As a long-time gaming enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of many iconic franchises, I can confidently say that 2025 is shaping up to be a monumental year for our beloved industry. The lineup of anticipated titles is nothing short of breathtaking, with some old favorites returning and others making their grand debuts.
2025 promises to be a thrilling year for the video game industry, as significant developments are on the horizon in terms of hardware. Nintendo is anticipated to both unveil and likely launch the successor to the Switch. Sony plans to keep releasing games optimized for the PlayStation 5 Pro to defend its high price point. Meanwhile, Microsoft may counter the PS5 Pro with an upgrade to the Xbox Series X or choose instead to focus solely on cloud gaming and making Xbox games available across various platforms. The upcoming video game films of 2025 also warrant attention, particularly the “Minecraft” movie which has raised some concerns.
2025 seems like it’s shaping up to be an extraordinary year for me as a gamer, marking the arrival of the sixth mainline installment in a legendary franchise, which many have been eagerly anticipating as the successor to the most financially successful entertainment product ever – whether game or otherwise. Yet, there are plenty more exciting games set to launch next year too! These range from fresh, enticing new intellectual properties to long-awaited sequels that have been overdue. Moreover, a full remake of one of the most critically acclaimed video games in history is on the horizon, as well as the comeback of a once-dominant franchise that’s been absent for nearly 15 years. The gaming landscape in 2025 will not only be significant for this console generation but could potentially reshape the entire industry.
Doom: The Dark Ages
Instead of creating a sequel for the third major game in the current “Doom” series, which started with the 2016 reboot called simply “Doom,” developers at id Software are opting for a prequel approach titled “Doom: The Dark Ages.” This new installment will transport the franchise’s main character, Doom Slayer, to an alternate middle ages era. While the intricate lore of the “Doom” series can be complex and beyond the scope of this discussion, there are theories that suggest the reason the Doom Slayer could have existed in both medieval times and the 21st century may be connected to how time operates differently within Hell.
Although “Doom: The Dark Ages” marks the first “Doom” game since Microsoft acquired id Software’s parent company ZeniMax Media in 2020, it won’t be exclusive to Xbox consoles. Instead, it will debut on Game Pass on the same day of its release. As for the specific launch date, only that it will be a 2025 game has been confirmed so far. Regardless of when it comes out, you can expect it to be available simultaneously on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5.
Monster Hunter Wilds
For years, Capcom’s action role-playing game franchise “Monster Hunter,” known for its creature hunting gameplay, was primarily popular in Japan, particularly with its PlayStation Portable versions. However, it took until the release of “Monster Hunter: World” in 2018 – a console and PC game that catered to new players and was not designed for handheld systems – for the series to make a significant impact internationally. The game’s popularity even led to a live-action movie adaptation, causing fans to ponder if there would be a “Monster Hunter 2.
The upcoming “Monster Hunter Wilds” marks a significant milestone as the first new “Monster Hunter” game since “World” catapulted the series into global stardom. This title will also be the debut of the franchise on current-generation consoles, slated for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on February 28, 2025. With such a high-profile position in the gaming world, “Monster Hunter Wilds” has a lot to live up to; it’s no longer the underdog trying to expand its fanbase, but rather an established AAA franchise brimming with anticipation. The limited beta, released in October 2024, received mixed reviews, sparking concerns about the game’s readiness for mainstream success. Fingers crossed that these apprehensions prove unfounded, and if issues arise post-launch, let’s hope Capcom swiftly addresses them.
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra
Lately, Marvel-themed video games have been consistently good. For instance, we’ve seen standout titles like the PlayStation’s “Spider-Man” series, the underappreciated “Midnight Suns,” and the unexpectedly fantastic “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Even its predecessor, “Avengers,” had most of its issues addressed in this game. It’s been quite a while since we encountered a poorly-received Marvel video game.
In March 2020, Marvel unveiled an exceptional trailer, but it wasn’t for a movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Instead, it was a sneak peek at the long-anticipated Marvel video game penned by Amy Hennig, known for her work on the first three “Uncharted” games. This game, titled “Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra,” is scheduled to be released in 2025 on yet-to-be-announced platforms. Set during the year 1943, it promises action and adventure with four playable characters – Captain America, Black Panther, Gabe Jones, and the Wakandan spy Nanali. Although only cinematic footage has been shown so far, we’ve been informed that a playable version will be available by the end of next year.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Despite being around almost as long as the “Super Mario Bros.” and “The Legend of Zelda” series, Nintendo’s “Metroid” games have had an inconsistent release schedule. There were games for the NES, SNES, and Game Boy, but it skipped the Nintendo 64 entirely. In the 2000s, there was a resurgence with multiple releases on the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Wii, and Nintendo DS, only to go quiet again. The last mainline “Metroid” game came out eleven years ago, but fans will be happy to know that another one is coming soon.
