A Definitive Rundown of Every AAA Multi-platform Game Coming Out Next Year And Beyond
This year was a great year for games. We had AAA behemoths such as Fallout 4, The Witcher 3, and Metal Gear Solid 5. However, as a gamer there is always something to look forward to, so with this in mind, we’ve made yet another list, this time chronicling every AAA multi-platform title releasing 2016 to beyond, as well as our thoughts on each lineup. If you haven’t seen our other platform exclusive lists before, check them out by clicking your respective system(PS4 or Xbox One), but first read this to find out what interests you, regardless of platform specificity.
List is sorted by publishers (in alphabetical order), and games are sorted by release date. Publishers are also included if they have more than 3 multiplatform games. This list is also planned to be updated as the year goes on and keep in mind that (April 26th-rumored) means that the date is rumored, not the game and vice versa.
2K Games
Releases: XCOM 2 (February 5th), Mafia 3 (April 26th-rumored), Battleborn (May 3rd), Unannounced NBA2K title (TBA 2016), Unannounced WWE2K title (TBA 2016), Unannounced Rockstar title (TBA)
Description: 2K’s lineup is standard as usual. Another one of their sequels and yearly sports title will likely cross our way in 2016, with the only exception being Gearbox’s Battleborn, a FPS MOBA crossover that sets to deliver in new fronts. Mafia 3 and XCOM 2 look as good as they should, which equals another somewhat successful, albeit commercially and critically lukewarm compared to previous years. (2013 had the release of GTA 5 and Bioshock Infinite for example)
505 Games
Releases: Adr1ft (Oculus Rift launch title,TBA 2016), Asetto Corsa (TBA 2016), Indivisble (TBA 2017), Overkill’s The Walking Dead (TBA 2016)
Description:505's year can go either way, Asetto Corsa could be a nice offset to the middling fan reception of Project Cars, and the Gravity-like Adr1ft could be the killer app the Oculus needs to succeed. The other two titles, the RPG Indivisible and Overkill’s The Walking Dead, could bring back fans that left the studios making them in the first place, thanks to Kickstarter and micro-transaction controversies. 505 definitely has secured their namesake, they just have to prove it.
Activision
Releases: Overwatch (June 21st), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan (rumored - TBA 2016), Unannounced Call of Duty title (TBA 2016), Unannounced Destiny title (rumored - TBA 2016), Unannounced Skylanders title (TBA 2016)
Description: The fact that only the announced Activision title is technically outside of their main company (Overwatch), is an example of their never-changing strategy. We have no idea if these titles will be good or bad, they’ll probably be fine, but that’s standard Activision fare.
Bandai Namco
Releases: Sebastien Loeb Rally Evo (January 29th), Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 (February 9th), Dark Souls 3 (April 12th), Get Even (TBA 2016), One Piece Burning Blood (TBA 2016), Lords of the Fallen 2 (TBA 2017), Project Cars 2 (TBA)
Description: Although most of the more niche games on Bandai’s Namco lineup only cater to the Playstation crowd, there still are some diverse titles that are available regardless of platform choice. For example, Get Even is one of the more ambitious current gen titles coming to console, and is a photo-realistic first person shooter where players can invade others campaigns. The rest is standard from what Namco typically offers, but this game alone significantly changes what their 2016 landscape could be.
Bethesda
Releases: DOOM (TBA 2016), Dishonored 2 (TBA Spring 2016), Prey 2 (rumored-TBA), Unannounced Wolfenstein title (rumored - TBA 2017)
Description:If Bethesda’s supposed lineup rings true, they’d have a lot early on next year, but not much for the rest. We suppose they might even things out a little bit by delaying either Dishonored 2 or DOOM, but then again, they can still rely on the continuing sales behemoth of Fallout 4.
- We’re still including Prey 2 besides it’s cancellation, due to Kotaku being right about numerous Bethesda leaks and saying that it will make a return with Arkane behind it. Say what you want about Kotaku, but their “investigative” reporting tends to be top notch.
Capcom
Releases: Resident Evil 0 Remake(January 19th - rumored), Resident Evil Origins Collection (January 19th ; Same release date as Resident Evil 0), Dragons Dogma Online (TBA), Dragons Dogma Definitive Edition (rumored - TBA), Resident Evil 2 Remake (TBA 2017- rumored), Resident Evil 7 (rumored- TBA), Unannounced Capcom Vancouver game (TBA), Unannounced Devil May Cry game (rumored-TBA)
Description: Capcom is a bit of a mess. Their over-relience on already established series could have gone well if they evened it out a little bit, but now it just seems like they are going back to the drawing board on everything, with only HD remasters to show for it. The one exception could be Capcom Vancouver’s next game, but we already assume it will be another Dead Rising just by looking at this pattern.
