Gaming in 2026: The Year That Changes Everything

January is just the warm-up. By the time November hits, the entire gaming landscape will never be the same.

The Calm Before the Storm

January 2026 is keeping things relatively lowkey—but don't sleep on what's dropping. We're getting some solid releases that are setting the stage for what's about to be an absolutely unhinged year in gaming.

Switch 2 is officially here, and Nintendo isn't playing around. After the January 16, 2025 reveal, the console dropped on June 5 with Mario Kart World, and now we're seeing the real library build out. Animal Crossing: New Horizons got the Switch 2 treatment on January 15 with 4K resolution, mouse controls for redecorating, and 12-player online multiplayer. The upgrade only costs five bucks if you already own it—basically a no-brainer.

But the real flex? Code Vein 2 hitting late January. The original was a sleeper hit soulslike, and this sequel is going full reboot mode with a fresh setting, deeper customization, and way more boss battles. If you're into that punishing-but-satisfying gameplay loop, this is your January highlight.

Then there's Highguard on January 27—a PVP raid shooter from the minds behind Titanfall and Apex Legends. You play as arcane gunslingers called Wardens, riding across a mythical continent, raiding enemy bases, and fighting for control of the Shieldbreaker. It's giving big fantasy-meets-tactical-shooter energy, and we're here for it.

Vice City or Bust

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: GTA 6.

Rockstar finally locked in a date—November 19, 2026—and the internet collectively lost it. After years of delays (first autumn 2025, then May 2026), we're supposedly in the "final polish" phase. The hype is real, and it's justified.

The game is set in Leonida (basically Florida on steroids) with Vice City as the main hub. We're talking a map that's roughly 2.5 to 2.7 times the size of GTA V's Los Santos. The story follows Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, a Bonnie and Clyde-style criminal duo tearing through a modern-day Miami. The dual-protagonist setup is giving major narrative potential, and if Rockstar pulls this off the way we think they will, this might be the biggest game release of the decade.

PC gamers? You're gonna have to wait. No official word on a PC port yet, but history tells us it'll probably drop a year or so after console launch. Pain.

What Else Is Cooking

The rest of 2026 is stacked. Nioh 3 and Resident Evil Requiem both drop February 27. Crimson Desert hits in March. 007 First Light lands in late May. And that's just scratching the surface.

The vibe right now? Gaming is in its most exciting era. Hardware is pushing boundaries (looking at you, Switch 2), franchises are taking risks, and the sheer volume of quality releases means there's something for everyone. Whether you're grinding raids in Highguard, customizing your character in Code Vein 2, or counting down the days until you're cruising through Vice City, 2026 is the year to be a gamer.

TL;DR: January's giving us solid drops, but November's GTA 6 release is the moment everything changes. Buckle up—it's about to get wild.