Overwatch Devs Confirm That Yes, Tracer Is Still The Game’s Mascot

You heard it here first, folks: Tracer is still the face of Overwatch, despite not being featured in many major collaborations or promotional materials as of late.

We got the chance to sit down with the minds behind Overwatch at Blizzcon 2026 to discuss the game’s newest support hero, Doctrine, and the future of the franchise — as well as grill them about Tracer’s role as its supposed mascot.

When you think about Overwatch, you probably think of Tracer. She was essentially the star of the show when the game first launched in 2016, and was consistently featured in marketing materials, merchandise, advertisements, and more. Her iconic silhouette and speedy abilities were inescapable back then… but now, not so much.

We directly asked Overwatch’s Lead Hero Producer Kenny Hudson, as well as art director Dion Rogers, if Tracer is still the mascot of the game — or if she was ever really considered its mascot, at all.

Their answer was firm and decisive: Tracer is, and always was, the mascot of Overwatch.

“Tracer is still the mascot for Overwatch. Very much. ‘Tracer orange’ is a quote that the team uses all the time. The little cheeto on top of the sigil is orange. She’s still that girl,” Rogers told us.

Overwatch just got a brand-new support hero in Doctrine, a vampire-inspired character who has a long history with Doomfist. No, he’s not an actual vampire, but that motif was a key part of his design from the very beginning, says Rogers.

“The idea came from our lead narrative designer, Miranda Moyer, who actually asked the question of, ‘What would a vampire look like in the Overwatch universe?’ We always do our best work on heroes when we get a really cool theme to rally around, and ‘vampire’ just got the brain juices flowing on everything from kit, to concept, to art,” he explained.

“This one was fun, because with Hero 54, we’ve hit all the archetypes like cowboy, knight, ninja. Once we thought about the vampire, we were like, ‘Yeah, let’s lean into it and see if we can make a hero out of this,’” Hudson added.

“He’s still a scientist or a mechanical engineer, even his cape still feels like a lab coat from the sciency part of him. …we started him off as a scientist, a typical guy, lab coat, glasses. Sometimes it takes a team saying when they see an image, ‘That’s the hero.’ He didn’t quite feel like it yet. But we took the vampire thing that Miranda mentioned, we applied that, and he actually started to feel like a hero. You can see a theme, you can see a fantasy, you can see an archetype. Making him hail from Zimbabwe, Africa, gives him that immediate heritage and connection to Doomfist. He worked for Doomfist’s family at some point in his life, and helped build arms for Doomfist, so it made sense that he would reach out to him to get his arm back.”

Doctrine is the nearly the last of 10 characters who have come to Overwatch this year. With so much content dropping into the game in 2026, we had to ask about what peaks are left for Overwatch to climb, and what’s in the pipeline next.

“There’s always room for more heroes,” Rogers said. “There’s a lot more we’re cooking.”

“It’s not so much about hitting the targets we’ve already hit, but setting new ones and seeing where we can take it,” Hudson added. “We’re really excited with all the team has learned over the last couple of years to be able to really push ourselves into new territory and evolve in new, interesting ways.”

Doctrine was one of several massive announcements shown off at Blizzcon this year, and there's still more to come; Hero 55 was also teased this weekend, and he's a suave-looking Omnic who fans are already itching to play. You can out our recap blog for full breakdown of everything revealed, as well as our interview with the team behind the upcoming StarCraft open-world shooter coming in 2030.

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World of Warcraft: Forever Devs Explain Why the Game Makes WoW 2 Unlikely

World of Warcraft: Forever, a Classic+ iteration of the long-running franchise that lets players return to an updated vanilla Azeroth featuring new zones, dungeons, raids, and more, was announced at yesterday’s BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony. And now, the game’s developers are revealing why they think the new take on the classic game (along with the numerous other WoW updates announced yesterday) renders the long-speculated World of Warcraft 2 unnecessary.

I sat down with Kris Zierhut, World of Warcraft: Forever’s Principal Designer, and Mike Nuthals, the game’s Lead Encounter Designer, immediately following yesterday’s announcement to break down the game’s many new features and to discuss why they think it’s even better than any potential WoW sequel.

“I think one of the things that's singularly great about WoW is we have this game and this world and this design that has been continuously developed for the last 25 years,” Zierhut says. “And we keep making it better. We made the graphics better, we made the rendering better, we made the lighting better; all that new stuff we showed on stage today.