Deep Silver
Releases: Mighty No 9 (February 9th), DiRT Rally (April 5th), Homefront: The Revolution (TBA 2016), Dead Island 2 (TBA 2016), Bloodstained:Ritual of the Night (TBA March 2017), Unannounced Metro game (TBA), Unannounced Volition game (TBA)
Description: Deep Silver has been having major problems as of late. Dead Island 2 will likely miss it’s estimated 2016 ship date as they still have not found a new developer, and Mighty No 9 got delayed, giving them only one title (Wasteland 2) for the holiday season. However, things are picking up with the recent license acquisitions of hardcore racing game DiRT Rally and Castlevania spiritual successor Bloodstained:Ritual of the Night. Although they aren’t huge titles, they’re needed breathing room in the crappy situation Deep Silver has been put in.
EA
Releases:Unravel (February 9th 2016), Plants Vs. Zombies:Garden Warfare 2 (February 23rd), Mirrors Edge Catalyst (May 24th), UFC 2 (March 15th 2016), Mass Effect Andromeda (TBA 2016), Unannounced Criterion IP (TBA), Unannounced Battlefield game (TBA 2016), Unnanounced Bioware IP (TBA 2018) Unannounced FIFA game (TBA 2016), Unannounced Madden Game (TBA 2016), Unannounced NBA Live Game (TBA 2016), Unannounced NHL Game (TBA 2016), Unannounced Visceral Star Wars game (TBA)
Description: Surprisingly, EA’s lineup is not as generic as one would expect. Two years ago, you would have seen browns and blacks on this list and while it’s still present, there’s a lot more color and pop to the titles at their disposal. If anything, the new CEO must be doing wonders, because EA is doing something I’ve never seen them do before. Take risks, especially with games like Unravel and Mirrors Edge Catalyst.
Focus Home Interactive
Releases: Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom (TBA Early 2016), Seasons After Fall Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter (TBA Spring 2016), (TBA 2016), Space Hulk: Deathwing (TBA 2016), The Technomancer (TBA 2016), The Surge (TBA 2017), Vampyr (TBA 2017) Unannounced Tour De France game (TBA 2016)
Description: Focus Home’s lineup is particularly strong, but only if you are a big fan of the genres they are looking to grow in. For examples, their indies such as the cute puzzler Seasons After Fall and the manga-themed RPG Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom could become underrated gems in the crowded year that is 2016. They’ve also got the psychological horror game Vampyr, in which you control a vampire doctor during the spread of the Spanish Flu. (This one’s made by the Life is the Strange devs, so it’s definitely got potential) Other occupants also include the Mars themed RPG The Technomancer, sci-fi FPS Space Hulk: Deathwing, another Sherlock Holmes game, and lastly the post-apocalyptic sci-fi Dark Souls-like RPG The Surge. It’s all a mouthful, but an impressive and promising one at best.
Konami
Releases: Unannounced Pro Evolution Soccer title (TBA 2016), Unannounced Yu-Gi-Oh! title (TBA Spring 2016; Winter 2016 for PC), Unannounced Metal Gear Solid “title” (TBA)
Description: After the sh*tshow that 2015 was, it’s surprising that Konami would want to develop any more games after the disastrous PR moves they pulled off without any care or grace. But hey, they still hold the licenses for Pro Evolution Soccer, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Metal Gear Solid, so it seems like we will be getting more of those in the future. (in a likely sorry state)
Majesco
Releases: Gone Home (January 12th) , A Boy and His Blob (January 20th), GL00 (Rumored- TBA Spring 2016), Shadow Warrior 2 (TBA 2016)
Yet another former shovelware publisher, Majesco has now focused on re-branding themselves for many digital titles, which is especially needed after a harsh case of financial stress. They’ll be porting A Boy and His Blob and Gone Home to current gen consoles, and also somehow have two new games, Shadow Warrior 2 and GL00, something surprising considering how poor the publisher has been previously.
Maximum Games
Releases: Alekhine’s Gun (February 9th), Lichdom Battlemage (March 22nd), Dr. Nano, Loading Human, Unannounced Farming Simulator title (TBA 2016), Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter (TBA Spring 2016)
What was originally a shovelware publisher, Maximum has carved themselves out to produce some high quality titles, and mostly does porting work and publishing support for the lesser known games out there. Next year will be no exception, as Maxmimum is not only bringing the cold war stealth shooter Alekhine’s Gun to console, but also the cult RPG Lichdom Battlemage. There’s also two other titles we don’t know much about, but it seems that some of them may be lacking promise. (Dr.Nano is a port of a crude 3D mobile shooter) However, the overall package is nice heading into next year, and Maximum should grow even more as they previously did.
