GTA 6 is coming. That sentence alone would be enough to make 2026 a significant year in gaming. But the Rockstar sequel, delayed twice and anticipated by millions, is only part of the story. IO Interactive has spent years crafting a Bond origin story with the same stealth-first DNA as the Hitman trilogy. Insomniac, fresh off two exceptional Spider-Man titles, is turning its attention to Wolverine. A debut studio staffed by Cyberpunk 2077 and Witcher 3 veterans is dropping what could be the year’s most interesting RPG. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, one of the most beloved racing games of the late nineties is getting the spiritual successor it deserved. 2026 is not a year defined by one release. It is a year that arrives with a full hand, and it is worth knowing what is in it.
007 First Light
Released on May 27 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X, 007 First Light is the game that arguably carries the most creative weight of anything dropping in the first half of the year. IO Interactive, the studio behind the modern Hitman trilogy, has spent years developing an original Bond origin story, and the premise delivers exactly what that pedigree promises. Patrick Gibson plays a rookie 007 still earning his licence to kill, working through a series of death-defying missions with the kind of layered, stealth-first design the developer has spent a decade refining.
The high-stakes setting, which spans casinos, black-tie operations and covert infiltrations, sits naturally alongside the broader world of risk-reward entertainment. For players who enjoy the tension of a wager with real consequence, the best sweeps casinos offer a way to scratch a similar itch between sessions, with online play that requires no real money outlay. It is a fitting parallel: both involve calculated risk, composure under pressure, and knowing when to fold.
Lenny Kravitz, voicing the antagonist, a character described as a Pirate King, suggests IO is leaning into the theatrical excess of classic Bond villains. The Switch 2 version is also confirmed for later in the year, meaning the game should have a long tail across platforms.
Grand Theft Auto 6
GTA 6 lands on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X, and it arrives as arguably the most anticipated video game release in over a decade. Rockstar has already delayed the title twice since its official reveal in late 2023, which has only amplified the noise around it. Set in a fictional version of Miami and its surroundings, the game introduces dual protagonists Jason and Lucia, with early trailers showing a scope that appears to significantly exceed GTA 5’s already vast open world.
The delay cycle has become its own cultural event, with each piece of new information dissected across communities. Whether the November 19 date holds is a question the internet will be asking loudly come autumn. What is not in question is that when it does land, it will consume the conversation for months.
Resident Evil Requiem
## Capcom dropped Resident Evil Requiem on February 27, and it lands as the ninth mainline entry in the series. The game returns Leon Kennedy to Raccoon City alongside FBI analyst newcomer Grace Ashcroft, with missions alternating between combat and survival horror. Given that Capcom’s recent run, from the RE2 remake through Village, has been one of the most consistent creative periods in the franchise’s history, expectations are high and early reception has broadly justified them.
Marvel’s Wolverine
Insomniac Games follows up its Spider-Man series with a PS5-exclusive Wolverine game, currently targeting late 2026. After the quality of both Marvel’s Spider-Man titles, there is genuine confidence that Insomniac can handle the tone shift required for a character defined by brutality rather than quips. Rumours point to this being the first in a planned X-Men trilogy, which would give the game additional weight as a series opener rather than a standalone release.
The Blood of Dawnwalker
Rebel Wolves, a studio formed by veterans of Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3, brings its debut title to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X on September 3. Set in medieval Europe, The Blood of Dawnwalker casts players as a half-human, half-vampire hybrid racing against time to save their family from a vampire lord called Brencis. The pedigree behind it is considerable, and the premise, heavy with folklore and moral consequence, positions it as one of the more interesting narrative RPG bets of the year.
Control Resonant
Remedy’s sequel to 2019’s cult action game Control arrives on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X on September 24. Rather than continuing as a third-person shooter, Resonant moves into action RPG territory, following a new protagonist navigating a government facility overrun by otherworldly forces. Remedy’s ability to build layered, unsettling environments is well-established, and this one appears to double down on the lore density that made the original a cult favourite.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
One of the more unexpected highlights of the year, Star Wars: Galactic Racer lands on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X on October 6 as a spiritual successor to the beloved 1999 Episode One: Racer. Set in the Outer Rim after Return of the Jedi, it pulls players away from Force mythology entirely in favour of high-speed podracer-style competition across alien worlds. The developers have described it as a pure racing experience, no Sith Lords, no prophecies, just speed.
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
Crystal Dynamics is giving Lara Croft two releases in close proximity. Legacy of Atlantis, a full remaster of the original 1996 game with modern design and updated visuals, is confirmed for 2026 ahead of the brand-new Tomb Raider: Catalyst in 2027. For longtime fans, this is a rare opportunity to revisit where the franchise began with the production quality it deserved. For newcomers, it is as good an entry point as the series has ever offered.
A year worth bookmarking
The breadth of what 2026 is delivering is unusual. Big-budget sequels, unexpected remasters, debut studios, franchise revivals and the single most hyped release in years all arriving in the same twelve-month window. The second half of the calendar in particular, from September through November, stacks up in a way that will test most people’s gaming backlogs. If you only follow one release schedule closely this year, this is the one.
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