At 45, Pac-Man’s still got game
At 45, Pac-Man’s still got game. What’s been the chomper’s enduring impact on the video game industry?
It’s no secret that the biggest release of 2026 will be the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto 6 when it finally drops later this year but, what else is coming out in the second half of this year that gamers should also have on their radars?
I’ve combed through all the set announcements for games across all platforms — PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and PC — to see what games are still to come this year. Some are coming soon and definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re just waiting around for GTA 6 to release.
So, here are seven of the coolest video games releasing in the latter half of 2026.
Halo: Campaign Evolved
This is a faithful but more modern remake of the beloved Halo: Combat Evolved campaign. Players will experience the original story rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics and refined controls. Plus, there are three brand-new prequel missions and a broader arsenal of weapons, vehicles, enemies and gameplay-modifying “Skulls”.
Release date: July 28.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC.
Madden NFL 27
EA Sports’ Madden NFL 27 is powered by the all-new Persona Engine which transforms Franchise into a reactive, always-evolving league where every NFL athlete has a distinct, realistic personality which informs their motivations, demands and reactions. There are also more precise controls from authentic WR/DB battles, new short-yardage mechanics and more.
Release Date: Aug. 13.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.
Star Wars Zero Company
Players will find themselves in command of an elite squad through a gritty and authentic story in Star Wars Zero Company which is a single-player turn-based tactics game set in the twilight of the Clone Wars. Players will become Hawks, a former Republic officer who now leads an unconventional outfit of professionals for hire that hail from all across the galaxy.
Release Date: Aug. 27.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Marvel’s Wolverine
Made exclusively for the PS5, Marvel’s Wolverine is an action-packed adventure that delivers an all-new original story based on the legendary comic book character. Driven by his fanatical belief in human superiority, Bolivar Trask is kidnapping mutants and only Wolverine has what it takes to save them.
Release Date: Sept. 15.
Platforms: PlayStation 5.
Gears of War: E-Day
Set 14 years before the original Gears of War, players will experience the horror and brutality of Emergence Day when they join Marcus Fenish and Dominic Santiago in a gripping origin story campaign as the Locust Horde erupts from below, igniting a desperate fight for survival.
Release Date: Oct. 6.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
A young squad of South Korean soldiers fight to survive on the collapsing front lines when war erupts on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea launches a full-scale invasion. Meanwhile, half a world away, a vengeful Captain Price wages a personal war from the shadows as he stays one step head of those hunting him.
Release Date: Oct. 23.
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.
Grand Theft Auto 6
In this highly anticipated sequel, players will head to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked street of Vice City where Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across Leonida.
Release Date: Nov. 19.
Platforms: PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Meredith G. White covers entertainment, art and culture for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. She writes the latest news about video games, television and best things to do in metro Phoenix.