“But we've also made the way the engine draws things move more efficiently. The way the server runs, handling players and moving them around, and all the things that handle spells and combat, all of that's been made more efficient and better over the years. We have this incredible engine and server infrastructure driving the game that is second to none. Why would you throw that away and start over?”

Zierhut went on to say that, in addition to the technical advancements in World of Warcraft: Forever, the team is still invested in building the story of the current WoW universe.

“It’s not like there's something wrong with the story,” Zierhut says. “We love the story. So going back to the beginning [with World of Warcraft: Forever], there's a chance to explore that story in new and different ways. So it's really hard to say, ‘Well, what would a WoW 2 give you that World of Warcraft: Forever isn't already giving you?’”

As revealed on stage yesterday, World of Warcraft: Forever won’t merely be a rehashed update of the original. In addition to “updated world visuals and lighting,” the game will feature 10 and 20-player raids, more than 1,000 new quests, new race and class combos, a new Skyborne race, and more. Nuthals and Zierhut say there are a few key features they’re most eager for fans to experience.

“I'm so excited for our players to uncover all of our new items,” Nuthals says. “All of the dungeons and raids have had an itemization pass. There's so much new to explore. I'm really anxious for our players to get in there and explore the world, find all the cool little nooks and crannies, find their really cool loot and just have a great time.

[And] the thing I think I'm most excited about with our raids are the raid sizes. We're going to have Barrow Deeps which will be our 10-player raid. We're going to have the Hyjal Summit, which will be 20, and then Onyxia will be 40. I think the thing that gets me most excited about that is getting folks to find social groups and friends to fill those groups up.”

World of Warcraft: Forever's New Camping Feature Explained

“The thing I'm most excited about is the camping feature,” Zierhut says. “So you may remember in World of Warcraft in the past, you could put down a cooking fire and you could sit and cook your food. The cooking fire has now become the basic campfire. And while you're sitting there waiting, because you have to sit there for a minute, another player [could walk] by and they add to it. And now you are [all] there and you’ve got to wait a minute you're like, ‘Hey, what quest are you working on? Oh, we’re working on the same quest. Hey, how about we group up?’ And that's the moment the friendships, relationships, and guilds are born. And I'm really excited about what that's going to do for our game.”

While World of Warcraft: Forever will include many new updates for players to explore, Zierhut and Nuthals say it won’t stray too far from what players love about the original.

“We're not going to make massive changes to the lore,” Zierhut says. “We're not going to change the way the world feels, but we can maybe have a slightly different sequence of what's happening. It doesn't contradict what was in Classic, but it's a little bit different. So we have room for a slightly different story. Nobody has to worry about problems with the timeline.”

“Our pillars are very universal, core to the experience of playing Classic WoW,” Nuthals says. “That’s always what we're thinking of in the back of our head. It's exhilarating to see what our players are going to do when they get into it and play it.”

World of Warcraft: Forever launches November 4.

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Next StarCraft Game Announced at BlizzCon as an Open-World Shooter, but It’s Not Due Out Until 2030

It’s been over 15 years since Blizzard’s beloved real-time strategy game, StarCraft 2, came out. Now, a new game in the series has been announced — but it’s still years away.

Revealed at BlizzCon 2026, the simply named StarCraft is the next title in the sci-fi franchise, and it’s going to look markedly different from its predecessors.

In fact, it’s a completely different genre. StarCraft is an open-world shooter, and it’s due out in 2030. While this distant launch window makes it hard to get too excited about StarCraft just yet, Blizzard has a history of announcing games far before they're ready for the public to play. In fact, it’s something the company behind Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch is notorious for doing, historically touting the mantra: “It’ll be ready when it’s ready.”

The announcement of a new StarCraft game was expected at BlizzCon, after the official StarCraft website became rife with visual ‘glitches,’ and issued a ‘warning’ telling users their device has been “compromised.” Fans took this to mean that a big update for the franchise was on the horizon, and they were right.

Indeed, rumors of a StarCraft shooter had been circling for years. In 2024, Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier told IGN’s Podcast Unlocked about Blizzard’s third attempt at developing a StarCraft shooter with former Far Cry executive producer Dan Hay, who joined Blizzard in 2022, leading the charge. Then, later in 2024, a job posting was listed for an ‘upcoming open-world shooter’ that fans were certain was tied to this StarCraft game.

