In 2025, video games are facing a major turning point in their history. Its release schedule promises to be as dense as it is ambitious, between the long-awaited arrival of GTA 6 and the probable reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, this new year should redefine players' expectations and shake up the industry. Added to this are technological advances, such as the increasing integration of generative AI into game development. Here's why 2025 could mark a momentous milestone for gaming.
Nintendo Switch 2: the troublemaker of 2025
One event could redefine the year 2025: the long-awaited launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. After the phenomenal success of the Switch, Nintendo is ready to take the next step with a next-generation hybrid console.
According to initial information, the Switch 2 would offer increased power, a larger screen and improved Joy-Con. But the real asset lies in its launch catalog. We are already expecting major titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and perhaps a new Super Mario or Legend of Zelda to accompany this release, like Breath of the Wild in 2017.
However, this new console could also impact the ecosystem of PC portable consoles, such as Valve's Steam Deck or the Asus ROG Ally, by making the hybrid format even more attractive to gamers.
GTA 6: the absolute master of the calendar
It's difficult to talk about 2025 without mentioning GTA 6, the video game ogre from Rockstar Games. Confirmed in December 2023, the successor to GTA V remains shrouded in mystery as to its exact release date. However, its impact is already palpable: the entire industry is adjusting to this launch which could well crush everything in its path.
Why such a frenzy? GTA 6 promises to push the boundaries in terms of graphics, scale and storytelling, establishing itself as the flagship title of a generation. But RockStar has not yet revealed its cards, and publishers fear a head-on confrontation with this juggernaut. As a result, many major titles – such as Elden Ring Nightreign, Mafia: The Old Country or Death Stranding 2 – remain cautiously vague on their own release schedule.
If GTA 6 is expected to arrive in the second half of the year, a possible delay to 2026 would not be surprising. In the meantime, the uncertainty creates enormous pressure for publishers, who could find themselves facing a traffic jam of AAA releases between summer and fall, at the risk of finding themselves in fierce competition at the same time.
A calendar full of video game promises
Beyond GTA 6 and the Switch 2, 2025 promises to be full of promising releases. From February, heavyweights like Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Civilization VII, and Assassin's Creed Shadows will open the ball. Other highly anticipated titles, such as Fable, Crimson Desert, and Ghost of Yotei, will expand a calendar that is already shaping up to be one of the busiest in gaming history.
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