Gaming trends to watch in 2026

The video game industry is unpredictable.

If you had told us this time last year that a previously unknown French studio would win Game of the Year, that Battlefield 6 would knock Call of Duty off the top of the annual charts, and that Saudi Arabia would buy gaming giant Electronic Arts (EA), we would have been… skeptical.

So you have to be very confident in yourself or very stupid to predict what will happen in the coming year.

Fortunately, we at BBC Newsbeat aren't in the crystal ball business, but there are a few things we're sure video game fans should look out for in 2026.

Whether it's a big release, big move, or big issue, here are some of the most important things to keep in mind.

“A cultural moment, a day that millions of players have been waiting for for a very long time.”

Sound familiar? It should. This is what I wrote about Grand Theft Auto 6 around this time last year.

After two delays and one new trailer, we're back to where we were almost 12 months ago.

Assuming it goes on sale on November 19th as planned, it will almost certainly break records.

And other publishers will want to release their games as far away as possible in 2026.

But the big question is: Will it be delayed again?

Publisher Take Two says it's confident the new date will stick, but it remains to be seen whether developer Rockstar's recent layoffs of 31 staff, including team members, will affect the game.

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Similar to this year, when the publisher aligned itself around GTA 6's original “late 2025” release date, 2026 will see major releases brought forward.

Released by Japanese giant Capcom Resident Evil RequiemThe ninth major installment in the hit horror series will be released in February, followed by a sci-fi action adventure. pragmata In April.

sony We also plan to abolish PlayStation exclusivity. Sarosthe sequel to 2021's widely acclaimed Returnal, will be released in April.

meanwhile wolverine, The next superhero blockbuster from Spider-Man studio Insomniac (another in-house developer at Sony) is scheduled to arrive in the fall.

In May, 007 First Light – A celebrity-filled James Bond adventure from Hitman developer IO Interactive.

Nintendo hopes to continue the momentum of its record-breaking Switch 2 launch this year.

Of note are: Pokopia – Cozy Pokemon – and online multiplayer dusk bloods Made by FromSoftware, the makers of Elden Ring.

Fans have been frustrated by the lack of new Mario and Zelda games, and as things stand, neither has been announced yet. But the company has a way to announce big new games just months before release.

microsoft A major announcement was recently teased for the Developer Direct Showcase in January 2026 and will be released unless otherwise noted. fable – restart very British fantasy RPG series – and Gears of War: E-Day Sometime during the year.

In commemoration of the 25th anniversary Xbox The brand could also give the company a chance to win back fans following backlash over studio closures, price hikes to its Game Pass subscription service, and the decision to release its flagship series on rival consoles.

That's just big publishers. Expect more indie surprises to take center stage next year.

What we should pay attention to is: Lacoine – A score attack game inspired by arcade coin presses.

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Random access memory (RAM) is an essential component of millions of electronic devices, including smartphones, smart TVs, medical devices, and even cars.

It's also getting really, really expensive.

Blamed on demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data center projects, some of the world's biggest RAM manufacturers are pivoting to supply demand from big tech companies.

Micron, owner of the Crucial brand sold in many online and high street shops, recently announced that it would shut down its consumer business to focus on demand from AI companies.

All of this could cause shortages and ultimately drive up the price of electronics, with video game consoles high on the list of potential victims, some analysts say.

Business website Bloomberg reported that production costs for Nintendo's Switch 2 could rise, and there are also concerns that the launch of Valve's next PC-console hybrid Steam Machine could be delayed or made more expensive as a result of this situation.

There has been no comment from the video game company so far.

The debate around generative AI (GenAI) and its impact on jobs has become particularly intense in the gaming industry, which has faced thousands of layoffs in recent years.

Just this month, Swen Vincke, president of award-winning Baldur's Gate 3 maker Larian Studios, faced backlash when he told an interviewer that his company was considering using GenAI to come up with ideas and early prototypes.

He said AI content would not appear in the finished game and would not replace human workers, but later said in a response that it would be “irresponsible” not to evaluate new technology.

Despite early claims that GenAI would allow games to be created faster at a fraction of today's costs, it's unclear how much of an impact it actually had.

Developers who spoke to BBC Newsbeat said it has not been widely used in finished products due to a mix of ethical, legal and practical concerns, but many companies have tried to use it in at least pre-production work.

Some small businesses proudly state that they do not use tools at any stage of development.

Given the uncertainty about GenAI's long-term future, it remains to be seen how widespread its use will be.

However, this is a topic that fosters strong emotions among players and employees within the industry, so expect to see more controversy as the year progresses.

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Electronic Arts (EA), the publisher of Battlefield 6, EA FC, and The Sims, is one of the world's largest video game companies, with titles that consistently top the best-selling charts.

The announcement that it had accepted a record $55 billion (approximately 4.5 trillion yen) bid from a Saudi-led investment group came as a shock.

It is the country's latest major move into gaming, and is part of broader efforts to reduce its economy's dependence on oil.

But critics believe this is a form of “sportswashing”, investing in entertainment to soften its international reputation for anti-LGBT laws and human rights record.

The country's conservative cultural values ​​have raised concerns about the impact this deal will have on certain EA series.

The Sims, which has a large LGBT fanbase, faced a revolt from some of its most prominent content creators, with some cutting official ties in protest of the acquisition.

In response, EA released a statement saying that games will “always be a space where you can express your true self.”

There are also concerns that the deal could lead to further job cuts at EA, which has taken on $20 billion in debt to finance the acquisition.

If all goes to plan, the deal should be completed by the summer, by which time we should have more clarity on the future of one of gaming's most popular franchises.

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