The biggest game releases that could rock the industry –

If recent gaming history has proven anything, it’s that we can’t really predict the future. Or at least I can’t. Baldur’s Gate III wasn’t really on my radar. I didn’t believe Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 would make the splash it did at launch. And yet I humbly stand before you with a new set of predictions, hoping to stake a claim for future releases that could really make the industry think twice.

Grand Theft Auto VI

I almost didn’t include this item here because it feels like a waste of time to say that Grand Theft Auto VI will be incredibly important to gaming. Whether you’ve given up on the hype or are still on board with the expectation explosion, Rockstar’s latest open-world sandbox is sure to make a splash. If it succeeds, it could set the bar for the next decade. If it flops, it will truly feel like we are in the end times.

Mass Effect 4

After three games in a row that fell below expectations, BioWare is currently on shaky ground. Fans have waited more than a decade for the latest Dragon Age game, and it looks like the same will be true for Mass Effect. That means a lot of expectations. Hopes that BioWare so far seems unable to meet. However, if there is one franchise it can pin all its hopes on, it is Mass Effect. There is now time to work on feedback from previous games and build a sci-fi RPG that will amaze us, just like the original. At least, if other ambitious projects like Exodus and Owlcat’s Expanse game haven’t satisfied our Mass Effect hunger by then.

The Elder Scrolls VI

Somewhat similar to BioWare, Bethesda’s latest release came across as a bit tepid. Starfield impressed many players, but it didn’t feel like it lived up to the hype that it was decades in the making. Oh well, after all, most Bethesda fans saw it mostly as a speed bump between now and the new Elder Scrolls game. That’s where we’ll really see if Bethesda can match the weight of its own expectations. Interestingly, this year’s Oblivion remaster proved that a Bethesda RPG can still be one of the best-selling games of the year, even if it’s a game from nearly 20 years ago. Bethesda clearly has its style that is unlikely to change in the near future, but there are still fans who believe that The Elder Scrolls VI will be a game of revolution. And if not, there will be hell to pay to make them wait more than 15 years.

Baldur’s Gate IV

While this has not been properly revealed, we know that someone is probably making initial plans to make another Baldur’s Gate game. We know that the studio behind it will not be Larian, and perhaps that is already causing many people to drop out. Still, I find it hard to believe that this game won’t have an impact, although it seems destined to be better remembered if it fails than if it succeeds. It’s hard to imagine a time when a change of studios after a beloved sequel release has gone well, so maybe now we’ve seen Baldur’s Gate III bring CRPGs back to the forefront of gaming, whatever Baldur’s Gate IV will be, could bring them back to heel.

A sequel to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

This would almost certainly not bring the industry as up to speed as the original game. It seems like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could start a new wave of game releases to match its success, but a sequel would really establish Sandfall Interactive as one, if not the developer for RPG fans to watch in the future. I don’t think anyone wants this collection of incredible talent to become a one-day wonder, but I also don’t think there’s any rush for Sandfall to create whatever they want. Maybe a sequel shouldn’t even be on the cards for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. There’s the story of the writers and painters in the world, but our story is pretty clearly wrapped up by the time the credits roll.

Assassin’s Creed Hexe

This is really a personal wish rather than a fact-based prediction, but fans have wanted a real comeback for Assassin’s Creed for years, and I think Hexe could allow Ubisoft to take the necessary risks needed to give this franchise some life again. The setting looks perfect to give us a mix of supernatural and historical fiction. Moreover, we could see AC really stepping into the unknown with a pinch of horror, just enough to make Hexe stand out. It would also be nice to ditch our protagonists, action heroes like Yasuke, Eivor and Cassandra, and go back to sneaky assassins who would rather not get involved in long sword fights.

The twilight bloods

This may seem like an odd choice at first, but bear with me for a moment. While many rolled their eyes when FromSoftware jumped into a PvPvE experience with Switch 2 exclusivity, there are two paths this game can take. Either it’s really good, or it’s a major blemish on FromSoftware’s otherwise untouchable track record. Either way, the industry will feel the impact. Soulslikes are so great right now, but if The Duskbloods shows that the king of the 2010s can bleed, then maybe we can (finally) see studios adopt other influences for their third-person action games. That’s not to say FromSoftware doesn’t disse, because I personally believe The Duskbloods could be a lot of fun. If it succeeds, then I suppose in the future we can expect not only clones of FromSoftware’s single-player releases, but also their multiplayer games. Everything is Soulslike. What a future.

Balatro 2 Searches

Another strange choice perhaps, but considering the impact Balatro has had on the market in just one year, a more ambitious localthunk project – whether it follows the Balatro style or not – has a huge opportunity to make us waste even more time. People are already becoming unproductive, and Charlie Brooker of Black Mirror believed Balatro could be the end of us all. I doubt a Balatropocalypse will be upon us if the game gets a sequel, but I find it hard to believe it wouldn’t make the same splash as the addictive base game.

There are other games that can somehow punch holes in industry expectations. Naughty Dog’s latest releases always grab gamers’ attention, a new Fallout from Bethesda or (even more exciting) Obsidian can cause jaws to drop open. If Half-Life 3 ever comes out, that will certainly give everyone hope that their favorite, surely cancelled franchise can get a sequel, but that’s our list. Which game do you think will have the biggest impact in the future of gaming?