“The release of Control Resonant as early as 2026 came as a positive surprise compared to our expectations, and we have updated our assumption for the game’s release to the end of Q2’26 (was H1’27).” Remedy called it a “critical release” for its investment case, but is “confident in its success.” “We believe that the upcoming game release will support Remedy’s shares over the next year, and we find the valuation otherwise still moderate relative to the company’s long-term potential.”

Projected net revenues from the title over its first three years “remain essentially unchanged,” as Remedy estimates approximately 1.8 million sales in 2026 and 2.2 million in 2027. It seems like a conservative estimate, but the odds for “strong game sales” are favorable. After all, the first game sold more than five million copies over its lifetime and surprisingly garnered more than 20 million players overall (likely thanks to Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, free giveaways on the Epic Games Store, and so on).

Interestingly, Remedy also offered an update on Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake, expecting to receive royalties in 2027 instead of Q4 2026. It’s not ruling out a release in 2026, though, so we’ll see how development progresses.

Control Resonant will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC at launch. Starring Dylan Faden, Jesse’s brother, who ventures out into an open-ended Manhattan overtaken by a paranatural crisis, it promises to be Remedy’s “biggest and most ambitious game” yet.

The former is currently “on track towards meeting its next milestones” with Remedy focusing on “gameplay, environments, and missions.” Officially announced in 2022 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, the sequel will be an action RPG with a lower budget (€50 million) than Alan Wake 2. Its predecessor recently crossed five million units sold.

Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake, also announced in 2022, is still in full production with the development team building “on steady momentum” during the second quarter of 2025. “Collaboration with Rockstar Games remains close and productive, ensuring alignment as the project advances toward its next major phase.”

When it will reach that phase and eventually launch remains to be seen. Again, there’s very little information on the project, but creative director Sam Lake said he wants to bring the classics “up to modern standards” and combine them into a singular experience, which is a “significant undertaking.” Stay tuned for updates in the meantime.

In its most recent quarterly fiscal report, Remedy Entertainment has revealed that Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake has now entered full production, with the development team working on the third-person shooter “working towards developing the game to an early functional state from beginning to end”. How long this stage of development will take remains to be seen, but one would assume that the next big milestone for the project will be launch, however far away that is.

Remedy Entertainment’s creative director Sam Lake previously described Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake as “a significant undertaking”, with the goal being to bring both titles “up to modern standards and combining them into one”. The project is set to be fully funded and published by Rockstar Games, the owner of the IP, with the budget being similar in scope to Alan Wake 2.

GRAND THEFT AUTO 6 GAMEPLAY

Rockstar Games does things at its own pace and leisure, so it’s very unlikely that the company is going to bother aligning its plans with an event rather than just dropping a new trailer of GTA 6 online whenever it’s good and ready. It’s highly unlikely, then, that we see a new trailer of the open world crime epic at Summer Game Fest or at Xbox Games Showcase or what have you- but boy oh boy would there be an explosion of hype if we did.

BLOODBORNE REMAKE/REMASTER

Looking at the way Sony treats the game, you wouldn’t believe that Bloodborne is widely considered one of the greatest games ever made, let alone one of the best first-party PlayStation games of all time, because even as demand for a Bloodborne sequel or remake or remaster or, hell, even a 60 FPS patch, grows louder, Sony insists on responding to that demand with pure silence. The chances of a Bloodborne remaster or remake ever happening are slim, but some part of us is just never going to be able to let go of that last shred of hope.

THE ELDER SCROLLS 6

Even though it’s been six years since Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls 6, it doesn’t take a genius to know that there’s zero chance we’re going to see it at the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase. The fantasy RPG entered production only a few months ago, while Bethesda is still also very much focused on post-launch support for Starfield. Are we going to see the sci-fi RPG’s first expansion? Almost certainly. But The Elder Scrolls 6? Unfortunately, as awesome as it would be, it just isn’t going to happen for a few years yet.

THE LAST OF US PART 3

While it’s unlikely that The Last of Us is the sort of franchise that’s just going to go on forever, it’s also almost definitely not done just yet. At the very least, fans expect one more game to round out Ellie’s story- but though that’s almost definitely going to happen at some point in the future, it’s highly unlikely that it’s going to happen anytime in the near future, much less the coming days. We’ll be all kinds of hyped when The Last of Us Part 3 really is announced, but we doubt it’ll happen anytime soon.

HALF-LIFE 3

Thanks to Half-Life: Alyx, this is no longer completely a joke inclusion. The 2020 VR game was like a bolt out of the blue, and impossibly enough, it once again gave series fans hopes that maybe Half-Life was going to have a future after all. Of course, you can never be too sure that Valve is ever going to do what you expect it will, so there’s still no guarantees that a new Half-Life game will ever come out- but there’s at least a semi-decent chance that it does, and if that happens, our excitement is going to be through the roof.

THE WITCHER 4

Cyberpunk 2077 was a major bump in the road for CD Projekt RED (if we’re putting it mildly), but after having righted those wrongs with post-launch updates and the excellent Phantom Liberty, the developer is now ready to return to the Witcher universe. Geralt of Rivia’s story is over, but CDPR has now started working on another new game in the series that will kickstart its own trilogy. The game is supposed to enter full production before the end of the year, so we’re not going to get an announcement just yet- but slowly but surely, it’s cooking behind the scenes, and we’re keeping one eye glued to it.

