We’re obviously excited and can’t wait to see what the latest edition of the event brings to the table. But we’re also hoping that it gives us news about a few titles we’re quite excited about. Without further ado, here are the things we’d love to see at The Game Awards 2025.

1. Fallout 3 Remastered Reveal Trailer

We’re itching at the chance to dive right back into what’s close to the best Fallout title we’ve played. With Bethesda doing a great job of bringing The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion back to life, we can’t wait to see what the studio does with a title that has the potential to have this one among the best remakes/remasters out there.

Given how the studio managed to modernize another of its classics, a trailer for this one would be quite nice, allowing us all to see just how well the remaster manages to recapture the magic of the original.

2. GTA 6 Trailer

Given the delay to this highly aniticpated title, we’d say it’s about time that Rockstar gives us more concrete news about it, It’s probably safe to guess that the game is atleast ready for a trailer at TGA 2025, and it would definitely reassure the gaming community at large that the game is indeed coming in 2026, given how much hype it already has behind it.

This is an opportunity to showcase what it can do, and we sure as hell hope Rockstar is ready to show off its upcoming flagship title.

3. Half-Life 3 Reveal Trailer

The rumor mill has already hinted at a reveal for Half-Life 3 at TGA, and we’re definitely hoping that it got things right this time. While Valve has chosen to let us stew in its silence on this one, that’s not to say that there is any good reason why the studio should choose to make an announcement about a title that’s going to bring back fond memories of the games that came before it.

Once again, it’s an opportunity to bring back a dormant franchise back to the mainstream and enthrall legions of players while you’re at it. Let’s hope Valve sees things the same way we do!

4. Alien Isolation 2

The next chapter of Alien Isolation is a fine choice for a reveal at TGA, considering just how well the first title managed to recapture the magic of the franchise as its players made their way to a desolate facility overrun with Xenomorphs.

With the first game’s story giving us the impression that things were only beginning to heat up, it’s more than about time that the next instalment makes itself known, and gives us an end to the agonizing wait for this follow-up to the first title.

5. The Next Metro Game Reveal Trailer

We think it’s safe to say that you’d agree that it’s about time we got a new Metro game. With speculation rife about a potential reveal at TGA 2025, this is another batch of rumors that have us hoping for their credibility.

A blend of Last Light and Exodus would certainly be a great addition to the franchise, and a trailer showcasing how the game could be the one that cements its future in modern gaming.

6. Max Payne 1 + 2 Remake Reveal Trailer

It’s always good to hear back from old friends, and Max Payne definitely fits the bill. A remake of both the first two games is already on the cards, with Remedy and Rockstar collaborating to bring both titles into one comprehensive package.

We’re hoping to see a trailer of what that new title could bring to the table, and perhaps get ourselves hyped up to dive back into an adventure that has given us so many fond memories.

7. OD

Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele collaborating on a horror title? Sign us up! We’re hoping to hear more about this game at TGA 2025, especially after knowing that Kojima was a part of a Silent Hill title before his infamous fallout with Konami.

This is a horror title that could change the genre if you consider the prodigious skill sets of its makers, and is definitely something we want to hear more about, no matter the occasion.

8. Metal Gear Solid 1 Remake

After Naked Snake’s current-gen debut, it’s only natural to want a franchise that’s been a source of so many fond gaming-related memories to get to us sooner rather than later. We’re hoping that Konami builds on the momentum it has achieved with Delta: Snake Eater, and brings us more remakes of a franchise that continues to be a crucial part of modern gaming.

If the previous remake was any indication, this is a title that’s going to be faithful to the original that inspired it while also making it relevant enough to appeal to newcomers as well.

9. The Next Wolfenstein

We loved The New Order and also enjoyed The New Colossus, which makes us believe that six years is way too long without a Wolfenstein game in the making. Here’s to hoping that TGA 2025 ends that long wait, and that a new title in a franchise that was part of our early gaming years hits the stage and puts it back on the map.

10. Ace Combat 8

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from the Ace Combat series since 2019’s Skies Unknown. With the game’s producer already giving cryptic hints about a new game, TGA 2025 might just be the best place to make it official.

It’s going to be great to see the franchise come to life with Unreal Engine 5-powered visuals and any potential tweaks to the gameplay loop that Bandai Namco chooses to bring to the table.

11. Kingdom Hearts IV

It’s been a while since this one was announced, and we’re hoping to hear more about it at TGA. A face-off between Sora and Heartless is surely going to come with a lot of twists and turns we weren’t expecting, and this is a game that we’ve been excited about for a very long time.

