2025 was considerably of a quiet 12 months for PlayStation. Sure, we obtained the Sport of the Yr-nominated Dying Stranding 2: On the Seashore, and Sucker Punch’s thrilling sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei. However other than that, there wasn’t actually quite a lot of exercise from Sony’s first-party studios. As an alternative, you needed to look to builders outdoors of Sony’s stables, who fortunately stored the PS5 ticking over with an array of fascinating video games. Proper on the again finish of 2024, Infold launched the console-exclusive Infinity Nikki and has been delighting stylists across the globe over the previous 12 months, and smaller initiatives corresponding to Sword of the Sea, Dispatch, and Child Steps have all been loved on PlayStation 5.
After all, the very fact that there have been not many console exclusives did not imply there weren’t a complete host of nice video games to play on our PS5s final 12 months. Fairly the alternative, in truth. Awards-sweeper Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the long-awaited Hole Knight: Silksong, and acclaimed RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 led the third-party choices. Plus, 2025 actually was the 12 months of Xbox going absolutely multiplatform with its library, as Forza Horizon 5, Gears of Struggle Reloaded, and The Outer Worlds 2, to call only a few, all made their strategy to PlayStation. And that’s exhibiting no indicators of slowing down within the coming 12 months, both, with a sure Grasp Chief set to grace a Sony console for the primary time.
The reality is, Sony has simply been fairly quiet on the subject of exclusives of its personal, with little new to shout about from a {hardware} perspective, both. And that’s earlier than we even get into the issues Bungie (now a PlayStation Studio, bear in mind) has confronted with Marathon. So, are issues trying extra thrilling in 2026? Nicely, Marathon will definitely be hoping in order it goals to fight PlayStation’s latest live-service travails. Let’s dig into it, in addition to every little thing else to anticipate from Sony this 12 months.
First-Get together and Exclusives
Heading into 2026, all eyes are on Logan, as Insomniac goals to bolster its lengthy successful streak of Ratchet and Clank and Spider-Man video games by taking over one other comedian e book hero. Marvel’s Wolverine is at the moment pencilled in for a “late 2026” launch, though we’ll see if these plans change in any respect as a consequence of a sure Rockstar recreation transferring to an analogous timeframe. Each time it does launch, although, we glance to be in for a deal with if our first take a look at gameplay throughout September’s State of Play is any indication.
Whereas a lot continues to be but to be revealed about its story, we’re desperate to study extra and see simply who else from the X-Males and the broader Marvel Universe shall be popping into Logan’s world. Mystique and Omega Purple have already been confirmed, however certainly Sabretooth is a should, in addition to a cameo on the very least from both of Insomniac’s Spideys, Peter Parker or Miles Morales. Which of the X-Males do you need to see most?
As for PS5 exclusives that truly have launch dates confirmed, there’s solely Saros, Nioh 3, and Phantom Blade Zero. The previous is Housemarque’s follow-up to the acclaimed Returnal, and appears to be sitting in an analogous mould of vibrant, particle-filled, difficult shooter inside an alien planet shell. Now arriving on April 30 after a slight delay, it is going to take gamers on an expedition to a misplaced colony as we step into the footwear of Rahul Kohli’s Arjun Devraj and kill and die our strategy to uncovering its mysteries by way of its repeating, roguelike construction.
Nioh 3 is a console unique for PlayStation, as it is also arriving on PC when it launches on February 6. A chronological sequel to the occasions of the collection’ first recreation, Staff Ninja is again with a contemporary dose of its personal model of punishing soulslike motion in feudal Japan. Issues are being shaken up this time, although, because of the introduction of a “ninja playstyle” which guarantees to manage fully otherwise from the normal samurai choice. Belief a studio referred to as Staff Ninja, which can also be accountable for the Ninja Gaiden collection, to need to add ninjas to Nioh. That is sufficient ninjas for one sentence, I feel.