THE NEXT LIKE A DRAGON/JUDGMENT

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio puts out Like a Dragon and Judgment games at an incredible pace, which means even though it’s only been a few months since Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth came out, it’s not completely nuts to already start looking to the future. Given how long it’s been since Lost Judgment, it’s likely that a third instalment is what’s next for RGG Studio, but even so, we don’t think an announcement is coming just yet. Whenever it does though, given the developer’s track record, it goes without saying that we’re going to be more than a little keen to get our hands on whatever game ends up getting announced.

ACE COMBAT 8

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is five years old, so fans can’t be blamed for growing antsy about when the series’ next instalment will be announced, and if recent leaks are to be believed, Ace Combat 8 is indeed what Bandai Namco has lined up as its next big game. Do we expect an announcement in the coming days, especially with the publisher also focusing on Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree? Probably not. The announcement is very likely coming soon though, and we couldn’t be more excited.

DEATH STRANDING 2 GAMEPLAY

Admittedly, this one isn’t as unlikely as many of the others we’ve spoken about in this feature, especially given how often we see Kojima trailers at Geoff Keighley events, but the fact that Sony didn’t showcase a new trailer of the game at its recent State of Play might suggest that maybe there just isn’t anything to show yet. Is there a chance that we still see a trailer at Summer Game Fest? There probably is- and we hope that that does happen, because Death Stranding 2 is looking set to be one of 2025’s biggest releases.

DINO CRISIS REVIVAL

Probably the textbook definition of a pie-in-the-sky dream scenario. There’s been loud demand for a revival of the Dino Crisis franchise for a while now, but though Capcom looks to have aggressive plans for remakes where Resident Evil is concerned, it doesn’t look like the company is eying a Dino Crisis revival just yet. We hope that it does end up happening sooner rather than later though, because a modern survival horror Dino Crisis game built in the RE Engine would be just too good to pass up.

NEXT MASS EFFECT

BioWare confirmed that it was working on the next Mass Effect game several years ago at this point, but the sci-fi RPG is still in pre-production, which means it’s still going to be at least few years before the game releases. Given that, and the fact that BioWare and EA are probably going to be focusing on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf this summer, how likely is it that we see glimpses of the next Mass Effect in the coming days? Not likely at all, unfortunately. We’re happy to be patient though, in the hope that it turns out to be worth the wait- which, admittedly, will be a tall order.

CONTROL 2

Remedy Entertainment only just released Alan Wake 2 less than a year ago, and the developer recently confirmed that Control 2 had still yet to enter full production. Is there a chance, then, that Control 2 gets announced at one of the upcoming events? All signs are pointing to no, especially since it’s looking likely that Remedy will instead be showcasing Alan Wake 2 DLC. Whenever Control 2 does get unveiled however, given how excellent the first game was, you can bet excitement for its sequel is going to be sky-high.

MAX PAYNE 1 AND 2 REMAKE

Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake is probably going to be Remedy’s next big project after Alan Wake 2, especially with the developer having confirmed that the combined remake will be entering full production soon. What that means, then, is that though it’s unlikely to get unveiled in the coming days, chances are high that it will be announced within the coming year or two. When that happens, you can look forward to widespread fervent anticipation, because the return of Max Payne is something we’ve been desperately waiting for for a long, long time.

MIYAZAKI AND FROMSOFTWARE’S NEXT GAME

When FromSoftware releases a new game, especially one directed by the mastermind Hidetaka Miyazaki, the entire industry sits up and takes notice, and that obviously will happen whenever it happens next. It won’t be happening anytime soon though, because FromSoftware is going to be entirely focused on Elden Ring’s upcoming expansion over the coming couple of weeks. Given the speed at which the studio works, there’s a good chance that we’ll be hearing about its next game faster than some may think, but we do think it’s unlikely that that happens as soon as this summer season.

METAL GEAR SOLID MASTER COLLECTION VOL. 2

A compilation of a bunch of old games wouldn’t be a hugely exciting thing under ordinary circumstances, but there’s a good chance that the next time Konami puts out a Master Collection for Metal Gear Solid games, it will also include Metal Gear Solid 4, making that game playable on a system other than the PS3 for the firs time ever. Our hope is that that happens sooner rather than later, but there’s been little to no indication of late that Konami will be making those announcements in the near future. We hope we’re wrong though, because we’re always down to return to Metal Gear.

The furthest along is Codename Condor. The co-op Control spinoff, reportedly set to be titled FBC: Firebreak, entered the production readiness stage last year, and Remedy now confirms the game has now entered full production, which is the final stage of development prior to launch. Condor is, however, set to be live service title, which of course means work on the game will continue following launch.

“Codename Condor, a part of the Control franchise, moved to full production meaning it has reached the final development stage before a game is launched,” said CEO Tero Virtala. “Based on wide internal playtests, we can see that the core loop is engaging, and the game brings a unique Remedy angle to the genre.”

Meanwhile, Control 2, which is the next mainline single-player instalment in the franchise (the rights to which Remedy acquired from the first game’s publisher 505 Games earlier this year) is in the final leg of the proof-of-concept stage, and as per Remedy, will enter the production readiness stage before July.

“Control 2 team has focused on finalizing the proof-of-concept stage, in which the game world, game mechanics and visual targets are proven,” Virtala said. “We expect the project to advance to the production readiness stage during the second quarter of 2024.”

