Predicting my predictions
How many of my predictions will come true?
19 predictions for gaming in 2026
5.1.2026
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Time to dust off my crystal ball once more and take a look inside. What does the gaming world have in store for us in 2026? Philstradamus has the answer.
Doubters will claim that last year’s forecast left a lot to be desired. But such setbacks don’t bother me. New predictions are already materialising in my crystal ball.
The Steam Machine will be expensive – but still successful
Due to rising hardware prices and Valve’s refusal to subsidise its mini living room PC, customers will have to shell out quite a bit. You won’t get the device for less than 800 francs, that’s for sure. Regardless, the Steam Machine will still sell at least two million units in 2026.
Source: Valve
GTA 6 will make the PS5 the best-selling console in Q4
GTA 6 is only being released for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. But with the latter becoming less and less relevant, there’s really only one place to play Rockstar’s epic. The Switch 2 will have to vacate its throne as the best-selling console, at least in Q4 that is. 2026 belongs to the PS5.
Source: Rockstar
A GTA movie will be announced
Game adaptations are on a roll, and no longer guaranteed flops. Grand Theft Auto will do for live action what The Super Mario Bros. Movie did for animated films A film adaptation for the franchise will be announced in 2026.
Source: Rockstar
Baldur’s Gate 3 studio will present its second game
Larian, the Belgian studio behind Baldur’s Gate 3, clarified it won’t be making a sequel to the successful D&D role-playing game. During the Game Awards, a new Divinity was teased instead. However, Larian has already announced that they’re working on two new titles. The smaller of the two will be revealed this year.
Source: Larian
Personally, I still maintain it’ll be a remake of their debut The L.E.D. Wars, a real-time strategy game based on Command & Conquer.
Wii games for the Switch
Wii games will be added to Nintendo’s online subscription, and there’ll be matching Wiimote cases with space to insert your Joycons. My number one wish game? Batman: The Brave and The Bold
Source: Warner Bros.
A Swiss game will crack the Steam top 10
You’ll find no shortage of great games from Switzerland. However, none of them have been successful enough to make it into the top 10 most-played games on Steam – with the exception of Farming Simulator. But I’ll be excluding that series from my prediction. Generally, at least 100,000 simultaneous players are required to crack the top 10. Of all the games I know, Brotatoe by Zurich studio Blobfish has come closest to hitting this record. According to the Steam database, almost 40,000 people played it at peak times.
My guess? I think it’ll be Transport Fever 3.
Source: Urban Games
A PlayStation handheld will be unveiled
Rumours about a real PlayStation handheld have been circulating for some time. The PlayStation Portal’s surprisingly successful, even though it can only stream games from the console or the cloud. Fans have been waiting for a successor to the PS Vita, or PSP, for years, and the success of the Switch and PC handhelds has given Sony a wake-up call. If there’s room for PSVR 2, then the corporation can certainly manage a new handheld. We’ll get concrete information on this in 2026, including the general design. Unfortunately, my crystal ball didn’t say whether this’d come from an official or unofficial source.
Source: Domagoj Belancic
A U-turn regarding anti-cheat software on Linux
Official versions of common anti-cheat programs such as Easy Anti-Cheat and Battleye exist for Linux. Nevertheless, many studios are reluctant to make their games available on the open source system, citing security concerns. It’s why major titles such as Valorant, League of Legends, Fortnite and Battlefield 6 can’t be played, or only via workarounds. The growing popularity of Linux will change that. Several studios will give in and officially support Linux in the near future.
Source: Epic
A wave of nostalgia will hit mobile games
Games such as Doodle Jump, Fruit Ninja and Angry Birds will make up the next generation of remakes and remasters. However, these early smartphone games won’t just be reissued for mobile devices, but also for PC and consoles, awakening warm feelings among Generation Z in particular.
Source: Lima Sky
An AAA game will rely on AI to create a few storylines
Generative AI is already being used extensively for graphics and sound effects – to the displeasure of many gamers. Some studio working on an upcoming blockbuster won’t really care, and rely on artificial intelligence for its story – all to ensure that the story takes completely different paths, depending on what you do.
Source: Activision
Linux will crack the 10 per cent mark on Steam
Currently, three per cent of all Steam users play on a Linux distribution – led by Arch, on which SteamOS is based. Windows dominates, with just under 95 per cent and macOS at two per cent. These figures will shift in 2026. Microsoft is trying ever more aggressively to force AI on users. In return, Valve offers an attractive alternative with its Steam Machines and SteamOS. Given this, more and more users will switch sides, and Linux will attain a market share of ten per cent on Steam by the end of the year.
Source: Philipp Rüegg
Duke Nukem will come back
To mark the 30th anniversary of Duke Nukem 3D, a full remake of the first-person shooter classic will be released. It’ll strive to finally clean up the mess caused by the Duke Nukem Forever fiasco and set a course for future sequels.
Source: 3D Realms
An esports team controlled by bots
A new esports team will play its way to the top in a popular multiplayer game. But before they put their skills to the test at a live event, it’ll turn out that the team isn’t actually playing. Bots will be doing all the work, while the supposed gamers are only pretending to play.
Source: Wikipedia/Bruce Liu
A new The Legend of Zelda crossover
40 years ago, the very first The Legend of Zelda was released on the NES. To celebrate this anniversary, Nintendo will cooperate with various studios to produce several small spin-offs. Similar to 2019’s Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the Necrodancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda, developed by Canadian studio Brace Yourself Games. The games will cover various genres, but all with a connection to Link, Zelda and the Kingdom of Hyrule.
Source: Brace Yourself Games
Half-Life 3: Confirmed
The running gag will become reality. Rumours have been swirling for some time that Half-Life 2 will finally get a successor after 22 years. But unlike VR game Half-Life Alyx, Half-Life 3 will be a classic first-person action game starring crowbar-swinging protagonist Gordon Freeman.
Source: Valve
Microsoft will discontinue Xbox
Even though the Xbox management team has repeatedly reaffirmed that a new console is coming in recent months and years, every decision points to the contrary. A dedicated handheld was dropped in favour of an Asus device with Xbox stickers, and even Halo will make the leap to PS5 this year, the last big exclusive to do so. Added to this are rising hardware prices. And as cost-cutting has increased ever since the takeover of Activision Blizzard, a new Xbox makes no sense.
Bonus prediction: Microsoft won’t completely abandon the Xbox brand. Xbox-branded mini PCs, similar to the Steam Machine, will be presented, carrying on the name.
Source: Philipp Rüegg
An AI game will become a hit
AI-generated content has long since crept into games large and small. Sometimes reasonably transparent like in Arc Raiders, sometimes secretive and unapologetic like in Call of Duty Black Ops 7. This won’t change in the coming year either. Gazing into my crystal ball, I see a game that relies entirely on AI becoming a success. For this prediction to count, the game will have to be at least in the top 20 on any store (Steam, PlayStation, Google Play, etc.).
Source: Embark Studios
Fortnite will introduce Legacy mode
Fortnite regularly goes all out for its seasons. Sometimes the whole world turns upside down, particularly in collaborations such as Star Wars, Dragon Ball or The Simpsons. Once the season ends, any respective content disappears forever. It’s part of the appeal of the live service game. Regardless, I maintain that Epic will introduce a Legacy mode bringing back past content.
Source: Epic
We’ll get a difficulty level that changes game length
At least one game will feature a new dynamic difficulty level. It won’t simply weaken enemies or give you more health, no. Instead, entire level sections will be shortened and dialogue omitted, all with the aim of making it easier for people with limited time to play games.
Source: Kojima Productions
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chAs a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.
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