Fans of the franchise are sure to share our sentiments, and this is a title that needs to be a part of the festivities and might even prompt some folks to continue celebrating long after the event is over.

12. Final Fantasy Remake Part 3

With the game’s director recently stating that it’s more or less complete, TGA 2025 is the perfect stage to introduce this one to the world. We already know that the game is down to two final titles, with one being officially finalized at the end of the year.

Well, that time is almost upon us, and we’re sure that the game is going to have something for us to chew on at TGA 2025. An update would do well to keep the hype up for a game that many are waiting for, after all.

13. New Light No Fire Trailer

A new IP from the makers of No Man’s Sky is obviously a massive draw, considering the success of the latter. It’s quite an ambitious effort from Hello Games, although its premise and new world might be different from the studio’s previous offering.

A new trailer showcasing the game’s many pillars and gameplay loop is definitely something we’re not willing to wait for, and we’re hoping that TGA is a great occasion for more news.

14. The Division 3 Revealed

The developer might have managed to begin a revival of its fortunes, but so much hinges on its upcoming projects that the studio must get things right. Fortunately, this is a studio that has no dearth of talent that can help it regain its footing, and The Division is one among them

Let’s hope that the developer manages to get its resolutions for 2026 in place before TGA 2025, and that this highly anticipated title is a part of those plans.

15. The Wolf Among Us 2

It’s rare that we have the patience to wait for a sequel to an awesome game for nearly twelve years. However, our patience has now run thin, and we’re hoping that Telltale Games gives us a snippet about a sequel to one of our favorite episodic titles.

We look at it as a new season of a show that managed to capture our hearts and minds before vanishing off the map without a trace. We’re glad a sequel’s in the making, but would like to know more about it if its makers decide that TGA is a good place to give out more news.

And that’s a wrap on everything we’re hoping to see at TGA 2025. Let’s all hope that developers around the world feel the same way as we do, and bring all of their hard work to the spotlight that it deserves.

What Remains of Edith Finch

There are quite a few games disparagingly labeled “walking simulator” due to the lack of action present. What Remains of Edith Finch proves that “walking simulators” don’t have to be boring and they can present some of the best examples of video game storytelling.

What Remains of Edith Finch tells the tale of the titular Edith Finch who visits her ancestral home and uncovers the terrible events that led to their deaths. It’s a game that packs an emotional punch, and there’s a lot of tragedy to process. For a unique gaming experience, this is a title not to be missed.

]]> 599284 https://gamingbolt.com/10-amazing-video-game-series-that-should-never-go-open-world Fri, 19 May 2023 13:56:06 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=551741 We absolutely love open world games here at GamingBolt, and we’re far from being alone in that. From the level of freedom they promise to the amount of content they deliver, there’s plenty to love about them- or, well, at least when they’re well designed, that is. At the same time though, we’re also firm believers that there are certain games and certain types of experiences that absolutely should not be open world. Either because of their pacing, their focus, their design philosophies, or any number of other reasons, there are some franchises that we feel would lose themselves a little bit if they decided to go open world. Here, we’re going to talk about a few such franchises.

RESIDENT EVIL

We quite like the idea of a survival horror game that takes place in a large and open setting and offers the freedom of an open world game. The Evil Within 2’s semi-open world sections, for instance, are among the game’s highlights. But Resident Evil most certainly isn’t a franchise that should veer in that direction. The level design is always a core pillar of any new Resident Evil game, and navigating the series’ trademark settings with their meticulous design is always a massive part of the experience. Going open world would dilute that massively, to say the very least. Resident Evil Village’s hub and spoke did, to be fair, boast more open ended design on a macro level, and yes, the game was better for it, but we wouldn’t want to see a Resident Evil game trying to take that design philosophy to its absolute extreme.

The developer of the Wolfenstein reboot series and the upcoming Indiana Jones has had no new releases since Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus in 2017 (unless you count 2019’s Wolfenstein: Youngblood, which was largely developed by Arkane), but it seems they will have something to show at tomorrow’s showcase. Over on LinkedIn, MachineGames recently put up a post talking about its exciting for the showcase.

Of course, that doesn’t necessarily have to mean anything- MachineGames is owned by Xbox, after all, so maybe the studio is just promoting it without having any involvement in it itself. Or maybe they have something to show- that’s what many will be hoping.

If they do have something to show, it’s unlikely that Indiana Jones will be the game they bring, considering the fact that it’s still very early in development. Might we finally be about to see the long-overdue announcement of Wolfenstein 3? Fingers crossed, right?

One way or another, we’ll find out soon enough whether MachineGames has anything to announce, and if they do, what that is, so stay tuned for more updates.