A little further along than Control 2 is Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake. The combined remake, which is being fully funded by IP owner Rockstar Games, is still in the production readiness stage, but as previously confirmed by Remedy, it will be moving into full production sometime this summer. That, incidentally, means the studio is going to have two projects in full production simultaneously for the first time in its history.

“We continue seeking further focus and synergies across our games portfolio and operations,” Virtala said. “Soon we expect to have two game projects simultaneously in full production and one in the production readiness stage for the first time. We are confident that the good progress of the beginning of the year carries over to the full production stages.”

Finally, there’s Codename Kestrel, which was previously Codename Vanguard before being rebooted as a paid co-op game. Remedy says the title’s development team is continuing to “refine the game concept” in the proof-of-concept stage.

SENUA’S SAGA: HELLBLADE 2

Following up on one of 2017’s most acclaimed games, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 has a lot to live up to, but Ninja Theory seems equal to the task based on everything we’ve seen so far. With the promise of another captivating story and some much-needed gameplay improvements with combat and exploration, Hellblade 2 is looking like the ideal sequel, especially with Ninja Theory confirming it to be another 7-8 hour experience. Add to that the technical and visual accomplishments it looks like it’s boasting, and it looks set to be one of 2024’s standout games.

INDIANA JONES AND THE GREAT CIRCLE

We’ve been waiting for MachineGames’ next game for a while now, but the Wolfenstein studio is set to return to the spotlight sometime this year with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The famous archaeologist hasn’t had the best luck with his big screen revival attempts, but everything that we’ve seen of The Great Circle has looked incredibly promising, from its mix of combat, traversal, exploration, and puzzles, to how well it seems to be capturing the Indy aesthetic.

LITTLE NIGHTMARES 3

Unlike the series’ first two instalments, Little Nightmares 3 isn’t being developed by Tarsier Studios, with Supermassive Games of Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures fame taking the reins this time, but the developer seems like a great fit from what’s been shown of the game so far. That simultaneously charming and creepy aesthetic of the series looks present and accounted for in Little Nightmares 3, while having two central protagonists with unique gameplay abilities is sounding like an intriguing wrinkle for the series’ formula. There’s also the addition of co-op, which should shake things up in interesting ways as well.

SILENT HILL 2

The Silent Hill franchise has certainly been through the wringer, but Konami is gearing up to at least try and give it another shot in the arm with multiple upcoming games. The Bloober Team-developed Silent Hill 2 remake will be one of those, and it’s fair to say that it’s going to have a lot to live up to. Not only does it have to properly bring Silent Hill back from the dead, it’s also the remake of one of the most beloved games ever made. Whether it will prove equal to the pressure or buckle under its weight remains to be seen, but it’s fair to say that there’s no shortage of people who’ve got their attention fixed on it like the Eye of Sauron.

METAL GEAR SOLID DELTA: SNAKE EATER

Silent Hill 2 isn’t the only legendary Konami game that’s getting a remake. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is going to bring the beloved stealth series’ third entry back into the limelight in hopes of breathing new life into the dormant franchise- and given the stature of Metal Gear Solid 3 (and Metal Gear as a whole), it’s hard not to be curious about how things will shake out. We’ve seen very little of the game so far, but if the remake can successfully capture the design and narrative genius of MGS 3, it’s going to be a hell of a game.

UNTIL DAWN

Until Dawn is nine years old this year, but its popularity remains high, which is something that Sony is looking to capitalize on with a new, enhanced version of the game. With one foot in remake land and the other in remaster kingdom, the upcoming PS5 and PC version of Until Dawn will boast a number of improvements over the genre-defining original, including overhauled animations and audio, new narrative content, a third-person mode, and more, all rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 by British studio Ballistic Moon. To date, Until Dawn is probably Supermassive’s best game, so the chance to experience it in enhanced form is an exciting one.

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS

Sega has declared 2024 the year of Shadow the Hedgehog, and while the upcoming film Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will obviously have a big role to play in that, everyone’s favourite edgelord will also be looking to steal the spotlight with Sonic X Shadow Generations. The chance to play a remastered version of Sonic Generations, one of the best 3D Sonic games ever made, is an exciting one in and of itself, but when you throw an entirely new and standalone campaign focused on Shadow on top of that, that becomes an infinitely more irresistible package.

STILL WAKES THE DEEP

The Chinese Room has plenty of experience with psychological horror games, from Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs to Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, so it’s no surprise that so many fans of the genre have their eye on the studio’s next game, Still Wakes the Deep. Set on an oil rig in the 1970s, the game tasks you with surviving the onslaught of everything from catastrophic failures aboard the rig to the hard weather of the North Sea to a terrifying creature stalking you through the rig’s cramped interiors. For anyone that enjoys a good scare, it’s a mouthwatering setup.

MARVEL 1943: RISE OF HYDRA

Marvel fatigue is at an all-time high where movies and TV are concerned, but in the world of games, there’s still plenty of demand for good, single player Marvel games. Skydance New Media’s Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra is looking like it’s going to scratch that itch. Led by Uncharted creator Amy Hennig, Rise of Hydra is promising a fascinating narrative-driven blockbuster with two of Marvel’s most widely beloved heroes sharing the spotlight. We’re yet to see any gameplay, but what little we’ve seen so far has certainly caught our attention.

