There are not many upcoming projects in the gaming industry that are as widely anticipated asGrand Theft Auto 6, with fans having now waited well over a decade for a fresh installment to the massively successful Rockstar franchise. The official reveal of the project in late 2023 led to a predictable explosion of hype and discussion, with fans understandably wanting to learn more about what Rockstar has in store for the title and its modern-day portrayal of the iconic Vice City.
The anticipation surroundingGrand Theft Auto 6only grew in recent months as fans edged closer to the originally intended late-2025 release window for the game, although Rockstar recently announced a major delay for the title, which will now see its release next year. While this is bad news for hopeful fans ofGrand Theft Auto 6, the delay now leaves a big gap in the last quarter of 2025 for other releases to fill. Discussions about the rest of 2025 and things like Game of the Year were heavily tied toGTA 6before the delay, with other 2025 titles now being given a much larger chance at being crowned as the best experience of the year.
Grand Theft Auto 6’s 2026 Release Leaves 2025’s Game of the Year Wide Open
2025 has already seen the release of some excellent projects across the gaming industry, although it always seemed impossible for any other releases to escape the massive shadow ofGrand Theft Auto 6. Even before the game’s release and before a lot of its scale and content is even known,GTA 6carries a reputation that is expected to define the gaming space for many years to come. Rockstar has developed an excellent reputation over the years in terms of releasing defining projects, and withGTA 5currently holding the record for the most profitable piece of entertainment media ever made, it is clear to see why the expectations aroundGTA 6are so high.
These expectations, as well as the decade-plus wait forGrand Theft Auto 6, have made the title a guaranteed Game of the Year winner in the eyes of many, with it being difficult to see another near-future title toppling the success and cultural dominance that the Rockstar project is set to bring with it when it eventually launches. Of course, Rockstar shocked the industry recently when it announced thatGTA 6has been delayed until June 21, 2025, meaning that 2025’s Game of the Year spot is no longer an easy race.
This allows a new lens to be placed on 2025’s biggest hitters, with there being a few standout titles that could pip the top spot alongside upcoming projects that have a lot of potential. For example, February 4 saw therelease of the long-awaitedKingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which delivered one of the most detailed and engaging RPG experiences that set a new bar compared to the fan-favorite experience of its 2018 predecessor.
GTA 6’s Delay Allows For Some Healthy Competition For the Rest of 2025
More recent releases like April’s popular indie game,Blue Prince, are also now deep in contention for Game of the Year, withBlue Princeperhaps repeating the sameunderdog success as 2024’s GOTY nominee,Balatro. An even more recent release that has taken the industry by storm isClair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has received rave reviews for its unique dark fantasy setting and refined exploration. Some players are already givingClair Obscurthe nod for 2025’s Game of the Year spot, yet there are still some upcoming projects that will try to throw their hat into the ring.
Other major 2025 projects include the likes ofSplit Fiction,Monster Hunter Wilds,Civilization 7,Assassin’s Creed Shadows, andElden Ring Nightreign.
Upcoming 2025 projects include the likes ofDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach,Borderlands 4, andGhost of Yotei, with these titles having the potential to leave a serious mark on the gaming industry as the year draws to a close. While so much attention has been placed onGrand Theft Auto 6’s once-expected late 2025 launch, the game’s delay has opened up a world of opportunities and appreciation for other projects, and a much more varied shortlist of potential Game of the Year titles is now starting to form.
