Let’s be real for a second. If you’re looking for new games coming out, you’ve probably noticed that the "release dates" on most sites are basically just vibes and hopeful thinking.
2026 is turning into a weirdly specific year for gaming. It's the year of the "second chance." We’ve seen massive delays from 2024 and 2025 finally landing, alongside a hardware shift that most people didn't see coming quite so fast.
The big elephant in the room is Rockstar. They finally nailed down a date for Grand Theft Auto VI, and it’s basically cleared out the entire fourth quarter of the year. Nobody wants to release near that monster. But there is a lot more happening in the margins—especially with the Nintendo Switch 2 finally being out in the wild.
The Rockstar Shadow and the 2026 Reality
If you’ve been living under a rock, Grand Theft Auto VI is officially slated for November 19, 2026.
It’s been thirteen years since GTA V. Thirteen. Think about how much has changed since then. Rockstar originally wanted this out earlier, but they pushed it back from a May 2026 window to November just to add that final layer of "polish."
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What’s interesting isn’t just the game itself, but how other publishers are reacting. Analysts like those at Circana (formerly NPD) have noted a "clearing of the schedule" in late 2026. Big Ubisoft and EA titles that were rumored for the holidays are suddenly looking like Q1 2027 projects.
The Switch 2 Library is Actually Getting Crowded
Nintendo’s new hardware is the real story of early 2026. Unlike the original Switch launch, which leaned heavily on Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Switch 2 is getting a lot of "enhanced" ports and specific sequels right out of the gate.
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Switch 2 Edition landed on January 15, 2026. It’s not a full sequel, but the performance boost and extra furniture sets have people losing their minds again.
- Mario Tennis Fever is coming February 12. It’s the first "made for Switch 2" sports title, featuring a "Fever Racket" mechanic that basically turns it into a fighting game with a ball.
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is technically a late 2025 game (released December 4), but let's be honest—most people are playing it for the first time right now on their new consoles.
It’s also surprisingly common to see "impossible" ports. We’re seeing rumors of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for the Switch 2 later this year. If that actually runs at a stable frame rate on a handheld, the Steam Deck might finally have some real competition in the "power portable" space.
Horror and Soulslikes: The 2026 Dark Horse
Capcom is finally ready with Resident Evil: Requiem.
It’s coming February 27, 2026. Word on the street—and by that, I mean the leaks that have been mostly right so far—is that Leon Kennedy is back, but you’re playing as a newcomer for the first half of the game. It’s a bold move. Capcom usually plays it safer, but the RE Engine has been pushed so far that this one is supposedly looking closer to a movie than a game.
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Then you have FromSoftware. While everyone is still trying to beat the Shadow of the Erdtree bosses, their next project, The Duskbloods, is looming.
We don't know much. We know it’s coming to Switch 2 and other platforms. We know it looks darker and more "Victorian gothic" than Elden Ring. But FromSoftware is at that point where they could release a toaster simulator and it would rank as the most anticipated game of the year.
Upcoming Release Schedule (Confirmed & Highly Likely)
| Game | Platform | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Arknights: Endfield | PC, PS5, Mobile | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Code Vein 2 | PC, PS5, XSX | Jan 30, 2026 |
| Dragon Quest VII Reimagined | Switch 2, PS5, PC | Feb 5, 2026 |
| Yakuza Kiwami 3 | PS5, PC, Switch 2 | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Resident Evil: Requiem | PS5, XSX, PC, Switch 2 | Feb 27, 2026 |
| 007 First Light | PC, PS5, Switch 2 | May 27, 2026 |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | PS5, Xbox Series X/S | Nov 19, 2026 |
The "Silksong" Situation
Honest question: are we okay? Hollow Knight: Silksong has become more of a meme than a game at this point.
However, Team Cherry actually posted a blog at the end of 2025. They announced the Sea of Sorrow expansion—which is wild because the base game isn't even fully settled in everyone's hands yet. They’ve confirmed a Switch 2 edition is coming in 2026, which will be free for anyone who owns it on the original Switch.
It feels like the "Indie Renaissance" is hitting a second peak. Small teams are taking five to seven years to make games now. It’s not just the AAA studios suffering from bloated dev cycles.
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Actionable Steps for Your Backlog
If you’re trying to keep up with new games coming out, you’re going to go broke or run out of hard drive space. Or both.
First, check your subscription services. Sony and Microsoft have been getting aggressive with "Day One" additions to PS Plus and Game Pass to combat the GTA hype. Specifically, keep an eye on Avowed (February 17) which is looking like a massive win for Xbox owners.
Second, if you're planning on getting a Switch 2, don't rebuy your library yet. Many developers, like Team Cherry and the Core Keeper devs, are offering free or very cheap "Next Gen" upgrades.
Lastly, clear your November. Seriously. Once GTA VI drops on the 19th, the internet is going to be a minefield of spoilers. If you care about that story, you’ve basically got until then to finish your 2026 backlog.
Go through your Steam or console library now and delete anything you haven't touched in six months. You'll need the room for the 150GB+ installs that are becoming the standard this year.