THE WOLF AMONG US 2

Even after Telltale Games’ resurrection and the re-announcement of a new and overhauled The Wolf Among Us 2, questions about whether or not the long-awaited sequel will ever actually release remain relevant. Delayed from 2023 to 2024 to accommodate a switch to Unreal Engine 5, The Wolf Among Us 2 hit another major roadblock last year when Telltale was hit with significant layoffs in October. Even though the studio said the game was still in production, former Telltale staff reported at the time that most of The Wolf Among Us 2’s dev team had been let go as part of the layoffs. The project’s status is, as such, murky (at best) right now. Hopefully, we’ll be getting a concrete update in the not-too-distant future (and hopefully it’ll be a positive one).

THE PLUCKY SQUIRE

Even though we’ve seen very little of The Plucky Squire, the action-adventure title has been high on our list of anticipated games ever since its announcement in 2022. Its charming art style and storybook aesthetic have obviously done a lot of the heavylifting on that front, while snippets of gameplay showing seamless transitions between 3D and 2D have only piqued our curiosity that much more. Publisher Devolver Digital says The Plucky Squire is due out this year, so hopefully we’ll be seeing more of it soon.

JURASSIC PARK: SURVIVAL

How has a media franchise as wildly popular as Jurassic Park had such a poor track record in the gaming medium? That remains as big of a mystery as it ever has been, but Saber Interactive is nonetheless looking to remedy that with Jurassic Park: Survival. Set a day after the classic first film and putting you in the shoes of an InGen scientist who got left behind on Isla Nublar, Jurassic Park: Survival is being billed as a first-person action-adventure experience that will have you exploring familiar and iconic locations while avoiding a bloody death at the claws and fangs of vicious prehistoric beasts brought back to life. Given that we’ve seen no gameplay so far, it’s hard to be too confident, but we’re certainly intrigued by the premise.

WARHAMMER 40,000: SPACE MARINE 2

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine fans have been waiting for a sequel for a long time, and Saber Interactive is finally set to deliver that sequel later this year. The original was an excellent Gears of War-style shooter that captured the Warhammer universe’s unique aesthetic perfectly, and expectations are high that Space Marine 2 will be similarly successful in those areas and more. What we’ve seen of the game so far has been quite promising, so hopefully it’ll be worth the wait when it finally launches this September.

UNKNOWN 9: AWAKENING

From its period setting to the high-flying magical abilities it will let players unleash to its promise of a focused, cinematic, narrative-driven experience, Unknown 9: Awakening seems to have all the pieces in place to deliver exactly the sort of linear action-adventure game that we just can’t get enough of, especially in an age where games insist on being multiple dozens of hours long. Developer Reflector Entertainment is billing the game as an entryway into a larger, interconnected multimedia franchise, so hopefully, the game will have the narrative weight to back those lofty ambitions.

MAX PAYNE 1 AND 2 REMAKE

Remedy Entertainment keeps touching new heights with every game it releases, but Max Payne 1 and 2 still hold a special place in the hearts of the studio’s many fans- which is why it’s so exciting that the studio is now developing a combined, ground-up remake of the two games with the full financial backing of IP owner Rockstar Games. We’ve seen and heard nothing of the game so far other than the fact that it exists and is being worked on, but given Remedy’s track record and the high demand for the franchise to return, we’re still incredibly excited to see what this remake is going to look like.

INSTINCTION

Touted as a “wide-linear” game, Hashbane Interactive’s Instinction sees players controlling Izzy, who discovers a gorgeous hidden world where dinosaurs roam free. As with any Jurassic-sized adventure, there are plenty of prehistoric creatures to encounter in the Valley of the Rift, with puzzles to solve and mysteries to unravel. There’s combat as well, as Izzy can use melee and ranged weapons on top of powerful abilities. Of course, if you want to sneak around or escape from any fights that aren’t in your favor, that’s also an option. Instinction will receive an alpha in Q3 2024 for PC, with the full game expected to arrive in Q4 2025, but further details are still pending.

In a recently released financial statement, Remedy Entertainment CEO Tero Virtala reiterated that Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake will be entering full production sometime before July, having been in the “production readiness” stage for a few months. Additionally, Virtala has also revealed that the remake is being developed on a similar budget to Alan Wake 2 (which, as per reports, was between €50-€70 million), and is being fully funded by IP owners Rockstar Games.

Meanwhile, Virtala has also reiterated that Control 2 – which is currently in the proof-of-concept stage – and co-op spinoff Codename Condor – which, like Max Payne, is in the production readiness stage – will both also be moving to the next stage of production.

“Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake also continued in the production readiness stage,” Virtala said about the state of the project. “The team made considerable progress throughout the year. Max Payne 1&2 remake is going to be a major new game with great potential, enabled by a similar development budget as Alan Wake 2.

“We expect Condor, Control 2, and Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake projects to advance to the next stages of development during the first half of 2024.”

A trademark filing earlier this year suggested that Condor’s official title will be FBC: Firebreak.

Meanwhile, 2024 will also see Remedy releasing two paid expansions for Alan Wake 2.

Personnel freed up following Alan Wake 2’s launch are the reason for this and includes senior gameplay designer Leonid Stepanov, who is now working on Control 2. There was no update on Kestrel, a free-to-play multiplayer title rebooted into a paid purchase with a “strong, cooperative multiplayer component.”

Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake entered the “production readiness” stage last October, but there haven’t been any details on its gameplay or changes. Creative director Sam Lake revealed that it’s a “big, big project” in terms of “bringing them up to modern standards and combining them into one.” Perhaps we’ll learn more later this year.

Control 2 is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, but a release window is pending. A trademark from January 2024 suggests that Condor’s official name is FBC: Firebreak. Again, there’s no release window, so stay tuned for more updates.

