5 Highly Anticipated Games That Could Miss 2026

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It’s common for game release dates to be pushed back. With games becoming larger, more complicated, and pricier to develop, delays often happen. Several major games planned for 2026 are facing challenges – whether it’s production issues, external pressures, or general uncertainty – and could realistically be delayed until 2027. Here are five of the biggest titles that might not launch this year.

Grand Theft Auto VI

Rumors surfaced online during the holidays suggesting another delay for GTA VI, but these claims come from unverified sources primarily seeking attention. Neither Rockstar Games nor its parent company, Take-Two, has confirmed any delay, and the reports suggest a potential release date of June 2026.

It’s well known that the development of GTA VI and Rockstar Games haven’t been smooth sailing. The studio has faced criticism for allegedly trying to prevent unionization, and the game being left out of a PlayStation promotion added fuel to existing rumors. Combined with the recent delay of GTA VI, people are starting to worry about whether the game is too ambitious, and if Rockstar can actually deliver an experience that lives up to the high expectations. Even though the game isn’t due until late 2026, the big question now is whether Rockstar can get things back on track, keep fans excited, and ultimately release a groundbreaking open-world game that lives up to the hype.

Everything suggests that the release date for late 2026 is firm, and there’s good reason to think it will stay that way. Releasing then allows GTA VI to be the biggest game during the holiday shopping season. It also keeps excitement high without frustrating fans who have been waiting a long time. Finally, it gives Take-Two enough time to finalize their publishing plans and keep investors happy. While the last delay didn’t seem to affect the company’s stock price, another push to 2027 could be a problem.

Ultimately, it’s likely that GTA VI won’t be delayed any further. However, with things happening internally at the company and pressure from investors, the game absolutely has to be perfect when it launches. Even a small indication that it doesn’t meet expectations could cause another delay, and the consequences of that would be much greater now.

Fable

Man, it feels like forever since they first showed off the new Fable back in 2020! They announced last year it was getting pushed from 2025 to 2026 so the developers could have more time, and now it’s 2026 and we still haven’t seen anything new. It’s getting people worried that things aren’t going so well behind the scenes at Microsoft. But, like with GTA VI, there haven’t been any solid reports that Fable won’t actually come out this year, or that it’s been cancelled completely, thankfully.

Playground Games, the studio behind the Fable series, will be a major focus of the Xbox Developer Direct livestream on January 26th. While Forza Horizon 6 is also confirmed to be featured, we’ll finally get a substantial update on the long-awaited Fable, putting an end to speculation that the game had been cancelled.

The detailed nature of the Fable game is the reason it’s taking so long to develop, but pushing the release date back to 2026 could be risky. Forza Horizon 6 is also expected around the same time, potentially in the first half of the year. This likely means Fable won’t come out until later in 2026 – possibly late summer, September, or even October. The closer Fable’s release gets to GTA VI, the harder it will be to generate excitement, as GTA VI is expected to be a massive event. Every game studio will likely be watching Grand Theft Auto VI closely and may consider delaying their own games to 2027 if necessary.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra

We usually cover games that are still in development, but this one has so many warning signs that a release date of 2027 or later seems almost certain. Skydance Interactive’s World War II-era Marvel game was first delayed from May of last year to early 2026. Then, late last year, the release was pushed back again, this time past the summer of 2026. Now, the game has no set release date at all. While Skydance says they need more time to make the game their best, the lack of even an estimated release window suggests there may be deeper issues than just needing to refine the gameplay.

It seems Skydance wants to fully realize its vision for the game, which likely means aligning with Marvel’s own ideas. This suggests there may have been some creative differences about the game’s direction. The game is quite complex, and the main challenge appears to be simplifying it. When studios prioritize focus group feedback over the creators’ ideas, spin-off titles like Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra often cause internal disagreements.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

The popular aerial combat series Ace Combat is returning with a new installment, revealed at The Game Awards in December. This game promises a dramatic campaign within the established Strangereal universe, boasting incredibly realistic graphics thanks to custom technology and the power of Unreal Engine 5. However, without a confirmed release date, some experts and fans are concerned that Wings of Theve might not launch until 2027.

Bandai Namco hasn’t officially commented on potential delays, but based on past releases, it wouldn’t be unusual. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown faced multiple delays, ultimately launching in January 2019 – nearly two years after its initial 2017 target. These delays were due to striving for better graphics and rewriting parts of the story. Considering Wings of Theve is aiming for a complex narrative and is utilizing the latest technology, it’s possible we could see similar delays.

Marvel’s Wolverine

Insomniac Games, known for their Spider-Man games, is planning to release their new game featuring Marvel’s second most popular hero in Fall 2026. This release date will remain the same, even with the recent delay of Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto VI. The studio has repeatedly stated on social media that they are aiming for a release in the latter part of the year, no matter when Grand Theft Auto VI launches.

The constant delays and changes to the release schedule of Grand Theft Auto cause problems for many game developers, as we’ve already seen, but Sony and Insomniac Games seem confident in their plans. When the first Spider-Man game came out on PlayStation 4, it was released around the same time as Red Dead Redemption 2. Looking back, neither game overshadowed the other. However, this situation is different: while Wolverine is popular, it doesn’t have the same widespread appeal as Spider-Man. Similarly, Red Dead is well-received, but GTA is a cultural phenomenon. Sony is aware of these factors, but it’s hard to say exactly how much of an impact they’ll have.

Even though these games are different, many of the same players will likely be interested in both. If “Fall 2026” means September or October, there’s no reason Marvel’s Wolverine can’t be released as scheduled. However, if the release date is in November, Sony needs to consider whether Wolverine can succeed alongside GTA VI. November falls during the busy holiday season for major game releases, so Sony needs to be confident in its plan. If everything isn’t perfectly aligned – from marketing to distribution – they’ll likely delay Wolverine until the following year.

Please be aware that the opinions shared in this article are the author’s own and don’t reflect the official stance of GamingBolt.

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2026-01-13 15:43