Initially unveiled in 2017, “Metroid Prime 4” was intended to be the latest installment in the “Prime” series following “Metroid Prime 3: Corruption” which was released in 2007. However, development stagnated, marked by extended periods without updates and disheartening news such as the announcement in 2019 that development would begin anew. In June 2024, a trailer for the game was finally revealed, along with its full title “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond”, and a planned release in 2025. Despite Nintendo’s assurance that it will still be released on Switch as initially planned, some fans speculate a potential dual-release for both the Switch and its successor. Assuming no further delays, we can look forward to playing the first new “Prime” game since George W. Bush was in office.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII
As a devoted fan, it feels like “Sid Meier’s Civilization” has been a constant companion for much longer than its 1991 debut, and I can’t help but wonder if we might be expecting the eighth installment instead of “Civilization VII,” set to release in 2025. This groundbreaking strategy franchise takes us on an incredible journey from Earth’s earliest moments, aiming to guide our chosen civilization into the unknown future. Throughout this adventure, we make crucial decisions that shape the trajectory of our culture, technology, religion, and intellectual growth. We forge alliances or wage wars with the diverse civilizations we meet along the way, whether they are AI-controlled or led by fellow human players.
Sid Meier, the creator of the series, has always had a rule of thirds for sequels to his games — a third of the design should be basically the same as previous entries, a third should be improved over previous entries, and a third should be entirely new. The developer’s diary on the official “Civilization VII” website has confirmed that this philosophy has also been in place during development of the game. As such, fans can expect another entry in the long-running franchise that both feels like an improved version of classic “Civilization” while also introducing various elements to the series for the first time when it hits all current consoles (plus both PC and Mac) in February 2025.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
After Hideo Kojima, the renowned game creator, had a significant disagreement with Konami and decided to work independently, he was compelled to abandon the “Metal Gear” series. While many were disheartened by the thought of the franchise continuing without Kojima, there was also much anticipation about what Kojima and his team would create with their new artistic liberties. The outcome was the highly praised 2019 game “Death Stranding,” in which you control Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus from “The Walking Dead”), a courier who must transport goods through a hazardous environment while steering clear of dangerous creatures and competing delivery personnel.
After Kojima Productions unveiled several upcoming projects they’re working on, it’s been confirmed that their second release following these announcements is none other than “Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.” Given the advantage of building upon an established base instead of starting fresh with a new intellectual property (IP), this decision seems logical. As we anticipate titles like “OD,” “Physint,” and other potential projects from Kojima and his team, fans can look forward to the next installment in the “Death Stranding” series, set for release in 2025 on PlayStation 5.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
At one point, the “Assassin’s Creed” series used to put out games annually or even within a year, leading to fan fatigue and a slight dip in quality. Around the mid-2010s, the series began releasing mainline entries every 2-3 years instead. This change resulted in more creatively diverse games that felt less repetitive. The upcoming “Assassin’s Creed Mirage,” set for release in 2023, is smaller in scope compared to recent installments, offering a tighter, more focused adventure reminiscent of the franchise’s early days. The next mainline entry, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” promises to mix things up further by being the first game set in feudal Japan.
2025’s “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” is generating a lot of buzz and controversy. Some critics have expressed dissatisfaction with the game’s character selection, as it only allows players to choose between a female character and a Black man, based on a real person. However, the franchise boss, Marc-Alexis Coté, has stated at a London event (via Eurogamer) that the game will feature both fictional and historical characters. Among these characters are Naoe, a Japanese woman warrior, and Yasuke, an African samurai born in Japan. The presence of Yasuke in feudal Japan has sparked debate, while Naoe, as a fictional character, has also faced criticism due to her gender. Interestingly, just as Yasuke’s historical existence is undeniable, so too are the stories of women who bucked societal norms and took up arms during times of conflict.
The action-adventure game titled “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac, and iPadOS platforms in the month of February 2025.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
The first post-Hideo Kojima “Metal Gear Solid” release was the disappointing “Metal Gear Survive,” which turned the franchise into a post-apocalyptic resource gathering game with a heavy online component. It was met with almost universal disdain, and it made fans understandably worried about the series’ future. Since then, Konami has smartly decided to focus on the past. First, it released “Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection,” a compilation of every canonical mainline “Metal Gear Solid” game from the series’ inception through “Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.” Next up is a full remake of “Snake Eater.”
