The 2026 calendar brings a dense run of high-profile releases across the fall, with more games already dated for early 2027. This schedule of games coming out in 2026 highlights 20 selected releases, plus a few other notable dates and a short 2027 preview. Dates and platform availability vary by title, so a game’s place on the calendar does not tell you whether it will run on your system.
A year-only listing means a game has been assigned to a calendar year without a specific month and day. The entries below distinguish those listings from scheduled dates. They also flag expansions, early-access launches, and a complete edition when those details affect how you compare a release. Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 are treated as separate platform labels.
Key Takeaways
- Twenty selected 2026 releases have scheduled dates or year-only listings.
- Platform support differs by title, including between Switch and Switch 2.
- A scheduled date gives a day, while a year-only listing does not.
- Hearthstone: Black Empire is an expansion, not a standalone game.
- The calendar also includes dated releases from January through April 2027.
- Check the date and platform before you plan a purchase or launch day.
Use the details for each title to narrow your watchlist, whether you are tracking a new game, an expansion, or a complete edition. Check the platform and release-date status for each title before planning a purchase.
Which Games Coming Out in 2026 Have Confirmed Dates and Platforms?
The 20 featured games have different levels of date precision, from a specific day to a year-only listing. A scheduled date names a month and day, while a year-only listing places a game somewhere within that calendar year.
Platform availability is title-specific, and a label for one game does not confirm the same launch options for another. The list uses PS5, Xbox, PC, Switch, Switch 2, and mobile where those platforms are listed.
A scheduled date is more precise than a year-only listing, but each platform line applies only to its own game.
The most anticipated games in 2026 depend on what you want to play and which system you own. This schedule focuses on the months shown, so its selected entries are not a full count of every game releasing in September 2026.
For video games coming out in 2026 on PS5, look for the PS5 label beside each title rather than assuming every release supports it. Xbox and PC listings also vary; you can read more about Xbox and PC plans without treating industry news as a game’s launch date.
If you are weighing a console, this family console guide compares systems and play styles. It can help you think through how a platform fits your home, but each release still needs its own platform check.
Some games also use early access, a release stage where players can access a game before its full version. A complete edition may bundle content differently from a new standalone game, so the release type matters alongside the date.
Treat each platform line as specific to that title, not as a promise of a simultaneous launch everywhere.
Which games arrive in the first week of October?
End of Abyss is scheduled first, on October 1, followed by Ace Combat 8 two days later. Six featured releases are scheduled from October 1 through October 8, with different platform lists.
Check the listed date and platform for each game before you plan a launch-day purchase. End of Abyss is listed for PS5, Xbox, and PC, while Forever Ago is listed for PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, and PC.
October 1-2: End of Abyss and Ace Combat 8
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is scheduled for October 2, 2026, on PS5, Xbox, and PC. Its date follows End of Abyss, making the opening stretch easy to scan if you are choosing between two early-month releases.
Here are four of the dated games arriving in this first week:
| Title | Scheduled date | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve | October 2, 2026 | PS5, Xbox, PC |
| Gears of War: E-Day | October 6, 2026 | Xbox, PC |
| Star Wars: Galactic Racer | October 6, 2026 | PS5, Xbox, PC |
| Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival | October 8, 2026 | PS5, Xbox, PC |
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival adds a horror release to the same week as the racing and action titles. The exact platform labels help separate it from games with broader system lists.
October 6-8: Gears of War, Star Wars, Hellraiser, and Forever Ago
Gears of War: E-Day and Star Wars: Galactic Racer are both scheduled for October 6, while Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is set for October 8. Forever Ago shares the October 8 date and adds Switch 2 to its listed platforms.
Before choosing a launch-day game, use this short checklist:
- Confirm the exact scheduled date.
- Match the listed platform to your system.
- Check whether the release is a new game or an expansion.
Forever Ago’s Switch 2 listing is distinct from its other listed platform options.
What arrives in mid-October?
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 is scheduled for October 14, with Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse following on October 15. Both releases list several platforms, though only Castlevania includes Switch.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 is listed for PS5, Xbox, and PC, while Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is listed for PS5, Xbox, Switch, and PC. That makes their console options different even though both games include PC.
The two dates give you a compact mid-month pair to track. Boltgun 2 arrives one day before Belmont’s Curse, and the platform lists make the Switch option clear for the latter.
If you are comparing Nintendo Switch releases, keep the exact console label in view. Castlevania’s listing names Switch, while Forever Ago is listed for Switch 2.
For help comparing systems, this family gaming console guide explains differences in compatibility and play style. Its console advice can help you choose a system, but it cannot change which platform a game lists.
- Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2: October 14, 2026, on PS5, Xbox, and PC.
- Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse: October 15, 2026, on PS5, Xbox, Switch, and PC.