However, news has been light since Pete’s confirmation that a third Wolfenstein game is incoming. To be fair though, the past four years have presented many a spanner in the works; the pandemic, of course, slowing game development pace down to a crawl, plus Microsoft’s 2021 purchase of Bethesda Softworks’ parent group ZeniMax Media – and with it, all of Bethesda’s subsidiary development studios – have conceivably pushed back any planned announcement of a new Wolfenstein game. Couple this with the potential for internal lukewarm motivation after the poor reception of Youngblood and Cyberpilot, then it’s up in the air if a new Wolfenstein game is on the near horizon at all. I’m not saying it isn’t, it’s just given all that’s happened we simply can’t know for sure.

Pete Hines has since reinstated his enthusiasm for a third Wolfenstein title though, this time in a 2021 interview in response to the uncertainty, although he fell short of outright confirming it was going to happen soon. He said of Wolfenstein: “we’ll have to wait till we get to the point of wanting to talk about it,” before adding “you can put me at the head of the list of people who want to see another Wolfenstein game.” I don’t know about you, but I’m not convinced by this statement. It feels inconclusive. I believe his affinity for the series is genuine, but it doesn’t scream like it’s a priority to me.

And, I mean, you can understand where I’m coming from. Bethesda has two highly anticipated titles in the works, namely Bethesda Game Studios’ massive intergalactic RPG Starfield, and Arkane Austin developed open world co-op shooter Redfall. Both these games have just had their release windows pushed back to 2023 despite already having been announced for this year though. Bethesda could of course be planning on shifting development of a new Wolfenstein game to another one of their studios. But moving development of Wolfenstein 3 to another studio wouldn’t make sense to me though.

Yes, Wolfenstein sits alongside Quake as a franchise credited for propelling first-person shooters into the world’s most popular video game genre in the 90s. But I think Swedish studio MachineGames has done a remarkable job of reimagining the Wolfenstein franchise into a Nazi-occupied United States, with an alternative timeline narrative punctuated by thrilling gunplay and formidable antagonists. Taking it away from them would do the next title in the series a disservice as there’s knowledge and expertise in MachineGames’ ranks that can’t be replicated elsewhere.

So, assuming we’re sticking with MachineGames for the development of Wolfenstein’s third entry, then this studio will need to grow big-time. And, as it happens, one look at the careers page on their website and we can see they’ve plenty of jobs advertised, with job descriptions specifically stating the studio is indeed looking to expand. A deeper look at some of the LinkedIn profiles of MachineGames employees offers us further glimmers of hope too. Senior game designers based at the studio’s headquarters in Uppsala, Sweden have specified in their job descriptions that they’re working on an unannounced title. So it stands to reason they’re working on unannounced game.

Perhaps they’re expanding their team to streamline the development of the next Wolfenstein? Makes sense to me.

If they are indeed working on a new title, then surely this must be the third Wolfenstein game. So, the next question is when are we going to receive an official announcement? Well, there are a couple of possibilities on the horizon. In E3’s absence once again Microsoft are hosting an Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase in the middle of June. Microsoft has used this event for its major announcements for a few years now, with this year’s show touted to feature titles from Xbox’s first-party game studios, including Bethesda, plus partners from around the world. Thing is though, Wolfenstein is amongst a glut of huge titles which I’m fans are clamouring for info on.

There’s the aforementioned Starfield, plus recently announced; Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, Everwild, I’m sure could do with an update. Forza Motorsport, whilst almost certain to be included, might even get a gameplay reveal. And maybe… just maybe The Elder Scrolls 6 will be revealed. Who knows? All I’m trying to say with this incessant name-dropping is that Wolfenstein 3 is up against some wildly popular franchises and considering its likely in early development – if in development at all – then keeping it away from this year’s showcase rather than risking a reveal being overshadowed by bigger titles seems the wiser choice.

There is Bethesda’s own QuakeCon coming up in August. It would make sense to me that if there is going to be an announcement then it’d be at this event. 2021’s event was somewhat light on big game reveals; Quake Enhanced was the only other standout announcement. Surely this year Bethesda will pull out all the stops now last year’s Microsoft takeover is complete.

Whilst MachineGames’ rebooted Wolfenstein series expansions weren’t as well received as The New Order and The New Colossus, there’s certainly appetite for a continuation of the narrative established in the first two games. Few FPS franchises have as strong an identity as Wolfenstein, with its themes of reclamation and hope in the face of evil coexisting with outlandishly blockbuster set pieces, all the while supported by a relatively old-school shooting design. Either way, I feel the time is right for shooting Nazis once again, so I’ll be eagerly awaiting news of a third game in the series to be announced.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Following the Activision-Blizzard deal, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has cited his desire to work on franchises from his childhood. Inevitably that leads to the question: What other titles could be brought back for the Xbox Series X/S generation? Let’s take a look at 15 of them here.