Titled “Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater,” this game is essentially a remastered version of the original, featuring updated graphics and numerous enhancements. If it proves successful, other “Metal Gear Solid” games may follow suit. Although Konami has not yet announced an official release date, there’s a strong possibility that “Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater” will be launched in 2025, as pre-orders are already being accepted for various special editions on both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game. The game is also planned for PC release.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
When the schedule for upcoming game launches is packed with popular AAA series titles, it can be challenging for unique intellectual properties – particularly those from novice developers – to garner significant attention. Here, we’re contributing our efforts to generate excitement for “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,” an impressive-looking RPG slated for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in 2025 from emerging publisher Kepler Interactive (“Sifu,” “Pacific Drive”) and debut developer Sandfall Interactive.
Despite the development team consisting of approximately 30 individuals, it might seem as though “Expedition 33” boasts a colossal AAA game-scale workforce numbering in the hundreds when examining the stunning screenshots and previews. The creative director of the game has revealed that the “Persona” and “Final Fantasy” franchises serve as its primary inspirations, and the team takes pride in openly showcasing these influences. If you’re a fan of either franchise, or simply an RPG enthusiast, then it’s advisable to keep a watchful eye for “Expedition 33” when it launches on the mentioned platforms sometime in the coming year.
Ghost of Yōtei
In the realm of video games, open-world epics have been quite prevalent over the past 15 years or so. However, “Ghost of Tsushima”, released in 2020 and initially exclusive to PlayStation 4 but later available on both PlayStation 5 and PC, distinguished itself from this crowded genre. Despite featuring numerous battles and grand action sequences, as well as the customary side quests and hidden collectibles, “Ghost of Tsushima” offered a deliberately slow-paced, almost contemplative experience. This allowed players to invest countless hours simply riding a horse through breathtaking landscapes, immersing themselves in the scenery and lost in thought.
By September 2024, it was officially announced that not only is a follow-up to “Ghost of Tsushima” in production, but the game, named “Ghost of Yōtei,” has already progressed enough to be expected for PlayStation 5 release in 2025. Set 300 years after the original storyline, it introduces a new main character while staying within the same chronology and potentially incorporating references from the previous game. Developer Sucker Punch also hints at providing players with more freedom to shape the narrative compared to “Ghost of Tsushima.
Fable
Back in the day, I was absolutely enthralled by the “Fable” series, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with gaming giants like “Halo” and “Gears of War” within the Xbox family. However, just like many other Xbox intellectual properties, “Fable” has had a tough time staying fresh and relevant over the years. Since the release of “Fable III” in 2010, we’ve only seen spin-offs that felt more like novelty items than true sequels to the franchise. Even the 2013 remastered version of the original game, titled “Fable Anniversary,” wasn’t quite the homecoming fans were hoping for, as it was marred by several technical issues.
During the Xbox Games Showcase in July 2020, it was unveiled that the classic game “Fable” was receiving a much-awaited comeback. Over time, it was made known that writers who had contributed to critically acclaimed games such as “Horizon Forbidden West” were joining the project, offering a valid reason for a previously wary audience to be slightly more hopeful about the return of “Fable” after almost 15 years. This optimism increased significantly in June 2024 when it was disclosed that not only Playground Games but also Eidos-Montreal would be contributing to the “Fable” reboot. The latter is significant as they previously played a supporting role in the successful 2013 revamp of “Tomb Raider.
Despite an increasing number of Xbox-exclusive games appearing on PlayStation recently, it’s important to note that as of now, the highly anticipated game “Fable” is only confirmed for the Xbox Series X/S and PC platforms, with a tentative release date in 2025.
Grand Theft Auto VI
There’s an overwhelming excitement surrounding “Grand Theft Auto VI,” a feeling that’s difficult to understate. The phenomenal success of its predecessor, “Grand Theft Auto V,” has allowed Rockstar Games to continue thriving without the immediate need for a new release since 2013. Instead, they’ve been re-releasing it for each new hardware generation, and they’ve also been earning a steady income from player expenditures in “Grand Theft Auto Online.
Although players may continue enjoying “GTA Online” for some time, it was inevitable that a new story-driven, single-player game from the franchise would appear eventually. Enter “Grand Theft Auto VI”, officially unveiled in December 2023, despite an unfortunate leak of early footage in September 2022. The trailer confirmed that the game will take place in Vice City, a city within the “GTA” universe that resembles Miami and was popularized in “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City”. Fans speculate that the dual protagonists, Lucia and Jason, are modeled after Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes. These partners in love and crime seem to be central figures in a contemporary setting, following the trend of the last two mainline games.
Although there’s some speculation suggesting the game may not release until 2026, many sources seem to trust Rockstar’s claim that “GTA VI” is still set for a 2025 launch, with only the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S editions currently announced.
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2024-12-12 22:31