Blizzard has had a tough time developing StarCraft shooters over the years. StarCraft Ghost, announced in 2002, was going to be a tactical-action console game in which you played as a deadly Ghost operative in the employ of the Dominion, but it was canceled in 2006 after a series of delays.

A second attempt to make a StarCraft shooter, codenamed Ares, was canceled in 2019 so Blizzard could focus on Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2. Ares was reportedly “like Battlefield in the StarCraft universe,” but, like Ghost, fell by the wayside.

Now, it’s a case of third time lucky for Blizzard with this new StarCraft shooter in development. Check out everything announced at BlizzCon 2026 for all the news from across Blizzard.

Developing…

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Borderlands 4 DLC Character and Free-to-Play Weekend Attract Resurgence on Steam

Borderlands 4 is climbing Steam charts as players fall head over heels for its new DLC character – a Vault Hunter named Loveless the Hacker.

Gearbox Software's latest Borderlands game struggled in the months following its September 2025 launch. Despite delivering the looter shooter series' biggest launch ever, technical issues across PC and console, as well as Gearbox's handling of the situation, were immediately followed by a steep decline in players, with SteamDB recording numbers that have struggled to break 10,000 concurrent users since January of this year.

Borderlands 4 might have launched to generally favorable reviews (IGN gave it an 8/10), but it's struggled to recapture player interest – until now. Friday, September 10, saw the release of Loveless the Hacker, a DLC character with high-end cybernetics. She's only a small part of a grander Story Pack 2 release, and she seems to be giving the game a second wind.

"Two minds exist inside Loveless, forming a synchronized set of lethal skills that strike as one," a description for Loveless says. "Through a symbiotic melding of the biological and digital, this ex-Anshin hacker-turned-assassin has become a superior lifeform. Equipped with the highest-end cybernetics, Loveless shares her psyche with a digital virus of her own creation, which can digistruct into a physical Wyrm form to act as a deadly extension of her shared, perfection-seeking will."

At the time of this story's publication, Borderlands 4 is enjoying around 26,000 concurrent players on Steam alone. That's the most it's had since November 2025, and far higher than the 17,000-player peak it reached with the launch of Story Pack 1 in March. The base game has also now managed to round out the Top 5 sellers on Steam in the U.S., and it's even come in at nine in the Top 10 global list.

Player counts also appear to be climbing even further, with those in its Steam reviews section specifically calling attention to Loveless as the reason they've decided to return to the planet Kairos. Many refer to voice acting from actress Carin Gilfry as a specific positive, but you can probably guess what a lot of the others had to say.

"Bought the game solely because of Loveless," one review said. "This is how you market."

Bro she’s so bad

Loveless? But girl I LOVE YOU pic.twitter.com/ASqXkrZhhX

— Ccrypto (@Ccrypto5) September 3, 2026

"Actually a nice character," a popular review said. "Looks good, good design, is insanely OP (can solo bosses without any help). But her alternate heads are a bit -- meh. And she costs $9.99. The VA put some effort into it though. Overall – I think she fits."

"Letting me buy the Vault Hunter without having to by the DLC story pack is the correct call," another fan said, referencing Loveless' $10 asking price compared to the recently released Story Pack 2 expansion. "Glad they learned. Also, step on me Mommy."

There are a number of factors contributing to Borderlands 4's boost in players on Steam, specifically. In addition to Loveless' status as a popular addition, Story Pack 2: FL4K and the Last Resort has also helped. There's also the fact that Gearbox is in the middle of a 50% off sale, bringing its price to $34.99 in the midst of a free-to-play weekend that runs until September 14.

It's unclear if the numbers will stick, but it seems to be a winning weekend for Borderlands 4 nonetheless. For more, you can read about what parent company Take-Two had to say about Gearbox's latest as it heads into its second year on the market. You can also read about how Saber took a dig at Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford.

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Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Games: Release Dates for 2026 and Beyond

We now have our hands on the Nintendo Switch 2, a new console from one of the biggest names in gaming. Alas, a new console is only as valuable as the library of games you can build on it.

Thankfully, Nintendo hasn't been shy about planned releases over the next year. In the second half of 2026, we'll be getting our hands on a mix of Switch 2 exclusives, third-party releases, and the benefit of backward compatibility with any games still launching on the original Switch. Without further ado, here are all of the new Switch 2 games we can look forward to in 2026 and beyond.