Check whether your console is listed as Switch or Switch 2 rather than assuming the two labels are interchangeable.
Which games are scheduled for October 20-23?
October 20 brings an expansion, while three full-game entries in this stretch are scheduled between October 22 and 23. Hearthstone: Black Empire is an expansion, not a standalone game.
The three full-game entries have different platform combinations, even when two share a date. The table separates those listings from the Hearthstone expansion.
October 20: Hearthstone’s expansion
Hearthstone: Black Empire is scheduled for October 20, 2026, on PC and mobile. Since it expands an existing game, do not count it as a new standalone game when comparing the release calendar.
Its mobile listing is useful if you play on a phone or tablet, but it does not describe the platforms for the three games that follow.
October 22-23: Modern Warfare 4 and Final Fantasy Resonance
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Final Fantasy Resonance are both scheduled for October 22. One Piece: Grand Gourmet follows on October 23.
| Title | Date | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 | October 22, 2026 | PS5, Switch 2, Xbox, PC |
| Final Fantasy Resonance | October 22, 2026 | PS5, Xbox, Switch, Switch 2, PC |
| One Piece: Grand Gourmet | October 23, 2026 | Switch, Switch 2, PC |
Three checks can help you read this cluster of listings:
- Note that Switch and Switch 2 appear as separate platform labels.
- Confirm mobile support for Hearthstone: Black Empire.
- Compare the platform lists for the two October 22 games.
Final Fantasy Resonance and Modern Warfare 4 share a date, but their platform lines do not match. One Piece: Grand Gourmet has a later date and a different set of listed systems.
Do not count an expansion as a new standalone game when comparing the release calendar.
When does Phantom Blade 0 come out?
Phantom Blade 0 is scheduled to launch on October 29, 2026, for PS5 and PC. Those are the two listed platforms for the final featured October entry.
The October 29 date gives you a clear late-month planning point, even if you are tracking just one game. The listing names PS5 and PC, without adding other platforms.
Phantom Blade Zero closes the featured October schedule after releases spread across the month. Its exact date can help you plan around other games, work, or time set aside to play.
When you compare platforms, do not treat a game’s name or release date as proof that it will appear on every system. The listed options are the useful detail for a decision today.
The term early access describes a game that players can use before its full release. It does not apply to every game with a date, and the Phantom Blade 0 listing gives a scheduled date rather than an early-access label.
If you are choosing a platform now, base the decision on the two listed options rather than assuming a later port.
Which games arrive on November 5 and 6?
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is scheduled for November 5, one day before Stellar Blade. Both November entries list Switch 2 as their platform.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Stellar Blade are each listed for Switch 2. Their dates open this part of the November 2026 schedule, but they are not the month’s only releases.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is scheduled for November 5, 2026. Stellar Blade follows on November 6, 2026.
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: November 5, 2026, on Switch 2.
- Stellar Blade: November 6, 2026, on Switch 2.
Keeping these entries separate helps you see the one-day gap without mixing up their launch platforms. Both listings name the same system, but each still has its own scheduled date.
Switch and Switch 2 are not interchangeable labels in a release calendar. A game that names one should not be assumed to support the other just because the systems share a brand.
For these two entries, the listed platform is Switch 2, not the original Switch.
What is scheduled for November 12?
November 12 pairs a Switch 2 listing with a release whose platforms span PS5, Xbox, Switch, Switch 2, and PC. The platform reach differs between the two games.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is listed only for Switch 2, while Barbie Rewind has five listed platforms. They share a scheduled date, not a matching platform range.
The two November 12 releases compare as follows:
| Title | Scheduled date | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Metaphor: ReFantazio | November 12, 2026 | Switch 2 |
| Barbie Rewind | November 12, 2026 | PS5, Xbox, Switch, Switch 2, PC |
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s platform line is much shorter, while Barbie Rewind lists both Switch models alongside other systems. Those labels let you compare options without guessing from a shared date.
November 12 is one point in the November calendar, not a platform rule for nearby releases. The same console may appear in one listing and be absent from another.
The shared date does not mean the two games have the same platform reach.
When is Grand Theft Auto 6 scheduled to launch?
Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled for November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox. The two listed platforms give console players a clear date to track.
The listing names PS5 and Xbox, but not PC. It does not give a PC release date, so the scheduled console date should not be extended to another platform.
The November 19 date lands after the earlier November releases in this schedule. If you plan to play at launch, check that your console matches one of the two listed options.
Grand Theft Auto 6 may be a major date on your calendar, but its platform line stays specific to the game. Avoid treating an unlisted platform as part of the same launch.
Make plans around the platforms actually listed rather than expecting an unannounced platform date.
What is coming out in December 2026?