It turns out, however, that the issue had been sorted before it was ever reported on. Journalist Stephen Totilo recently confirmed the news on Twitter, stating that as per what a Remedy Entertainment representative has told him, the aforementioned legal filing was little more than “an initial formality”, and that the dispute was “resolved entirely and amicably” in late 2023.

“There is nothing to see here – this was a discussion between our teams that was resolved entirely and amicably late last year,” the Remedy representative said, as per Totilo. “The legal filing was simply an initial formality, and Remedy and Take-Two continue to work together in partnership.”

The partnership in question is, of course, Remedy Entertainment and Rockstar Games’ collaboration on a combined remake of Max Payne 1 and 2, which is being developed by the former. Remedy said in October that the project had moved into the “production readiness” stage.

UPDATE: A Remedy rep tells me: "There is nothing to see here – this was a discussion between our teams that was resolved entirely and amicably late last year."

"The legal filing was simply an initial formality, and Remedy and Take-Two continue to work together in partnership." https://t.co/j1NgQCkE15

— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) January 18, 2024

Grand Theft Auto 6

The biggest game on this list, which is not even out until 2025, is Grand Theft Auto 6. Rockstar Games’ highly anticipated sequel already hit 150 million views on YouTube with its first trailer with no signs of slowing down. The prospect of a modern Vice City setting, that too built for current-gen platforms, with new protagonists and the sheer insanity of the brand is already enticing off the bat. Rockstar touts this as the “biggest, most immersive evolution” of the series yet, and we’re inclined to believe them. It’s coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S first, with a PC version yet to be announced.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

When you think of Skyrim-like titles, Dragon’s Dogma from Capcom probably isn’t the first to come to mind. The action RPG debuted in 2012, and despite lacking the detail of Bethesda’s world, made up for it with incredible combat, Pawns and an insane story. Dragon’s Dogma 2 looks to build on that in every possible way, introducing new locations, Vocations, tactics and more while polishing the combat and Pawn mechanics. With a world that’s four times larger and impressive fidelity courtesy of RE Engine, it should make a bigger impression than the original after launching on March 22nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Examining the concept of infinity isn’t a particularly new endeavor, but from the lens of Like a Dragon, it results in the series’ longest game yet. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth starts with Ichiban Kasuga, the protagonist from Yakuza: Like a Dragon, venturing to Honolulu City to find his birth mother. Through some rather bizarre circumstances (like waking up on a beach in a compromising way), he teams up with Kazuma Kiryu and runs afoul of the local mafia (led by new antagonist Dwight Mendez, voiced by Danny Trejo). The stakes are higher than ever, but Infinite Wealth still promises plenty of over-the-top fun, from delivering meals in Crazy Taxi-like fashion to interacting with mascots while building up Dondoko Island.

OD

Kojima Productions finally revealed its newest IP recently – OD, a horror game, also the same title that Xbox Game Studios is publishing. Aside from utilizing the company’s cloud-native technology and featuring the likes of Jordan Peele as a collaborator (among others), there isn’t much known about the title. Some trademarks for Social Stealth and Social Scream System offer hints at the multiplayer elements, though it may end up like Death Stranding and retain a single-player focus. Nevertheless, it may be a while before gameplay debuts, so sit tight.

Rise of the Ronin

The Bakumatsu is a focal point of Japanese history, with the Tokugawa Shogunate falling and the Meiji Restoration underway. Team Ninja’s upcoming action RPG casts the player as a ronin who can choose their side and develop bonds with characters like Sakamoto Ryoma and Shoin Yoshida. Depending on those decisions, the story changes, and certain factions may oppose you.

From a gameplay standpoint, Rise of the Ronin offers a massive open world with a grappling hook, glider and horseback used for traversal. While you can rely on a katana to fight (and even dual-wield them), there are also spears and firearms like rifles and pistols to take down enemies. Of course, this is from the team behind Nioh, so deflecting a fire arrow back at an enemy and setting your sword ablaze for elemental attacks is a thing. Rise of the Ronin launches on March 22nd for PS5.

The Wolf Among Us 2

Bigby Wolf has had a rough one, with the last gameplay reveal for The Wolf Among Us 2 showcasing his anger issues. Then again, that rings true for the sequel’s development, especially with recent reports that most of the development team was laid off. We’re still looking forward to the narrative adventure, especially with its development shifting to Unreal Engine 5 and all episodes developed together. It’s planned for launch in 2024 on Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and PC.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Years of rumors later, Konami finally announced its first Metal Gear Solid remake – Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Co-developed with Virtuous on Unreal Engine 5 and promising a “faithful recreation” with “evolved gameplay,” it’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. It’s reportedly coming out this year so we can’t wait to see how it pans out.

Silent Hill 2

Among its remakes of beloved IP, Konami announced one for Silent Hill 2, developed by Bloober Team on Unreal Engine 5. With composer Akira Yamaoka and art director/creature designer Masahiro Ito involved, there’s plenty of hype, but the past year hasn’t seen too many updates. The developer said things are “progressing smoothly and in accordance with our schedule”, but it’s up to Konami to share more information. With no loading screens on PS5, rebuilt combat and set pieces, and the “best facial expressions” in the franchise’s history, Silent Hill 2 could be the long-awaited revival that the series needs. The game is reportedly coming out this year.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Over 100 hours of gameplay, 150 GB of installation space needed, side content double that of the main quest, a “vast and expansive” world map and even some new episodes for characters like Rufus – Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth isn’t messing around. The scary thing is that this isn’t even scratching the surface of what the remake offers. While many are doubtless excited about the story and its potential directions or the ability to play as Sephiroth (in certain situations), we’re keen on getting lost in Rebirth’s world when it launches on February 29th for PS5.