Scalebound

Set in a fantasy world with dragons, it saw protagonist Drew having a massive dragon named Thuban by his side. Along with functioning independently, one could also give commands to Thuban while fighting. It was also possible to directly control the dragon and enter Berserker mode for increased power. Announced in 2014 as an Xbox One exclusive, the hack and slash combat combined with battles on a massive scale looked promising, especially with up to four players in co-op.

Originally slated for release in late 2016, Scalebound would be delayed to the next year and subsequently cancelled in January 2017. Studio head Atsushi Inaba felt that “both sides failed” when it came to the cancellation and that it “didn’t do all of the things that we needed to do as a developer.” PlatinumGames has expressed interest in returning to the project – especially since Microsoft still owns the IP. It may not happen any time soon but never say never.

SYNDICATE (2012)

In 2012, EA and Starbreeze teamed up for a revival of the Syndicate series, only instead of making a real-time tactics game like the originals, they made a first person shooter. It was drastic shift, of course, and 2012’s Syndicate doesn’t ever match the heights of its predecessors- but it’s still a fun ride. It looked really good for its time and brought its cyberpunk setting to life really well, and there was a lot of fun to be had in its combat encounters.

According to Bethesda’s VP of global marketing Pete Hines, fans of the series shouldn’t be worried about its future. When asked about Wolfenstein in a recent interview with GameSpot, Hines said that Bethesda obviously won’t be talking about any unannounced games till they’re ready enough to be talked about, but seemingly went on to suggest that Wolfenstein might not be gone for too long.

“Where we are for Wolfenstein or, quite honestly, any other franchise that we don’t have announced plans on, we’ll have until we get to the point of wanting to talk about it,” Hines said. “But you can put me at the head of the list of people who want to see another Wolfenstein game, so no worries there.”

MachineGames is, of course, working on an Indiana Jones game, but as Hines has said, that’s in the “very, very, very early” stages of production. One would think that a new Wolfenstein game would be ready to go before the studio fully commits itself to that project. Back in 2019, prior to Wolfenstein: Youngblood’s launch, Hines also said that there “absolutely” will be a Wolfenstein 3. Read more on that through here.

KRATOS (GOD OF WAR)

God of War might be the youngest franchise mentioned in this feature, but there’s no ignoring how radical of an evolution it as gone through- and series protagonist Kratos represents that evolution best of all. One of the greatest antiheroes of all time, Kratos started out as a conflicted and merciless warrior, and over time, developed further and further into a deplorable person we all loved to hate- before turning things around and reappearing as a (still) conflicted and (still) merciless father who had grown weary with the violence and conflicts of his past. 

That weariness was reflected in Kratos’ character model as well. Defined throughout six Greek games by his ripped body, his ash-white skin, and his scarred-over body, and his shouting, Kratos’ body began showing all the wear and tear in God of War (2018). The ash sticking to his skin was less consistently visible and became more patchy, his scars became a lot more detailed (which is something that has actually been true for each successive entry), and of course, his bushy beard gave him just the sort of look the story demanded. The fact that for the first time in series history, Kratos was motion captured (and performed this time by the impeccable Chris Judge) lent his character even greater depth.

Though only fifteen years separate the first and seventh God of War games (both named just God of War), Kratos’ character model has gone through a lot of changes. In the Greek era, each new game added even further detail to him, making him more defined and detailed, while with God of War (2018), Sony Santa Monica not only added to that detail, they added entirely new flourishes to the character as well.

SCORPION (MORTAL KOMBAT)

Given the long and illustrious history of Mortal Kombat as a franchise – and how many games it has spawned over the years (to say nothing of other tie-in media) – it goes without saying that every character in the series has gone through some drastic changes over the years- but the one we’re focusing on here is, of course, Scorpion, who is the face of Mortal Kombat. 

In many ways, the core aspects of Scorpion have remain unchanged from when we first saw him in 1992 to when we last saw him in 2019. The yellow clothing and the mask on his face have become instantly recognizable and iconic over the years, so it’s good that that core aspect of the character’s design has remained largely unchanged. That said, NetherRealm (and Midway before them) have added tons of new details to Scorpion to add to his design with new entries over the years. 