Phantom Blade Zero is a hotly anticipated wuxia motion RPG coming from Chinese language developer S-Sport. The lead character is named Soul, so you’ll be able to most likely guess what style this undertaking additionally borrows closely from, too. I can affirm this myself – after briefly going hands-on with it at gamescom 2025, I discovered that there’s certainly a punishing fight system with a posh skillset to grasp. However there are different motion recreation influences, too, so the fight tempo is far increased than in your typical Soulslike. Up for some punishment? Nicely, you’ll have to carry on just a little longer but, as Phantom Blade Zero shall be launched on September 9.
Now onto the stuff we’re led to consider shall be coming in 2026, we simply don’t know when but. First up is Marvel Tokon: Combating Souls, the brand new superhero combating recreation from Responsible Gear developer Arc System Works. A uniquely stylised interpretation of the Marvel universe, it seems set to be an actual contender within the combating recreation group if its latest closed betas are something to go by.
Freshly revealed at The Sport Awards, 4:Loop is a brand new co-op shooter from Left 4 Lifeless creator Mike Sales space and Dangerous Robotic Video games, the online game wing of movie director J.J. Abrams’ manufacturing firm. A PS5 and PC unique, it appears to infuse some roguelike parts with a sprinkling of Helldivers and Left 4 Lifeless. No launch date has been given but, however playtesting will begin quickly.
Then we have now Marathon, the brand new extraction shooter from Future developer Bungie, which was initially meant to reach in 2025, however had a tough 12 months to say the least. Delayed into this 12 months and now popping out in March, the studio shall be hoping for an enormous comeback story this 12 months and buck the development of not too long ago failed Sony live-service shooter choices corresponding to Harmony. As an alternative, it’ll be trying to the likes of the wildly profitable Arc Raiders and PlayStation’s very personal Helldivers 2 for a template to observe. Shooter pedigree doesn’t come a lot stronger than Bungie, so fingers crossed that it could actually flip round these preliminary impressions.
Talking of live-service shooters, Fairgames is reportedly nonetheless in improvement at Haven Studios regardless of the departure of its founder, Jade Raymond, in Could of 2025, and much more not too long ago, the sport’s inventive director, Daniel Drapeau, leaving in September. With nonetheless no gameplay to be seen and no signal of a launch date for this “aggressive heist shooter”, severe questions now must be raised about whether or not it is going to ever see the sunshine of day.
Laser swords extra your cup of tea? Nicely, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet may be the one for you. We’re very a lot dreaming if we predict that is coming any sooner than 2027, however hopefully, we get take a look at gameplay for Naughty Canine’s new sci-fi recreation over the subsequent 12 months. Expectations are excessive from certainly one of Sony’s most beloved builders, although, with creator Neil Druckmann calling it the “most bold recreation” they’ve ever made.
However what about all of these different PlayStation studios cooking up exclusives? Nicely, Guerrilla might not be creating the not too long ago revealed cellular MMORPG Horizon: Metal Frontiers itself, however has been recruiting for its personal multiplayer entry into Aloy’s universe. Might we see that in 2026? What about Santa Monica’s subsequent undertaking? Is it lastly time to see what Cory Barlog’s thriller recreation is, if a brand new God of Struggle isn’t imminent? All good questions. None of which I’ve the solutions for.
I might run by way of every of the remaining Sony studios right here, however, in truth, I did that again in August, and little or no has modified since. So, you’ll be able to learn that right here.
Third-Get together and Multiplatform
One other sit up for the 12 months forward in video games, and one other alternative for me to say how excited I’m for GTA 6. Absolutely, after its most up-to-date delay to November, 2026 is the 12 months we lastly get our palms on the newest Grand Theft Auto. Please, Rockstar, don’t do it to us once more.
Our loss is a bunch of video games’ achieve, although, with Spring opening up large for a good few to fill that GTA-shaped void. These embody Capcom’s newest entry into its legendary horror collection, Resident Evil Requiem and IO Interactive’s first non-Hitman undertaking in a very long time, James Bond journey, 007 First Gentle. Plus, Pearl Abyss’ expansive open-world motion of Crimson Desert shall be hovering onto consoles and PC in March as effectively. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Darkish Knight is trying to choose up the place Rocksteady’s Arkham trilogy left off and infuse its satisfying melee fight with that indelible minifig appeal when it launches on Could 29.
