Grand Theft Auto 6 has received quite a few delays, and one of its previous release dates was May 26, 2026. Meaning, in an alternate timeline, millions of gamers are going into this holiday weekend looking forward to getting spicy in not-Miami on Tuesday. We’re not in that alternate timeline, and GTA6 will have to wait until November.
But that doesn’t mean summer 2026 is lacking in tentpole titles. It’s being propped up by a handful of remakes, sure, but there are still plenty of original games, like 007 First Light and Beast of Reincarnation, that are on our radar. Here are the 13 biggest games coming out this summer, ordered chronologically by confirmed release dates.
1
007 First Light
Release date: May 27
Where to play: PS5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
Hitman developer IO Interactive takes its expertise in “guy in a slick suit with a handgun” games to the world of James Bond with 007 First Light. It’s an origin story for the MI6 agent and therefore stars a much younger — and inexperienced — Bond than we’re used to. After a preview event in spring, Polygon walked away impressed with the slick stealth and action gameplay, but a bit more dubious of 007 FIrst Light’s grasp on the character.
2
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Release date: June 3
Where to play: Switch 2, Xbox Series X
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth lands on Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X this summer following the first game’s arrival in January. The port of Final Fantasy 7 Remake held up pretty well on Nintendo’s new hardware, and if you want to get an early taste of how Rebirth runs, you can now. A demo is available on Switch 2 and Xbox Series X and your progress will carry over to the full game, which continues Cloud and co.’s adventures and fight against Sephiroth.
3
Gothic Remake
Release date: June 5
Where to play: PS5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
Speaking of remakes: Gothic Remake is something RPG players should keep their eyes on, especially The Witcher 3 fans. Its developers are aiming for a faithful remake that brings the 2001 original game to the modern RPG era. Expect an immersive world with a branching storyline that finds you playing as a lifelong convict in the middle of a conflict between orcs and humans. As Polygon noted during a preview event at Gamescom last summer, Gothic Remake also has tiny dinosaurs who wear skulls on their heads, so we’re sold.
4
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
Release date: June 18
Where to play: PS5, Switch 2, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
The Adventures of Elliot is Square Enix’s latest HD-2D RPG and it’s from the teams behind the Octopath Traveler games and Live A Live. Though you might expect it to be turn-based like its genre compatriots, The Adventures of Elliot will instead feature real-time combat. (And a demo is now available for you to get a taste of it.) As Elliot, you’ll explore the land of Philabieldia (say that just one time fast) across four different time periods.
5
Star Fox
Release date: June 25
Where to play: Switch 2
With Star Fox for Switch 2, Nintendo is remaking 1993’s Star Fox for the 50th time. (OK, fifth time, but it feels like the 50th.) It’s an arcade-y rail shooter starring Fox McCloud and his fellow animal pilots. It’ll include two multiplayer modes, a co-op mode for two players and a 4v4 competitive mode.
6
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
Release date: July 9
Where to play: PS5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
Big summer for mining nostalgia for the games of yesteryear, yeah? After being rumored to be in development for what felt like decades, Ubisoft finally confirmed the Assassin’s Creed 4 remake in March. It won’t just be a prettier version of the assassin-pirate adventure; Black Flag’s traversal and combat have been rebuilt, and it’ll even have a parry system. One Polygon editor got to play a few hours of Resynced earlier in May and left thinking it could be one of the best remakes ever.
7
Beast of Reincarnation
Release date: Aug. 3
Where to play: PS5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
Pokémon developer Game Freak’s next game isn’t Pokémon Winds and Waves, but Beast of Reincarnation: an action RPG that’s closer to a Souls game than the monster-collecting series that the developer built its name on. You’ll play as a young woman in a post-apocalyptic Japan, exploring what it has to offer while fighting off monsters. It majorly features a dog companion, so we can all agree this is the game of the year, right?
8
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls
Release date: Aug. 6
Where to play: PS5, Windows PC
Invincible VS isn’t the only tag-team fighter for comic book readers this year. Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, from Dragon Ball FighterZ and Guilty Gear Strive developer Arc System Works, will be released in August. It features classic Marvel heroes like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Black Panther with new, anime-inspired designs. Unlike most other tag fighters, Marvel Tōkon will feature 4v4 bouts with your entire team sharing a health bar. You’ll unlock access to your team members over the course of a match with throws, hitting foes into another part of the stage, or losing a round.
9
Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters
Release date: Aug. 27
Where to play: PS5, Switch, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
Fighting manga and anime aren’t the only ones to get adapted into video games. Captain Tsubasa follows the young soccer player Tsubasa, who aims to eventually win the World Cup for Japan, and the manga has several games under its belt. This summer’s Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fights takes inspiration from the “World Youth” arc of the manga with input from series creator Yōichi Takahashi. With 22 teams and more than 100 characters, you’ll battle on the pitch with over-the-top soccer super moves.
Release date: Aug. 27
Where to play: PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Windows PC, Xbox Series X
The first Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection was released in 2023 and includes the first five Metal Gear games. One of those is Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, which was solidly remade by-the-book last year with Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater. Konami announced the next Master Collection volume in February, and it collects Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and Metal Gear: Ghost Babel. The collection is notable as it’ll be the first time Metal Gear Solid 4 is made readily available outside of the PlayStation 3. Master Collection Vol. 2 will include bonus content in addition to the games, like a screenplay book and digital soundtracks.