From his two stinger swords and the exoskeletal patterns on his mask we saw in Mortal Kombat (2011) to the alterations made to his roped spear and belt in Deadly Alliance, from the insignia that he started wearing to represent his clan to in Deception to the new details that have kept being added to his look as technology has allowed the developers to create progressively better character models- Scorpion is a character that has constantly looked better and better with each new Mortal Kombat game.

WILLIAM BJ BLAZKOWICZ (WOLFENSTEIN)

Story, storytelling, and characters have become a major part of Wolfenstein under MachineGames, and series protagonist William “BJ” Blazkowicz has carried the franchise on his shoulders with great aplomb since this transition- and though Wolfenstein was (until very recently) largely unconcerned with storytelling and with making BJ seem like an actual person rather than just a mindless Nazi-slaying machine, this is still a character who has gone through multiple changes over the years- to the point that he’s pretty much been portrayed as several completely different people in all but name across many instalments. 

Starting as a voiceless jumble of pixels with a square jaw, blue eyes, and blonde hair in Wolf 3D in 1992, BJ was then portrayed as a much more generic looking gruff and rough-around-the-edges soldier in Return to Castle Wolfenstein, a look that Wolfenstein (2009) adopted as well. And while both those games lending BJ a little bit more personality that he displayed in Wolf 3D, it was still hard to call him- you know, an actual character. 

It wasn’t until Wolfenstein: The New Order in 2014 that BJ Blazkowicz came into his own. Thanks to the excellent motion capture and voice acting of Brian Bloom, MachineGames were able to imbue the character with an incredible amount of depth and personality. Meanwhile, they also returned to a look much more similar to how BJ was portrayed in Wolf 3D, with lighter hair and eyes and a squarer face.

LEON S. KENNEDY (RESIDENT EVIL)

It’s hard to think of a Resident Evil character who didn’t completel a miraculous transformation who went from regular-looking person to buffed out action hero who can drop three roundhouse kick per seconds- and without the shadow of a doubt, former-rookie-cop-turned-bioweapon-slaying-super-agent Leon S. Kennedy is the poster boy of those kinds of transformations. 

Leon has gone through many, many changes over the years. Making his first appearance in Resident Evil 2 as a regular guy, a rookie cop on the first day of his job, he then came back in 2005’s Resident Evil 4. This time though, instead of being lost and naive, he was cool, buffed out, and sarcastic, this time portrayed and voiced by Paul Mercier. Many other actors take up the Leon mantle for following games, with Matthew Mercer portraying him in the likes of Resident Evil 6 and Revelations 2, a Christian Lanz in Operation Raccoon City. 

The last time we saw Leon was in last year’s Resident Evil 2, where Capcom returned the character back to his rookie, naive roots. Voiced this time by Nick Apostolides, and based on the likeness of model Eduard Badaluta, Leon’s character design was changed largely in terms of his costume, which was much more modern and practical than it was in the original game. Leon’s core identifying features have – for the most part – remained the same throughout the years, of course, but several variations and different kinds of portrayals over the years still paint a interesting picture of constant transitions for the character.

SOLID SNAKE (METAL GEAR)

There aren’t a lot of video game characters that are as beloved and have as much of an enduring legacy as Solid Snake does. What’s notable about Snake is that through years and years of changes and evolutions, his design has mostly remained consistent, with a number of instantly recognizable features (such as the bandana). The fact that he’s only been voiced y David Hayter (in English) and Akio Ōtsuka (in Japanese) every time he’s been in a mainline Metal Gear game has added to that consistency even further. 

First appearing in Metal Gear on the MSX in 1987, Solid Snake truly stepped into the limelight with Metal Gear Solid on the PS1 in 1998, where creator Hideo Kojima and artist Yoji Shinkawa put the truly defining touches on the character’s design. As per Shinkawa, Snake’s look drew inspiration from various features, from the facial features of Christopher Walken to the physique of Jean-Claude Van Damme.

It was a look that was kept mostly intact for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of the Patriots– and then Snake saw his most drastic transformation a few years later in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, where he appeared as an aged, wrinkly, and wizened version of himself. Meanwhile, Snake has also made some other appearances in games outside of Metal Gear – most notably in Super Smash Bros – but his design in those games has mostly been consistent with his look in MGS1 and 2.

MARIO

The most obvious choice there is. Mainline Mario games are, of course, platformers, but there’s just so much Nintendo has done with this series. From kart racing with Mario Kart to RPGs with Paper Mario and Mario and Luigi, to puzzle games with Dr. Mario, to part games with Mario Party, to sports titles with Mario Tennis, and so, so much more, Mario has tried its hand at an impossible number of things, and proved to be successful in most of its attempts.