If you’ve been scanning Discord or observing group chat conversations lately, you’ve probably noticed that gamers are abnormally silent.
At Laguna, students are biding their time in anticipation of the biggest games of the next year.
Students from coast to coast have experienced the “consumption lull” in the gaming industry, driven by several factors.
Despite global video game sales reaching a record $195.6 billion in 2025, the number of hours spent playing new releases has declined. This is because everyone anticipates the deluge of blockbuster video games set to release in the coming months and is holding onto their hard-earned money and excitement to see how big of a deal they really are.
Junior Soren Alldrige shared his latest game ‘buys’ and future wishlist items.
“I last purchased Ghost of Tsushima, which is a game about honor and the samurai way. I’m excited to see the release of Subnautica 2, GTA6, 007: First Light, and Persona 4: Revival.”
There is one video game title in particular that will show up in many gamers’ wishlists: Grand Theft Auto VI. The successor to the record-breaking 2013 edition of the series from Rockstar Games is expected to break another record as the most anticipated entertainment product ever, based on revenue lost in anticipation.
With estimates of marketing & creation cost well over 2 billion, it also stands as the most expensive video game ever fathomed.
The game was supposed to launch in October 2022 but, as recently as 2023, was pushed back until Nov. 19, 2026. With over 10 years of anticipation, it promises to deliver.
The first half of 2026 promises to be an exciting time for gamers as two blockbuster titles prepare to hit the shelves:
Forza Horizon 6 on May 19, 2026, on Xbox One/Se/Series X and PC and PS5. Developed by Playground Games, the newest iteration will take the action to the streets of Japan, featuring the largest-ever city environment in the game, with neon-lit races in front of Shibuya Crossing and Tokyo Tower.
This promises to become one of the hottest games. The other hotly anticipated release is Subnautica 2, scheduled for early access in May of 2026.
The sequel to the popular submarine exploration video game was scheduled to release in 2025 but was delayed due to a legal dispute.
The sequel brings players back to an alien ocean, where they will experience new co-op play.
It’s safe to say that the amount of blockbuster hits in store for the gaming community this fall will be overwhelming.
That explains why many gamers turn to comfort games like Minecraft, Roblox, or Fortnite while waiting for something better. Soren says that, at least at this point in the year, he’d rather save for “flip flops and food” than any games available now.
Fortunately, the drought will soon be over, as both Forza and Subnautica 2 are scheduled to release this spring.
While the wait for GTA VI has been a joke and a story online for many years, as the calendar pages turn we get closer and closer to its true release.