Marvel’s Blade

Perhaps the most surprising announcement to close out 2023 is Marvel’s Blade, developed by Arkane Lyon. Though it’s “just begun” development and hasn’t revealed any gameplay, it’s hyped as a third-person action adventure with the famous hunter battling vampires in a quarantine zone in Paris. It may be a while before we learn more, but Bethesda has interestingly refused to comment on its Xbox Series X/S exclusivity.

Marvel’s Wolverine

Insomniac Games has delved into darker territory with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, but Marvel’s Wolverine aims for an even more mature tone. Helmed by creative director Brian Horton and game director Cameron Christian of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales fame, it’s rumored to launch in 2025 for PS5, with semi-open world elements and Madripoor as a location. If nothing else, the fact that Walt D. Williams, writer of Spec Ops: The Line, is penning the narrative should make this an even better proposition.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

As the long-awaited follow-up to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Hellblade 2 sees Senua venturing to Viking Iceland to presumably fight the Northmen. Based on the latest trailer, combat looks as hard-hitting and visceral as ever, while the brutality (and gorgeous visuals) is on another level. Between overwhelming threats and the Furies’ voices, Senua has her work cut out. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 launches in 2024 for Xbox Series X/S and PC, though it’s implied to arrive later in the year.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Speaking of long-awaited, GSC Game World’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is nearly upon us, launching in Q1 2024 for Xbox Series X/S and PC. With the developer facing innumerable challenges due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, it’s incredible to see the sequel delivering such fidelity while sticking to the survival horror of its predecessors. As a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, you’re again hunting for artifacts, surviving against radiation, Anomalies and other hazards in a massive and seamless open world. With over 30 weapon types, branching paths and multiple endings, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl promises extensive replay value with its 40-hour story.

Star Wars Outlaws

Star Wars titles have been having a good run lately, and Massive Entertainment’s Star Wars Outlaws looks to offer the biggest adventure yet. As space scoundrel Kay Vess, players can ally with different factions, take on tasks or double-cross whomever they please en route to pulling off the galaxy’s biggest heist. Third-person, cover-based shooting, large planets with speeder action, space combat – there’s plenty of action to go around. However, Outlaws’ biggest strength is arguably the branching dialogue and choices, which have long-standing consequences. It’s out in 2024 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Death Stranding 2

The other big Kojima Productions title in the works is Death Stranding 2 or, more accurately, DS2, which is a working title. Norman Reedus returns as an older Sam Porter Bridges, Léa Seydoux once again portrays Fragile and Troy Baker returns as what many assume to be Higgs. Elle Fanning and Shioli Kutsuna are also part of the cast, but little else is known, aside from it not being a “regular sequel” and utilizing “new techniques” for “more photorealistic CG” per director Hideo Kojima. Though a release window for PS5 hasn’t been announced, rumors indicate it could launch in 2024.

The Alters

11 bit Studios is known for its survival titles that require morally questionable decisions, but The Alters, launching in 2024 for PC, is on an entirely different scale. As Jan Dolski, you roam a doomed planet in a massive base, avoiding killer rays from the sun to eventually go home. It’s not an easy task, so he creates alters, versions of himself with unique backgrounds and personalities suited for different tasks. Not only do you have to interact and bond with them, but also locate vital resources to survive. So far, the prospect of managing different versions of Jan – some satisfied with their existence and others not – The Alters looks to be a trippy but solid survival title.

Kingdom Hearts 4

Just when you thought Kingdom Hearts 3 had a Simple and Clean ending – which, let’s be honest, no one believes – Square Enix is working on Kingdom Hearts 4. It’s developed on Unreal Engine 5 and thus far announced only for PS5, with Sora awakening in the world of Quadratum. You’ll still wield a Keyblade to battle enemies, and Disney characters like Donald and Goofy also make their return. What’s going on, and will Sora embark on another multi-world-spanning adventure? Yes, on the latter, but for everything else, we’ll find out when director/artist/writer Tetsuya Nomura has more to share.

Next Mass Effect

Dragon Age: Dreadwolf fans have plenty of news to look forward to in Summer 2024, but the next Mass Effect is still in pre-production. BioWare did release an in-engine teaser, though, which featured what could be a new protagonist along with returning races like the Geth, Asari and Salarians, but very little else is known. Even worse is that it’s allegedly not launching until 2029. Nevertheless, we’ll wait, if only to see Commander Shepard potentially return.

Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake

Even after launching the excellent Alan Wake 2, Remedy Entertainment isn’t slowing down. Along with Control 2, a co-op spinoff codenamed Condor and the recently rebooted Kestrel, it’s also remaking Max Payne 1 and 2. Published by Rockstar Games, it’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, and will feature a triple-A budget. With a promise to “bring the story, action and atmosphere of the original games back to players in new ways,” Max Payne 1 and 2 Remake looks like an instant hit. Of course, when it will launch remains to be seen, so again, we’ll have to sit tight.

