Ultimate membership.
And, unlike Sony, it’s been bullish about the next generation. It looks a lot like we’ll be getting a more PC-like experience with multiple app stores, potentially putting it in more direct conflict with the Steam machine.
Nintendo to bring us a 3D Mario platformer?
I was skeptical about the Switch 2. With the first console showing its age, I wasn’t convinced Nintendo could keep up in the hardware stakes, particularly with the rise of portable PCs like Steam Deck and more.
Still, thanks to techniques like DLSS and a 120 Hz display, Nintendo was able to push the envelope further than I expected. That’s evidenced in the way third parties are hitting the system, like bona fide ports of EA FC and Madden, as well as ambitious first-party games like Donkey Kong: Bananza.
Still, there’s something missing – a 3D Mario platformer. Super Mario Odyssey was our last wholly fresh one, and it arrived 9 months after the Switch 1’s launch. Sure, Nintendo doesn’t need to break the glass right now, but with a new Mario movie launching in 2026, there’s got to be something planned, right?
It’ll also be interesting to see if we get more timely ports of games from other systems. I love Final Fantasy 7 as much as the next SOLDIER, but I played it in 2020. It’s finally coming to Switch 2 (and Xbox) this year.
With early footage of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition on Switch 2 looking a little ropey, too, we’ll have to see if a power delta emerges between Nintendo and its contemporaries. As much fun as the original Switch was, many of its ports suffered from its more modest capabilities under the hood.
A new PC golden age?
With the rise of streamers, a pandemic, and more parts options than ever before, PC gaming might be more popular than ever.
Valve took a gamble dropping the Steam Deck in 2022 and its OLED refresh in the years between, but it’s given an added credibility to the idea of a handheld gaming PC that plenty of manufacturers have hopped on board with since.
It’s also acted as a fantastic Trojan Horse to get people comfortable with Linux as an operating system, and those learnings have helped Valve push for another console-like PC for the lounge in the 2026 Steam Machine.
The adorable cube could be expensive, though, and that’s before focusing on the RAM crisis mentioned above. It still feels a little soon for a Steam Deck 2, but Valve does also have a new Steam Frame VR headset inbound for the coming year.
Expect more handheld PCs to pop up, too, if they can navigate the RAM issues. Microsoft’s ASUS partnership has resulted in a very impressive first effort (or two), but don’t bet against new models from rivals that want a piece of the pie.
Finally, on the Mac side of things, I’m curious to see what Apple pushes. Its ‘Game Porting Toolkit’ is available for developers, and Cyberpunk 2077 got a big push for its Mac release, but other games have seemingly floundered. Much was made about Assassin’s Creed: Shadows coming to Apple platforms, but it simply can’t compete with the version of the game you can find anywhere else.
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