Everything We Expect in Gaming in 2025 – Video

We run down all the video game rumors and leaks we know about coming next year.

It’s been a big year for video games. We saw the launch of the PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox removed the disk drive from its flagship device. CNET crowned Belatro as Game of the Year, and rumors of the Switch’s successor flooded headlines. But now we look forward to what is still to come. Here’s everything we’re excited for in gaming in 2025. The most buzzworthy product we can’t wait to get our hands on is the upcoming and still untitled Switch 2. The original Nintendo Switch launched way back in 2017 with a slightly updated OLED model in 2021. There is still no planned release date for the next console, but Nintendo president Shantaro Furukawa has said that the new device will be announced within this fiscal year, giving us a deadline of before March 31, 2025. Recent rumors and. Carrying case leaks have pointed to the Switch too as being larger than the original while retaining a similar thickness, with an increased screen size at 8 inches. The joycons will also see an update with a new magnetic attachment system with eject buttons located on the back near the top, as opposed to the rails from the first model. There also appears to be a new C button under the home button that’s functionality also remains a mystery. We don’t have any confirmed games for the. at this time, but there are a few hints that we can look at. Furukawa has confirmed that the console will be backwards compatible with original Switch games, although it’s unclear whether this applies to downloaded titles and or physical switch cartridges. And if we look to unreleased titles, some developers have begun changing their release language. For example, the ukulele remaster Yuca Relayle has a generic Nintendo logo in its announcement trailer, as opposed to the standard switch. logo that is normally used. We also know that the long awaited Metroid Prime 4 is in development with a release date of 2025. We can assume it will be out for the new hardware, seeing as their launches will be so close. Maybe a version will be released for both Switch consoles. Developers often do split generation releases when a new console launches in order not to miss out on sales from the larger last gen install base, such as Breath of the Wild, releasing on both the Wii U and original switch. We Now beginning to see reports and leaked visuals of what a new updated steam controller will look like. This new design takes a ton of inspiration from Valve’s Steam Deck handheld, which is fitting since Valve has said the deck took inspiration from the original Steam controller. The new controller looks almost exactly like what would happen if you removed the screen from a steam deck and squished the two sides together. This boxy controller reminds me of similarly large controllers of the past, like with the original Xbox or Dreamcast. And as someone who enjoys the feel of my Steam Deck, I’m expecting this controller to have a much longer life than its predecessor. Recently, we have begun getting reports that Sony is working with Apple for its Vision Pro to support the PlayStation VR2 controllers. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says this announcement was planned to be made weeks ago but was pushed back for an unknown reason. This partnership would also include Apple selling the controllers separately from any headset, something Sony currently doesn’t offer. The Vision Pro is a largely controller-free experience, so this move could open the door to a lot more VR gaming experiences in the future. The report continues that Apple would also want this for more than just games. The controllers would be able to navigate the Vision Pro’s Vision OS and would offer more precise controls for various apps. Both Microsoft and Sony are on record stating that they are working on a dedicated gaming handheld, but both have said that this device is years away at this point. This almost seems like a no brainer when we look at how popular the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck have become. These are unlikely to actually ship or even be officially announced in 2025, but never say never, right? Sony’s report includes specs targeting PS5 quality games for the handheld, which would be quite hard to pull off in a small and not crazy expensive form factor at this time. There’s also no word on whether this device would be dockable, like with the Switch, or. Simply allowed display out like the Steam deck, but we can look to Microsoft’s two-tier Xbox strategy, the more powerful Xbox Series X, alongside the weaker but more cost effective Series S, as a possible avenue for each company to take where the weaker of the two is in fact a handheld. Over on Valve’s side, they have also said they are planning to make a successor to the Steam deck, but the power and components are also years from being marketable. We are all eagerly awaiting Grand Theft Auto 6. The sequel to one of the best selling games of all time. There have been trailers and leaks over the years showing the gameplay you would expect, but the big question is where GTA Online will take things. Live service games weren’t a thing when 5 launched, and the gaming industry has changed quite a bit since its launch in 2013. There’s also the big question of whether GTA 6 will keep its 2025 release date or get delayed into the next year. Bloomberg’s Jason Schrier has even said that many publishers. are waiting as long as possible to commit to a fall 2025 release date because they’re worried about going up against GTA 6. They’re determined to keep their own games far, far away regardless of when GTA 6 is released, we are sure to hear more about it than any other game throughout 2025, and that’s everything we expect to make a splash next year in gaming. But I want to hear from you. Is there anything you’re looking forward to or excited about? Let me know in the comments and thanks for watching.