Nivalis

ION LANDS garnered some attention with its cyberpunk adventure Cloudpunk, and it’s returning to the same setting for something more ambitious. Nivalis involves managing a food place, starting from a stall and eventually progressing to a restaurant or club. On top of managing business, you can interact with different customers and friends, explore the city, customize your home and see what life is like in the gorgeous voxel art city. Nivalis is planned to launch in 2024 for PC.

Exodus

Archetype Entertainment’s Exodus is a sci-fi action adventure RPG for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, featuring Matthew McConaughey, and right away, the resemblance to Mass Effect is uncanny. Interestingly, it features Time Dilation as a core mechanic – you need to steal technology from the Celestials for the sake of humanity’s place in the universe. However, a journey that feels like days could take several years, and you’ll need to deal with the consequences. We still need to see more gameplay and how the Time Dilation works, but it’s intriguing if nothing else.

Perfect Dark

What is happening with Perfect Dark, Xbox Game Studios’ reboot of the acclaimed first-person shooter (singular – the prequel? Never happened) for PC and Xbox Series X/S? Your guess is as good as ours. We know that The Initiative is working on it with Crystal Dynamics, but that’s officially it. Unofficially, there are reports of development troubles, including development restarting from scratch in 2022 with Unreal Engine 5 as the main engine. It’s rumored to be about two to three years off and may have an episodic release. Playing as Joanna Dark on a new sci-fi spy fantasy is still enticing, but more details are desperately needed.

Silent Hill f

The new wave of Silent Hill is off to a somewhat rough start with Silent Hill: Ascension and its interactive shenanigans. However, along with the Silent Hill 2 remake, there’s also Silent Hill f to look forward to. Set in rural Japan during the 1960s, it’s a new mainline title with Ryukishi07 of Umineko and Higurashi fame writing the story (which is an enticing prospect unto itself). Combined with artist Kera (Spirit Hunter NG), it should make for a visceral horror experience unlike anything the series has seen.

Silent Hill: Townfall

In the hopefully more immediate future is Silent Hill: Townfall, developed by No Code of Stories Untold fame with Konami co-producing. The developer’s other titles are more narrative and adventure-focused, but it’s created some incredibly unorthodox and involving horror. Job listings indicate that Townfall is developed on Unreal Engine 5, while rumors state it’s the first in an anthology series. Whatever the case, we need to see more soon.

Wonder Woman

Monolith Productions hasn’t released a full-fledged game since 2017 with Middle-earth: Shadow of War. Nevertheless, we still love the Nemesis System, and it’s coming back for Wonder Woman, which is in the works for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. Outside of being an open-world single-player action-adventure title (that isn’t being designed for live service, assures WB Games), nothing else is known. A gameplay reveal in 2024 feels like a safe bet – hopefully, the launch isn’t too far behind.

Project Polaris (The Witcher 4)

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains one of the more beloved titles in gaming, and it’s finally getting a sequel. Well, more accurately, it’s getting a new trilogy, starting with Project Polaris. Currently in pre-production on Unreal Engine 5, it has almost 330 developers working on it and promises to be an “excellent entry point” for new players. A player-created Witcher? Ciri’s return? New regions to explore? Whatever the case may be, we’re excited.

Project Orion (Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel)

Given the success of Cyberpunk 2077’s revival and Phantom Liberty, we’re even more hyped for Project Orion. Directed by Gabe Amatangelo, who also helmed the expansion, it’s developed on Unreal Engine 5 and promises to showcase “the full power and potential of the universe.” It has a ways to go, but despite the challenge, lead quest designer Pawel Sasko says there’s “so much space to actually do something awesome.” Time will tell where it’s set and whether it’ll even be first-person, so sit tight.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake

505 Games and Avantgarden SRL are releasing a remake of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons on February 28th for Xbox Series X/S, PC and PS5. With revamped visuals, a live orchestra for its re-recorded soundtrack and local co-op support, it promises to maintain the original’s emotional impact. Those who played the 2013 version can also look forward to some “new secrets.”

Earthblade

With gorgeous pixel art, Metroid-style exploration and promised “countless mysteries”, Earthblade is the next promising game from Celeste developer Extremely OK Games. As Névoa, players return to a ruined Earth and investigate what happened. There are potential allies to meet, enemies to fight and massive environments to explore, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Last Sentinel

Announced at The Game Awards 2023, Last Sentinel drew some attention for its futuristic version of Tokyo, divided between the old and new world. It’s an open-world title developed on Unreal Engine 5, led by Steve C. Martin of Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption fame. Not much else is known, but it’s worth waiting for gameplay footage, at the very least.

No Rest for the Wicked

What do you get when mixing isometric action RPG combat, a dark medieval realm and Moon Studios’ penchant for gorgeous visuals? You get No Rest for the Wicked, launching in early access for PC in Q1 2024 but also coming to Xbox Series X/S and PS5. It sees a king dead and the Pestilence sweeping the land. You’re tasked with wiping it out, visiting unique locations with different challenges and secrets, and building up a quaint town for respite. Online co-op for up to four players is included, but as a single-player title, it looks fantastic.

Black Myth: Wukong

Launching on August 20th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG based on Journey to the West, and sees Sun Wukong battling against the forces of evil. Along with his signature staff, which is customizable, players can utilize three different stances depending on the need and unleash powerful Skills. You can also expect over 100 unique enemies and hidden bosses to test your might against.