Nordic Games
Releases: Aquanox:Deep Descent (TBA February 2017), Elex (Late 2016/Early 2017), Unannounced Darksiders game (TBA)
Description: Although most gamers have not heard of this label, Nordic was responsible for picking up a majority of THQ, and other companies dead franchises. Their strategy so far has mostly relied on remasters and toned-down spiritual successors, so we wouldn’t be surprised if that’s all they have next year. However, they do have the new underwater shooter Aquanox and supposedly groundbreaking RPG Elex planned for 2017, so that will likely be their year to shine.
SEGA
Releases:Unannounced Sonic game (rumored - TBA ), Unannounced Alien Isolation title (rumored-TBA), Toejam and Earl Back in the Groove (TBA October 2016)
Description: If there wasn’t any more proof for how SEGA is a shell of their former self, their sparse 2016 lineup is definitely another case of bad news. Recently, SEGA has mostly catered to Japansese niche markets with titles like Yakuza, instead of letting them spread and flourish in other regions. We’ll be happy if SEGA actually proves themselves next year, it just likely won’t happen based off of previous trends.
Square Enix
Releases: Hitman (March 11th), Deus Ex Mankind Divided (August 23rd), Final Fantasy XV (TBA 2016), Kingdom Hearts 3 (TBA)
Description: I kind of consider Square Enix the comeback company of this console generation. Sure they’ve done some moves that have pissed off fans, but most of them have been reversed, and plus their crazy announcements in the past couple of years have put fans in the best forms of surprise. Next year will be no different. Although around half of Square’s titles are Playstation exclusive (much like Bandai Namco and Koei Tecmo) they are still pulling out the proper stops, with a new Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Deus Ex, and Hitman.
Ubisoft
Releases: Assassin’s Creed Chronicles India (January 12th), Assassin's Creed Chronicles Russia (February 9th), Assassin’s Creed Chronicles Trilogy Pack (February 9th), Far Cry Primal (February 23rd), Tom Clancy’s The Division (March 8th), Trackmania Turbo (TBA Early 2016), Unannounced Just Dance title (TBA 2016), For Honor (TBA), South Park:The Fractured But Whole (TBA 2016), Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands (TBA 2016), Unannounced Egyptian Assassin’s Creed title (rumored- TBA 2017), Unannounced Watch Dogs sequel (rumored-TBA Fall 2016)
Description: While Ubisoft has gotten a very bad rap from the gaming community recently, (and for good reason) I still think that they haven’t changed their sparkling originality. Sure there are four Assassin's Creed titles on this list, but the changes they are making to respected franchises like Far Cry as well as their promising new ventures into the open world genre, should be applauded. Hell, the intuitive swordfighting game For Honor, has been pitched to different publishers for over a decade, until Ubisoft took a shot. That’s definitely a risky yet creditable maneuver.
Warner Bros
Releases:Lego Marvel’s Avengers (January 26th), Dying Light:The Following (February 9th), Dying Light: Enhanced Edition (February 9th), Batman: A Telltale Games Series (TBA 2016), The Witcher 3: Blood & Wine (TBA 2016), Mortal Kombat X Kombat Pack 2 (TBA 2016), Unannounced Netherrealm/Injustice title (rumored-TBA 2017), Unannounced DC Comics Superman/Warner Bros Montreal title 1 (rumored-TBA), Unannounced DC Comics/Warner Bros Montreal title 2 (TBA)
Description: After Warner Bros practically blew their load back in 2015 with huge AAA titles like The Witcher 3, Mad Max, Arkham Knight, and Dying Light, it’s not surprising to see their over-emphasis on expansion packs coming into the new year. It’s always possible that Warner Bros Montreal could pull a Fallout 4 on us and release a Suicide Squad/Superman game in the coming months, but it seems less and less likely. Oh well, It’s not like Warner Bros is in a bad spot anyways.
Conclusion:
Every publisher has a different strategy coming into 2016, whether bad or good. After looking over each lineup, we can say that we are most looking forward to EA,Focus Home,Namco Bandai, and Ubisoft titles, with the real stinkers not alarmingly being Konami and SEGA. It will also be interesting to see which rumored titles truely pan out, and which were the ones that will be left in the dust. Overall 2016 will be a very exciting year for games. There’s a lot for everybody, and just seeing how packed Spring is is a definite good sign.
Info was sourced from Dualshockers, IGN, GameTrailers, TCMF Games, and numerous social media sites and channels related to the respective publisher(s). If there is anything I missed, feel free to comment below, and I’ll fix it as soon as possible.
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