2025 is a tough year for the industry and 2026 promises to be equally tough – but not without good prospects. The portal gamesindustry.biz interviewed leading industry analysts and present It is predicted that, according to experts, it will become a reality in the near future.
Valve shocked the industry when it released Half-Life 3
Valve will once again make a splash when it officially launches Half-Life 3. Not to stir up nostalgia, but to show where high-end PC gaming is headed. The first announcement of the project will be important not only for the platform's positioning and technological leadership, but also for the franchise itself.
GTA 6 will be delayed again and fans will be tired of waiting
Another GTA 6 delay to 2026 would begin to test the patience of investors and the entire gaming industry, which could shift the narrative from confidence in the polish of Rockstar's games to concern about excessive ambition and development complexity. Long waits can also exhaust audiences, increasing expectations for the game and increasing the risk of the release not meeting their needs.
Investing in AI will silently raise the barrier to entry in the game
AI companies will gradually start to use even more memory, storage, and component resources, putting structural strain on the availability and pricing of gaming hardware. In essence, they will raise the barrier to entry for new gamers and force developers to temper their technological ambitions, as games with expensive graphics may be aimed at too narrow an audience.
Steam Machine will not find an audience
Steam Machine will likely remain a fairly small platform. Even if the device is easy to use, upgrading the console without any exclusivity or price advantages is pointless, and die-hard PC gamers already have their powerful machines. Price-quality risks not pleasing anyone.
Microsoft will launch Switch 2
Microsoft has already released and announced a number of games for the Switch 2, but in 2026, perhaps the publisher will begin to support the platform more fully. Xbox blockbusters will likely start releasing on Nintendo's consoles faster, or even on the same day as other platforms.
Ubisoft will partially return to form
Ubisoft has faced a number of challenges over the past few years, and those challenges have yet to be fully overcome. However, the worst may be over. Even though some mobile studios are now worth more than the French giant, people forget that Ubisoft still has strong developers. Assassin's Creed and the new Anno are huge successes, not to mention a portfolio of other IPs, support from Tencent and a promising restructuring plan.
The evolution of sports gaming initiatives
2026 will be a big year for the sports gaming market, especially soccer, thanks to the World Cup. Audiences for matches and live sports will overlap more often; it's no surprise that EA is an attractive buy for PIF and US investment funds. In addition, Netflix also intends to develop in this direction – otherwise the streaming service would not announce its own game under the FIFA license, which would be released in time for the national cup.
Invest actively in the gaming industry
The gaming industry is unlikely to change significantly for the better by 2026, but sooner or later it will happen. And people are guaranteed to want to invest in the game to benefit from the changes: angel investors will certainly invest in companies that are on the “right” side of the next industry conflict. Such contributions include investments in publishers from individuals, project investments for new companies, and government support.
