2018: Some of the Games and Studios I Expect to Hear From

As a new year begins, so too does a new year for publishers and studios to reveal and promote new games. With 2018 into full swing and a few months left before E3, I felt like putting together some idea of what we can expect to see, or at the very least hear about from various studios and publishers and games already announced – whether before, during, or after E3 itself.

I’ve also left out obvious inclusions like Call of Duty, Battlefield, The Last of Us: Part II, Anthem and the like. There are plenty of games guaranteed to debut, but I wanted to focus on others that are still highly anticipated but talked about a little less at this point in time.

I’ve included probability ratings for each, which I’ll explain here:

• Very High: Practically guaranteed to show in some way, shape or form.
• High: There’s very little chance not to see it or hear of it.
• Moderate: A 50/50 shot. There are both valid reasons for a reveal, and the opposite.

Let’s start with the games.

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Games

Metroid Prime 4

Announced back in E3 2017’s Nintendo Direct, Metroid Prime 4 is in development for the Nintendo Switch. I’m thinking the game’s been in development for a bit longer than it appears on the outside looking in and I expect we’ll both finally find out who the developer is and see some quick glimpses into the game itself.

Probability: High

 

Pokemon for Nintendo Switch

Coming as no surprise, a brand new mainline Pokemon game was also pseudo-announced for the Nintendo Switch. I believe this will most definitely be among Nintendo’s premieres either at E3 or sometime after, and it’s going to sell absolute gangbusters.

Probability: Very High

 

Cyberpunk 2077

With 2017 down the pipe, development on CD Projekt RED’s insanely anticipated game Cyberpunk 2077 is sprinting along. Rumors of the game’s appearance at E3 2018 have been swirling around and the sudden revival of the official Cyberpunk Twitter account alludes to more goodies happening sometime in the near future. This all lines up with the game’s development schedule with the majority of studio having been fully transitioned to Cyberpunk for a while now. It’s very hard to believe the studio goes another full year in complete silence on the game. I’m personally expecting premiere footage this year, either as a trailer or through gameplay.

Probability: High

 

Death Stranding

Seemingly showing up every year since its announcement in some way, shape or form, Death Stranding is guaranteed to show its face once again in 2018. With game creator Hideo Kojima outright saying a “surprise” is coming this year, it’s all but guaranteed. What sort of surprise? Now that’s a question right there.

Probability: Very High

 

Borderlands 3

Before moving on, note that the above image is fan art. The next Borderlands has yet to be officially announced, but with Gearbox Software practically confirming the next game as being in development and 2K affirming that a new game in one of their most popular franchises will release in FY19 (before March 2019), this is most likely going to be announced somewhere this year. I’m expecting an E3 2018 premiere.

Probability: High

 

Halo 6 (or new Halo game)

This is a bit of a tricky one. Microsoft and 343 are certainly taking their time with the next mainline Halo, as they should. They’re putting effort in strongly revitalizing the franchise and ensuring a big splash come launch. With Halo 5: Guardians turning three years old this year, it’s been a while since we’ve heard from the studio and it’s about that time in the development schedule to begin talking about and showing the new game. However, we know Microsoft and 343 are dabbling in other creative avenues for the IP, so, likewise, it also wouldn’t surprise me to see a new, separate Halo project announced. Either way, there will no doubt be something Halo related revealed this year.

Probability: High

 

Devil May Cry 5

It’s been 10 years since we last played a Hideaki Itsuno directed Devil May Cry game. With real teases from long term series voice actors and Itsuno himself, the stars are certainly lining up for a reveal of the next game in the action franchise. I have a feeling we’ll see some Dante action soon.

Probability: High

 

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Back in late 2016, a (working or final) title for the next Tomb Raider was inadvertently leaked through an individual on a subway. How? The poor fella had his laptop wide open for anyone to ogle. Various musings since have all but confirmed the next game to be coming soon and I’m personally anticipating a nice lengthy look this E3 with a release date later in the year. Development schedules certainly line up, but we’ll see!

Probability: Very High

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Game Studios

Now let’s move on to some studios. Many lay dormant for a little while now, heads down developing the next iteration in a franchise or in some cases, new IP. These are some I’m expecting to hear from.

 

Remedy Entertainment

It’s been a good while since we last played a Remedy game. Quantum Break released around 2 years ago and the studio’s been fairly quiet since then. One thing they’ve been open about is the development of a brand new game codenamed “P7”. Remedy are partnering with 505 Games for publishing, and the title is said to be a “cinematic third-person action game set in a new Remedy-created universe” on the official website. While there’s cause to expect a glimpse into the project in some fashion this year, there’s also a chance of absence. Remedy takes its time, and with good reason. They’ll show the game when it’s ready.