However a lot of 2026 stays unsure — doubtless largely as a consequence of GTA shifting round greater than James Brown did on stage within the ‘70s. Let’s begin with some multiplatform video games we’re fairly assured are coming this 12 months, earlier than transferring on to ones that can doubtless stay rooted in our goals.
Sure, Grasp Chief will quickly be managed by a DualSense. Halo: Marketing campaign Developed is heading to the PS5 in 2026 as Microsoft continues to unleash its library onto different platforms. This Unreal Engine 5 remake of the 2001 Xbox basic might show the spectre on the feast for Bungie, the unique builders of Halo: Fight Developed, if its personal Marathon launch doesn’t go as deliberate. No less than it gained’t be competing within the multiplayer market, as this re-creation of Halo solely consists of the story marketing campaign.
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra not too long ago shifted out of its authentic window of early 2026 to “past early 2026”, so your guess is nearly as good as mine as to after we’ll be taking part in Amy Hennig’s Captain America and Black Panther in World Struggle 2 story. Legendary PlayStation hero Lara Croft shall be returning in a “reimagining” of her authentic recreation, titled Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, and Finnish developer Treatment is again with one other entry in its linked universe, Management: Resonant. Additionally introduced at The Sport Awards was the pleasantly shocking Star Wars: Galactic Racer from the makers of Burnout and Want For Pace that’s scheduled to drop in 2026.
Capcom can also be set for an enormous 12 months outdoors of Resident Evil, with Onimusha: Method of the Sword and Pragmata each set to hit. As was the best way in 2025, 2026 additionally seems set to maintain you cheerful in the event you’re a fan of katanas and unnerving robots. As it is going to for vampire followers too, with The Blood of Dawnwalker trying actually promising because of a non-linear narrative and sandbox-like construction, crafted by a staff led by former Witcher 3 devs. Then there’s Mixtape, a recreation I’ve added to this checklist as certainly one of my personally most anticipated of 2026. The sophomore undertaking from The Suave Escape studio Beethoven & Dinosaur, this 80s-inspired coming-of-age journey is certainly one to maintain in your radar.
Is 2026 lastly the 12 months we get to play a brand new Ken Levine recreation? The Bioshock creator hasn’t given us one since 2013’s Infinite, and Judas has been in improvement for a lengthy time now. Let’s hope that is the 12 months, as a result of it’s one thing I would like in my life. As is The Witcher 4, however even I’m not silly sufficient to consider that CD Projekt Purple’s Ciri-led RPG is coming anytime quickly. However be happy to shock me. I’d love that.
{Hardware} and Tech
We’re not essentially anticipating any large {hardware} splashes this 12 months, with the subsequent console generations theoretically not due till late 2027 on the earliest. Sony tech wizard — and most significantly, creator of Knack — Mark Cerny did not too long ago focus on new graphics capabilities in a dialog with AMD, which sparked PlayStation 6 hypothesis into overdrive, nevertheless it’s nonetheless doubtless a few years away at the very least.
Rumours are additionally abound of a brand new PlayStation handheld, after solutions had been revamped the previous summer season that Sony might even be following Nintendo’s blueprint for the Change, and turning the PS6 right into a hybrid residence and moveable console. After all, that is all simply wild hypothesis, however with highly effective {hardware} solely lowering in dimension and cloud capabilities ever-growing, it doesn’t really feel like an excessive amount of of a stretch to think about. As I stated, although, we’re nonetheless fairly a manner off listening to something concrete with reference to the way forward for PlayStation {hardware}.
And that’s every little thing we all know, together with just a few guesses thrown in, about what to anticipate from PlayStation in 2026. What video games are you most excited for this 12 months? Tell us within the feedback beneath.
Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can primarily be discovered skulking round open world video games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing on the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Comply with him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.