The games industry hit a record $201.3 billion in software and services revenue in 2025, but the growth rate is a shadow of its pre-pandemic heyday. Publishers are hunting for the next big growth story. In this episode, Neil Barbour joins colleague and fellow gamer Eiman Hussain to list the 10 console and PC games that will shape 2026's commercial momentum and creative direction, from prestige reboots to platform-defining blockbusters.

Key topics include:

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• Why Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games / Take-Two Interactive) is the industry's gravitational center and how console price hikes could affect the post-launch hardware bump.
• Microsoft's big bet on Playground Games with both Fable and Forza Horizon 6, plus what multi-platform strategy could mean for the launch window.
• Sony's 2026 pipeline — Marathon (Bungie), Saros (Housemarque) and Wolverine (Insomniac Games) — and what separates cult prestige from true system-sellers
• Early signals on 2026's first-quarter standout, Resident Evil Requiem (Capcom)
• Dark horses and honorable mentions, such as Out of Words (Kong Orange & WireFly) riding the couch co-op wave and ZA/UM's Zero Parades for Dead Spies following in Disco Elysium's footsteps.

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For S&P Global subscribers (login required):

• Video gaming content revenue finally pushes past $200B in 2025
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Credits:

• Host: Neil Barbour
• Guest: Eiman Hussain
• Produced & Edited By: Neil Barbour
• Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun, Patrick Moroney