Light No Fire

Already dubbed “No Man’s Earth,” Light No Fire is an incredibly ambitious new title from Hello Games, which aims to provide a survival sandbox RPG on a planet the size of Earth. It’s completely open, with various biomes to explore, enemies to battle and resources to collect while players learn more about the planet and its state. There’s the prospect of building communities and settlements with other players, but you can also cross the oceans, climb mountains and explore on your own. Currently confirmed for PC, Light No Fire doesn’t have a release window, but we’ll probably learn more about it in the coming year.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League

Much as one may decry the co-op component of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, it still promises a narrative-focused adventure for solo players. As King Shark, Harley Quinn, Deadshot and Captain Boomerang, players must fight back against Brainiac’s invasion and his mind control of the Justice League. Combat is more shooter-focused with some juggle mechanics and extensive mobility, while Metropolis is a wide-open playground to mess around in. Ideally, this all coalesces into a memorable story when it launches on February 2nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

The Elder Scrolls 6

Did Bethesda have to announce The Elder Scrolls 6 at E3 2018, especially with early development announced this past August? Probably not. Is it at least five years away, as Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer believes? Most likely. Is there anything known about it, except for the title and that it’s using Creation Engine 2? Well, former design director Bruce Nesmith confirmed it has a similar leveling system as Skyrim, so that’s something. Despite the mixed reactions from players to Starfield, it’s a new Elder Scrolls title, which is still a big deal.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

Naughty Dog has cancelled its standalone multiplayer title for The Last of Us, but it’s still going forward with its single-player projects. The Last of Us Part 3 is rumored, but in the meantime, newcomers and long-time fans can check out The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. Launching on January 19th for PS5, it features three Lost Levels, developer commentary, new features, visual improvements, and No Return, a roguelike survival mode. It’s a $10 upgrade for PS4 owners, making it a perfect way to revisit the classic.

Alone in the Dark

Alone in the Dark has its fair share of reboots in the past to abject failure. THQ Nordic’s upcoming title seems closer in overall tone, with Edward Carnby venturing to Derceto Manor in the 1920s to investigate the disappearance of Emily Hartwood’s uncle. Both characters are playable and offer unique campaigns (with the full story revealed after completing both), and the manor harbors all kinds of dark secrets and horrors. Alone in the Dark launches on March 20th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Hades 2

Supergiant Games’ Hades 2 finally goes into early access in Q2 2024. The full extent of its content is unknown, you can expect the same level of the evolving narrative over multiple runs. There will also be dozens of voice characters, Boons, new locations and systems, and much more to sink dozens of hours into. Whether you’re a fan of roguelites or not, Hades 2 warrants a look. Early access is coming to PC first, but expect console versions to be announced in the future.

Little Nightmares 3

Supermassive Games is in charge of the next title of the acclaimed horror platforming series, which launches in 2024 for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch. Starring newcomers Low and Alone, players journey through the Spiral, part of The Nowhere, battling hostile creatures and even bigger threats – like Monster Baby – searching for a way out. Full of the same platforming action and tense stealth, Little Nightmares 3 also offers online co-op, though you can play the entire game solo.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

The Prince isn’t quite back just yet, but Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown does offer some fast-paced 2.5D side-scrolling action combined with deep Metroid-style exploration. Players control Sargon, part of The Immortals, who must save Prince Ghassan. What appears to be a routine mission spirals out of control as Sargon gains time manipulation powers and fights to save the kingdom despite being marked as an enemy. As the first mainline title in the series since The Forgotten Sands in 2010, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a long time coming. It’s out on January 18th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch, with a demo coming on January 11th.

Tom Clancy’s The Division 3

As if Massive Entertainment didn’t have enough under its belt, Tom Clancy’s The Division 3 will be happening. Nothing is known about it, but Julian Gerighty, creative director of The Division 2 and now executive producer for the brand, says the team is focusing on “refinement” and “pushing the quality bar consistently forward.” As always, we’ll need to wait for more details, but if its single-player experience is like any of the previous games, it should be fun.

Fable

Announced in July 2020 for Xbox Series X/S and PC, Fable is a reboot of Lionhead Studios’ action RPG series. Developed by Playground Games, it received a new trailer with a Jack and the Beanstalk-style scenario featuring Richard Ayoade of The IT Crowd. Lead lightning artist Lukas Koelz claims it was captured on Xbox Series X, and while raw gameplay is still pending, it’s not bad in terms of visual fidelity. All that’s left to do is wait and watch for more updates.

Control 2

Of all the games with a lack of information floating around, Control 2 is perhaps top of the list. It’s developed on Remedy’s Northlight engine and is currently in the proof-of-concept stage. However, with Alan Wake 2 senior gameplay designer Leonid Stepanov moving over to the project and the former setting up its story, there’s plenty of reason to be excited. It’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, though a release window is still unknown.

Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth

As the first Blade Runner title since the 1997 adventure game, Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth is set between the original film and Blade Runner 2049. It’s after the Blackout, which caused Replicant production to cease (not permanently, of course, given future events). While the gameplay has yet to be showcased, the aesthetic is undeniably Blade Runner and has us excited for the dark dystopian possibilities.

Clockwork Revolution

inXile Entertainment, which released the incredible Wasteland 3, has resurfaced with a brand new role-playing game, this time in first-person. Clockwork Revolution is coming to Xbox Series X/S and PC and focuses on the steampunk city of Avalon. By traveling back in time, players learn how the location came to be and can choose to change things. How this will impact the world is ultimately up to you. The stylish aesthetic is already enough, but inXile’s narrative approach and complex choices are the main appeal.