Most anticipated video games coming out in 2026

Grand Theft Auto VI is unquestionably the single most anticipated video game of 2026.

The long-awaited sequel by developer Rockstar Games is expected to drop in November - 13 years on from the record-breaking GTA V.

The game was due to be released in autumn 2025 but was pushed back to May 2026 before once again being delayed.

Rockstar said the extra time would allow the team to "finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve".

Once launched, players will be returning to the Miami-flavoured metropolis of Vice City in the fictional state of Leonida.

The Bonnie and Clyde-style story will follow criminal couple Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos - the first playable female character in the series' history.

GTA has always poked fun at American culture, with, arguably, some aspects of the nation's past decade of politics like something out of the game.

GTA VI looks certain to continue the series' tradition of satire, and from the footage released so far it appears no expense has been spared in regards to bringing the sun-soaked streets of Vice City to life.

The GTA series - which was created in Dundee, Scotland - is one of the biggest franchises in the industry.

GTA V became the fastest entertainment product in history to make $1bn (in its first three days) and has since sold more than 220 million copies worldwide - making it the second best-selling video game of all time after Minecraft.

GTA VI is similarly expected to be snapped up across the globe and achieve colossal sales.

If history repeats itself, GTA Online will be the moneymaker.

The persistent online world offers endless monetisation opportunities - with gamers enticed to splash out on new vehicles, weapons, properties, businesses and cosmetic upgrades.

Expert research analyst Michael Pachter previously told Sky News he believes Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive Software will be able to charge $100 (about £75) for the base game alone with little complaint.

However, the GTA series boasts two winning ingredients that some other games do not have - brand power and fan loyalty.

If other AAA (Triple-A) game publishers attempt to follow suit and raise their own starting prices, they may find that any accepted GTA increase is the exception rather than the rule.

As career criminal and former bank robber Trevor Philips (GTA V character) nicely put it: "I said something nice, not expensive."

Fable

The long-awaited Fable reboot is expected to drop sometime in 2026 following a delay from its initial 2025 release window.

It will be the first new instalment in the action-RPG franchise since Fable: The Journey in 2012.

The series has been on a hiatus since Microsoft's cancellation of Fable Legends and the subsequent closure of original developers Lionhead Studios in 2016.

Playground Games, behind the successful Forza Horizon series, is developing the reboot for parent company Xbox Game Studios.

Still set in the fictional world of Albion, the series will be updated with contemporary gameplay mechanics and visuals in a bid to attract a new generation of players.

From the footage released so far, fans can expect a classic fantasy adventure filled with "life and death stuff".

The storybook-styled world features scenic horseback riding, magical creatures, playful dialogue, and player-driven choices.

As well as action-heavy combat, Fable's signature chicken-kicking option appears to be alive and well.

While not much is known about our hero, British comedians Richard Ayoade and Matt King will be playing a giant and a once-great champion turned mentor respectively.

The game will release on Xbox Series X/S as well as Xbox on PC and will be playable from day one via Games Pass.

Given the IP (intellectual property) is owned by Microsoft, it's unlikely the game will make its way to PS5 any time soon after its initial release.

007 First Light

007 First Light is a James Bond origin story and will follow the resourceful recruit during his time within the MI6 training programme ahead of becoming the world-famous spy we know and love.

The action-adventure game is due to be released in May - having been pushed back from March - and is inspired by Ian Fleming's novels and short stories.

The original narrative is expected to follow Bond as he embarks on a mission that will earn him his licence to kill.

This is the first Bond game since 007 Legends in 2012.

The franchise went on an extended hiatus after previous publisher Activision had its non-exclusive licence to produce James Bond video games revoked by Eon Productions and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 2013.

IO Interactive, best known for developing the Hitman and Kane & Lynch franchises, is behind 007 First Light.

Expect a heart-pumping blend of close-quarters combat, car chases, stealth kills, glamorous locations, gadgets galore, and appearances from the likes of M, Q and Miss Moneypenny.

At The Game Awards 2025, famed musician Lenny Kravitz was unveiled as Bond villain Bawma.

The "unpredictable and charismatic" antagonist has been described as someone who "rose from nothing, broke free, and built his own Kingdom of Aleph".

The game should whet fans' appetite ahead of Bond 26 - which Denis Villeneuve is set to direct and will mark a new era of 007 films following the conclusion of Daniel Craig's run.

Resident Evil Requiem

Capcom takes us back to Raccoon City with Resident Evil Requiem.

The survival horror game is scheduled to be released in February, with the developers promising a "heart-stopping experience that will chill you to your core".

Fans will be introduced to a new leading lady - FBI intelligence analyst Grace Ashcroft, who is the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from the Resident Evil Outbreak games.

Grace's nightmare begins after she is dispatched to investigate a mysterious death at an abandoned hotel where her mother was murdered eight years prior.

As Grace investigates the team's person of interest - Victor Gideon - her path converges with that of veteran agent Leon S. Kennedy.

The fan favourite returns to the series as a playable character, with both Grace and Leon forced to face their pasts in a bid to uncover the truth behind the Raccoon City incident that changed the world forever.

The game follows on from Resident Evil Village, with players once again expected to go head-to-head with the horrors that await through combat, puzzle-solving and resource management.

Previous antagonist Lady Dimitrescu proved to be a social media hit, so the next relentless stalker monster has big boots to fill.

(c) Sky News 2026: Most anticipated video games coming out in 2026