One game will define the upcoming year, and the hype surrounding it is so meteoric that it will likely dwarf anything around it. After several delays, “Grand Theft Auto VI” is scheduled to arrive Nov. 19 with as much hoopla as “The Phantom Menace” did in 1999.
It’s been more than a decade since the release of the previous entry in the series, and there’s a near-bottomless reservoir of pent-up demand for a sequel. So what took so long? One of the biggest reasons for the gap between “Grand Theft Auto V” and the upcoming sequel is the success of “Grand Theft Auto Online,” which gave the Southern California-based entry one of the longest tales in gaming history.
The online component kept evolving over the past 13 years with additional content and new ways to play. “Grand Theft Auto VI” will likely follow a similar path as players explore Vice City, a locale inspired by Miami, and the surrounding areas of Leonida, a fictional state based on Florida. Not much is known about the single-player campaign aside from the fact that it features the series’ first main female protagonist, Lucia Caminos.
Although fans will play through the campaign, the meat of “Grand Theft Auto VI” will be the online component, which will likely last just as long as its predecessors. The game will be published on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S.
While “Grand Theft Auto VI” will suck up most of the oxygen during the holiday season, several other titles will be vying for players’ attention the rest of the year. They include the following:
“Resident Evil Requiem” — The latest entry to the survival-horror franchise introduces a new protagonist named Grace Ashcroft, an FBI analyst, who is sent to Raccoon City for an investigation. The upcoming release marks the 30th anniversary of the series and brings back fan-favorite Leon Kennedy. It’s scheduled for release Feb. 27 on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S and PC.
“007 First Light” — It’s been years since a James Bond game has been released, and this entry comes from “Hitman” developer, IO Interactive. Expect a more open-ended format as players step into the shoes of the world’s most famous spy and take on missions in his early days. Preview of the title reveals a more stealth-centric approach similar to “Hitman” that’s punctuated with action-heavy elements. It’s scheduled for release May 26 on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S and PC.
“The Duskbloods” — FromSoftware has been dabbling in multiplayer experiences with “Elden Ring Nightreign,” and now, director Hidetaka Miyazaki takes the next step with this title for the Nintendo Switch 2. The multiplayer action role-playing game features competitive and cooperative elements as players take on the role of a Bloodsworn and enter an arena. According to Miyazaki, the victory conditions vary and can reward the last one standing or the group that has to team up to defeat a difficult foe. No release date has been set, but expect to see it sometime this year.
“Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls” — Arc System Works is known for excellent fighting games that meld deep mechanics with beautiful visual design. The pinnacle of this is the team’s work on “Dragon Ball FighterZ,” whose soaring popularity and gameplay made it a darling of the community. Now, the team is working on a Marvel Comics-based fighting game that lets players choose a team of 4 and lets them tag-in allies as a match unfolds. It’s not exactly “Marvel vs Capcom,” but it shares some elements. It is scheduled for release in 2026 on PlayStation 5 and PC.
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