December opens with Hela on December 1, followed by three different releases between December 3 and 4. Four games in this group have scheduled dates, while Path of Exile 2 reaches version 1.0 later in the month.
The four platform lists range from PC only to several systems. Check each row rather than assuming the same options across December releases.
December 1-4: Hela, Rayman, Dawn of War, and Monster Hunter
Hela of Mice & Magic is scheduled for December 1, 2026, on PS5, Switch 2, Xbox, and PC. Rayman Legends Retold and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 are both scheduled for December 3.
| Title | Scheduled date | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Hela of Mice & Magic | December 1, 2026 | PS5, Switch 2, Xbox, PC |
| Rayman Legends Retold | December 3, 2026 | PS5, Switch 2, Xbox, PC |
| Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 | December 3, 2026 | PC |
| Monster Hunter Wilds | December 4, 2026 | Switch 2 |
Monster Hunter Wilds is the only one of these four listed for Switch 2 alone. Dawn of War 4 is listed for PC, while the other two have wider platform lists.
December 11: Path of Exile 2 reaches version 1.0
Path of Exile 2 (1.0) is scheduled for December 11, 2026, on PS5, Xbox, and PC. Its version 1.0 label marks a full release, a different stage from early access.
Use this three-point check when comparing the December dates:
- Check PC-only availability for Dawn of War 4.
- Confirm Switch 2 listings for Hela and Monster Hunter Wilds.
- Separate a 1.0 full release from an early-access launch.
Treat Path of Exile 2’s 1.0 label as part of its release detail, not as a separate title.
Which 2026 games are listed without a specific day?
The Duskbloods and Halo: Campaign Evolved have 2026 listings without a specific day in the release details. A year-only listing does not name a month or date.
These five names belong on a watchlist, not a day-by-day calendar. The Duskbloods has a 2026 listing for Switch 2, while Halo: Campaign Evolved is listed as a 2026 release without a platform stated here.
Games with a 2026 listing
- The Duskbloods: listed for 2026 on Switch 2, with no specific day.
- Halo: Campaign Evolved: listed as a 2026 release, with no specific day or platform stated.
Those entries give you a year to follow, but not a launch date to put in your calendar. The distinction matters if you are arranging time off or comparing releases by month.
Major 2026 watchlist titles
- Marvel’s Wolverine: named among the biggest games of 2026, without a specific day or platform stated here.
- Resident Evil Requiem: a major 2026 watchlist title, without a specific day or platform stated here.
- Forza Horizon 6: named among the biggest games of 2026, without a specific day or platform stated here.
For more PS5 recommendations, browse this PS5 games guide, which focuses on picks rather than release dates. Resident Evil Requiem is also among the names to watch, but a watchlist mention is not a scheduled date.
A 2026 listing is not the same as a confirmed day-and-month date. Keep a year-only listing separate from a date you can put on a calendar.
Which games are scheduled for January 2027?
Danganronpa 2×2 is scheduled to arrive first, on January 14, 2027. Three dated entries follow across the middle of January, with different platform lists.
Titan Quest II is identified as a full release on January 19, not simply an early-access launch. That detail matters if you track games that become available before their full release.
The January schedule covers 2027 entries beyond the 20 selected games for 2026. This table shows the dates and systems listed for the first three releases.
| Title | Date | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Danganronpa 2×2 | January 14, 2027 | PC, Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S |
| Ananta | January 15, 2027 | PC, PS5, iOS, Android |
| Titan Quest II | January 19, 2027, full release | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S |
Danganronpa 2×2 has the widest listed mix of console and PC options among these three. Ananta also lists mobile platforms, while Titan Quest II has a release-type detail alongside its date.
Early access can make the word “release” less precise, since a game may be playable before its full launch. The January 19 listing names Titan Quest II’s full release, so keep that status attached to its date.
Check the release type as well as the day when comparing a full release with an early-access title.
What follows at the end of January and start of February 2027?
Two games share January 28, but their listed platforms are different. Metroid Ravenous is listed for Switch 2, while Until Dawn 2 is listed for PS5.
Metro 2039 follows on February 4 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Its three-platform listing contrasts with the single-platform listings for the January 28 games.
The three scheduled entries are easy to compare in one view:
| Title | Scheduled date | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Metroid Ravenous | January 28, 2027 | Switch 2 |
| Until Dawn 2 | January 28, 2027 | PS5 |
| Metro 2039 | February 4, 2027 | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S |
The shared date does not create a shared launch setup. One game names Switch 2, the other names PS5, and Metro 2039 has three listed systems.
If you are comparing a console release with a PC listing, keep the platform set attached to the title. The table gives no reason to assume either January game appears on another system.
Confirm the platform line before treating a shared release date as a shared launch setup.
Which games are dated from February through April 2027?
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is scheduled for February 12, followed by Fable on February 23. Two more releases are scheduled for April 7 and 8.