Probability: Moderate

 

FromSoftware

With Bloodborne and Dark Souls III in the bag, we’ll be heading into a couple years since our last dance with a From Software game (excluding the upcoming Dark Souls remaster). With a new project teased at The Game Awards 2017, it’s about that time to hear a bit more on this mysterious game and I have a feeling we’ll get just that sometime this year.

Probability: High

 

Rocksteady Studios

Three years. It’s been almost three years since we had the pleasure of playing a Rocksteady game (Arkham Knight, 2015). The UK based studio has no doubt been extremely hard at work on their next big game and the timing is absolutely ripe for a little reveal of what exactly they’re working on. Can we expect another game based in the DC universe? Whatever it ends up being, I think we’ll probably catch it at E3 2018.

Probability: Very High

 

Bethesda Game Studios

Excluding a number of expansions, VR iterations, and remasters, things have been quiet Bethesda Game Studios’ front since the release of Fallout 4 in November 2015. That’s a decent span of time. We’ll be hitting the three year mark this year. With remarks from Todd Howard last E3, we know the studio’s been working on major, brand new IP since Fallout 4, and not just one, but two. Bethesda are fairly consistent in debuting new games and releasing not long after.

Given that, I’m not 100% certain something’s ready just yet, but on the same token, almost all of the wider company’s studios are accounted for. Machinegames, Tango Gameworks and Arkane Studios just released Wolfenstein II, The Evil Within 2, and Prey 2 last year, respectively. id Software’s DOOM reboot launched in 2016, and as a large studio, could be working on something unrelated to DOOM – a new RAGE perhaps? But is that alone enough to show for in 2018? Either way, I’m thinking we may at least catch a glimpse and what Bethesda Game Studios proper is up to.

Probability: Moderate

 

Techland

It seems we’re long overdue for something from Techland. Their last major output, an expansion in Dying Light: The Following, released in February of 2016. The full game itself, Dying Light, a full year before that. So it’s been over 3 years since we last saw the developer in action, and I have a strong feeling that’s going to change this year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a release later this year either.

Probability: Very High

 

Retro Studios

It’s been 4 years since Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. Come on son.

Probability: Moderate? High? A mix of both!

 

Certain Affinity

As a developer known to work on the IPs of others, Certain Affinity has made a name for itself. However, it’s been expanding, and as a company with over 130 employees, it’s hard to imagine the studio strictly sticking to that development path and not working on something original. Will we see something new from this esteemed team? I’d give it a 50/50 chance.

Probability: Moderate

 

Respawn Entertainment

Respawn has been a two-team studio for a while now, working simultaneously on the Titanfall series as well as a brand new, action Star Wars game. This new game has been in development for quite some time now under creative lead Stig Asmussen (former game director on God of War III). While we know Respawn will continue to work on the Titanfall series, it’s right about that time to see just what Stig and his crew have been up to all these years. I’m anticipating we’ll get a first look come E3 2018. Fingers crossed!

Probability: High

 

Microsoft (a new IP or revival)

We know a lot of what to expect to see this year from the publishing giant. Sea of Thieves is releasing soon. Crackdown 3 and State of Decay 2 are coming down the pipe, and games from Halo and the Forza Horizon series will show their faces in some form. But is that all? Will Microsoft continue to stick to tried and true? I’m betting we’ll either see a brand new IP from an internal studio…somewhere, or a series revival.

Probability: Moderate

 

Sony (SIE Worldwide Studios)

There’s always something from Sony. They’ve fired on all cylinders and we’re aware of what almost all of their first party studios are up to. Guerrilla and Polyphony Digital recently shipped Horizon Zero Dawn and Gran Turismo Sport respectively, so they’re out. Sony Bend is on Days Gone, Sucker Punch on Ghost of Tsushima, Naughty Dog on The Last of Us: Part II, Media Molecule on Dreams, and Sony Santa Monica on God of War. Sony Japan Studio launch Gravity Rush 2 and Knack II just last year as well. Though I personally feel whatever’s happening in the background at this point in time is being prepped for the next PlayStation but hey, anything’s possible at this point!

Probability: Moderate

 

Ubisoft 

No two ways about it, Ubisoft always brings something to table. My personal hopes? Splinter Cell. It’s been almost 5 years since we’ve been graced with Sam Fisher’s presence, and I’ve missed that stealth action more than ever! What else can we possibly expect? We’re certainly going to see Skull & Bones again (and likely a release date), and I’m expecting a glimpse into either Watch Dogs 3 or the next Assassin’s Creed, which I anticipate to continue the path of differentiation in the series ala Assassin’s Creed: Origins. Mark this one down, there’s always something.

Probability: Very High

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Well that’s it from me folks. Barring the obvious games we know we’ll see this year, what else are you expecting? Leave some comments below or hit me up on Twitter. Always love a good chat. Until next time!

~shinobi602

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