Something Tells Me 2025 Is Going To Be Massive For Gaming

From rip-roaring fighting game events to flat-out terrific releases that have struck awe into the hearts of the players, 2024 has been a monumental year for gaming, and there’s no doubting that. There was the Shadow of the Erdtree release, the forthcoming launch of the PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox’s continued proclivity toward third-party exclusive launches, and a lot more that unfolded this year. 

However, that’s just to say that 2025 is already looking like it’ll be absolutely packed for denizens of the gaming realm—even more than the previous year I’d wager. To begin with, let’s narrow down some of the biggest video game launches next year that have to be taken close notice of. 

Top Releases Of 2025 You Need To Look Out For  

Here’s a rundown of some of the most prolific video game releases that are scheduled to come out next year. At least that’s what their respective developers and publishers have planned up until now, and hopefully, it really does turn out that way. 

Doom: The Dark Ages

Unveiled for the first time during an Xbox Games Showcase event this year, the legendary Doom franchise is due to return next month and quite in an incredible fashion according to what we’ve seen of it so far. Doomguy’s got a frickin’ shield now, and not just any, regular shield, but one with blades coming out of it.

The Creative Director of Doom: The Dark Ages has generated even more hype for the title, saying that it’ll be the most powerful you’ll ever feel in a Doom game. In addition, the title will employ a more “Classic Doom” formula for its gameplay, which is another plus for long-time franchise fans. 

We’re making strafing-to-aim a thing again. You’ll be weaving between projectiles, just like you did in the original Doom, to deliver that Super Shotgun blast to the chest… It almost creates this three-dimensional ‘shoot ’em up’ puzzle that you’re weaving your way through,” said Hugo Martin.

Ghost Of Yotei

Ghost of Tsushima is flat-out one of the best action-adventure titles ever made, and Sucker Punch just announced about three weeks ago that its spiritual successor is now a reality. It’s calling it Ghost of Yotei, and I honestly couldn’t be happier.

The franchise has moved on from Jin Sakai it appears, which sounds like a step in the right direction to me, but we’ve still ways to go before it’s affirmed how good of a second game Sucker Punch has cooked up for us. 

Knowing the US-based developer, there’s little room for disappointment. 

Mafia: The Old Country

It’s easy to be desperate for a new Mafia game, especially when you’ve been playing the series for some time now. Thankfully, 2K in partnership with Hangar 13, is going to push out a new Mafia game in 2025, one that’s set in Sicily and will even feature Sicilian dialect for the voice acting to kick up the ante. 

Uncover the origins of organized crime in Mafia: The Old Country, a gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily. Fight to survive in this dangerous and unforgiving era, with action brought to life by the authentic realism and rich storytelling that the critically acclaimed Mafia series is known for.” 

Death Stranding 2

Death Stranding 2 is the sequel to the first Death Stranding from 2019, and it’s looking mesmerizing as per the reveal trailers this game has been given to date. Hideo Kojima is at it again, but this time, he’s clearly going all in. For starters, the Photo Mode of the upcoming action-adventure has to be seen to be believed—it’s really that out of the world. 

No set release date at the moment, but it’s expected to be announced early next year. 

An Industry Goliath Will Hopefully Make Its Return In 2025 

Now this deserves a special mention, doesn’t it? Take-Two Interactive is going to have one blast of a year in the name of 2025, with games like Mafia: The Old Country, the next Borderlands, and Judas to look forward to. What we all can unanimously agree on, however, is the one single title that will outclass them all—GTA 6. 

Although Take-Two’s CEO Strauss Zelnick is “confident” in the aforementioned 2025 release window of the open-world giant, it’s likely that we can see the title get delayed to 2026, though I sure hope to God that doesn’t happen. 

Mind you Rockstar Games hasn’t put out a new GTA iteration in more than a decade, so I believe it’s high time that we get one already. 

Prayers Go Out For Reduced Layoffs

Though 2023 and 2024 have been remarkable for gamers and games, the stance isn’t quite similar on the industry’s end as a whole. Both of these years have passed loaded to the brim with layoffs at most companies, both big and small—you name them at this point basically. 

We’re talking about Microsoft, PlayStation Studios, Bungie, and even Square Enix. This has obviously led to thousands of people losing their jobs, and stranded to look for work options. We’re almost at the end of the year, and 2024 has suffered over 11,000 layoffs from January to June alone, as per Statista. 

While players will continue to get great games, here’s hoping that things don’t see themselves repeating in 2025 on the mass layoffs front.