Fable and Exodus share PS5, Xbox, and PC listings, while Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy VII Revelation also list Switch 2.
February 12-23: Tomb Raider and Fable
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is scheduled for February 12, 2027, on PS5, Switch 2, Xbox, and PC. Fable follows on February 23, 2027, on PS5, Xbox, and PC.
The extra Switch 2 listing gives Tomb Raider a platform option that is not named for Fable. Both games share the other three listed platforms.
April 7-8: Exodus and Final Fantasy VII Revelation
Exodus is scheduled for April 7, 2027, on PS5, Xbox, and PC. Final Fantasy VII Revelation follows on April 8 and lists PS5, Switch 2, Xbox, and PC.
That April pair follows the same platform contrast: Exodus lists three systems, while Final Fantasy VII Revelation adds Switch 2. Their dates are close, but their full platform lists are not identical.
A date several months ahead is useful for planning, but keep the platform differences attached to each title.
What else is on the late-2026 release calendar?
Several other scheduled releases sit outside the 20 featured picks, including games in October and December. This additional snapshot adds five entries without changing the selected list.
Hearthstone: Black Empire is an expansion, while the other entries below are presented as games. Keep that release type in mind when comparing it with standalone titles.
Check whether a title is a standalone game or an expansion before comparing it with the main picks.
Use this list as a wider calendar check beyond the headline selections:
- End of Abyss: scheduled for October 1, 2026, on PS5, Xbox, and PC.
- Planet Zoo 2: scheduled for October 13, 2026, on PS5, Xbox, and PC.
- Hearthstone: Black Empire: expansion scheduled for October 20, 2026, on PC and mobile.
- One Piece: Grand Gourmet: scheduled for October 23, 2026, on Switch, Switch 2, and PC.
- Professor Layton and the New World of Steam: listed for December 10, 2026, on Switch, Switch 2, PC, and PS5.
The entries mix scheduled dates with one December listing, and the platform range changes from title to title. Professor Layton and the New World of Steam has a listed day, while Hearthstone: Black Empire has a distinct expansion label.
If you follow Layton new world updates, keep its Switch and Switch 2 options separate from the other platform listings. New World Steam is also a useful phrase to watch when checking the PC listing for Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.
This extra calendar snapshot does not change the 20 featured selections. Check whether a title is a standalone game or an expansion before comparing it with the main picks.
Conclusion
The most useful way to plan is to match each release date to the platform you actually play. Scheduled dates give you a day to track, while year-only listings do not.
Keep each game’s platform and release status beside its name when you compare upcoming releases. A date alone cannot tell you whether a title is an expansion, a full release, or available on your system.
Before you preorder or set aside launch-day time, check the date and platform again. Recheck the listing before you preorder or set aside launch-day time.
FAQ
Which 2026 entries in this guide are expansions rather than standalone games?
Hearthstone: Black Empire is the 2026 entry identified as an expansion rather than a standalone game. It is scheduled for October 20, 2026, on PC and mobile. That distinction matters when you count new releases, since an expansion adds to an existing game instead of launching as a separate title. The rest of the listed entries are not identified as expansions.
What platforms are listed for Grand Theft Auto 6 at launch?
Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled to launch on PS5 and Xbox on November 19, 2026. Those are the platforms named for its release. PC is not included in that listing, and no PC date is stated. If you are planning around launch, use the two listed console options rather than assuming another platform will arrive at the same time.
Which featured 2026 game is scheduled for Switch 2 and PC but not PS5 or Xbox?
Monster Hunter Wilds is listed for Switch 2 only, on December 4, 2026. It is not a Switch 2 and PC release in this schedule, so it does not fit that platform combination exactly. Phantom Blade 0 is listed for PS5 and PC, not Switch 2. Check each game’s full platform line instead of matching only one system.
What is the first dated 2027 game in this schedule?
Danganronpa 2×2 is the first dated 2027 game, scheduled for January 14. Ananta follows on January 15, so it arrives one day later. Danganronpa 2×2 lists PC, Switch, Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. That gives you both a precise date and a clear platform list for the first entry.
Does a 2026 listing guarantee a specific launch day?
No. A 2026 listing can name the year without giving a month or day. The Duskbloods, for example, is listed for 2026 on Switch 2 without a specific date. That differs from a scheduled date such as a month, day, and year. Keep year-only entries on a watchlist until their calendars include a more precise date.
Which November 2026 releases share a date?
Metaphor: ReFantazio and Barbie Rewind are both scheduled for November 12, 2026. Their platform lists differ: Metaphor: ReFantazio is listed for Switch 2, while Barbie Rewind lists PS5, Xbox, Switch, Switch 2, and PC. A shared date does not mean two games have the same launch options, so compare the platform line for each title.