All Upcoming Switch 2 Games With Release Dates

* indicates a Switch 2 exclusive

RuneScape: Dragonwilds (September 15, 2026)

RuneScape got a bit of a makeover with this new open world crafting and survival game that was initially released last year, and is finally coming to Switch 2 this fall.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (September 17, 2026)*

We finally have a release date for the next game in the Fire Emblem series, which already happens to be available to preorder. Here’s a snippet of what to expect from the official Nintendo listing: “Worthy fighters from all over the land have come to Dagsion, the capital city of the Dagdan Empire, to compete in the Heroic Games for the chance to win one wish. Among the combatants are four heroes tied to the fate of the world.” You can learn more about how the game balances those four heroes in our hands-on preview.

Trine 6: Together in Time (September 17, 2026)

If you’re looking for a cozy platformer you can play with a friend, Trine 6 might have you covered. The latest side-scrolling sequel from FrozenByte is designed with co-op in mind, so you can test your friendship on movement combos and puzzles.

Another Eden Begins (September 17, 2026)

From Masato Kato, the writer behind Chrono Trigger, comes Another Eden Begins, a completely fresh RPG that takes you on a journey across the past, present, and future. Recruit companions from a roster of 18 characters to help you take down the Beast King and find your sister. This one’s got a whopping 10 endings on the menu, though I’m sure some of those are reserved for New Game+.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (September 18, 2026)

The latest LEGO game finally has a Switch 2 release date. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is truly next level. It blends and parodies classic Batman moments from across all iterations of the caped crusader while also offering a pretty massive plastic version of Arkham to play around in. Even the combat is pretty elaborate, with inspiration from the Arkham games courtesy of development support from Rocksteady Studios.

SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance (September 24, 2026)

SEGA brought back its Shinobi series with the action platformer Art of Vengeance in 2025. We called the new release “a genuinely engaging 2D action platformer that’s beautiful to behold and even better to play” in our review, and it’ll be getting a Switch 2 port later this year.

Minecraft Dungeons II (September 29, 2026)

We called the first Minecraft Dungeons game a “fun dungeon crawler with a simple but tried-and-true set of systems.” The sequel, developed by Mojang and published by Xbox, will be launching across platforms, including Switch 2, this September. Like the first game, the block-based dungeon crawler will support both local and online multiplayer.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered (September 29, 2026)

After announcing The Witcher 4, which is reportedly targeting a 2028 release, CD Projekt Red also announced a massive remaster of its 2015 masterpiece, The Witcher 3. The remaster is free for anyone who already owns the game on PC or any console, including a free Switch 2 upgrade coming later this month.

007 First Light (September 30, 2026)

Yet another massive multi-platform release, IO Interactive's take on James Bond is launching on Switch 2 several months after its initial release on PC, PS5, and Xbox in late May. The game lets you play out Bond's initial recruitment and rise in the MI6 ranks, featuring Patrick Gibson as the titular spy and Lenny Kravitz as the villain Bawma.

Octopath Traveler I & II - Switch 2 Editions (October 1, 2026)

Following the release of Octopath Traveler 0, Square Enix is releasing fresh Switch 2 editions of the original two games that defined the HD-2D style. We were big fans of both, for what it’s worth, with IGN’s Seth Macy praising how the first game “pushes JRPGs forward rather than simply paying homage to the greats” in his 9/10 review.

Rayman Legends Retold (October 1, 2026)

Remakes truly are all the rage right now. This one is a 3D reimagining of 2013’s Rayman Legends, which we called a “work of platforming genius” in our original 9.5/10 review.

Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] (October 8, 2026)

The Switch 2 will be getting fresh editions of existing Kingdom Hearts games, which will replace the existing ‘Cloud streaming’ versions that were available on the Switch. Those Cloud versions were notoriously… not great, so here’s to hoping this gives everyone a better shot at the series ahead of Kingdom Hearts 4. The three collections will be available individually or as one big bundle.

Hell is Us (October 8, 2026)

Hell is Us, from studio Rogue Factor, was originally released almost exactly year ago. In the words of our review, the game “has a blend of exploration, puzzles, and combat that, while familiar, pushes you to really pay attention to the world around you in a way that’s both compelling and occasionally frustrating."

Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen (October 9, 2026)

Capcom’s RPG sequel is getting a new ‘Dark Arisen’ edition with fresh content and QOL improvements as it launches on the Switch 2. Jarrett Green reviewed the game for IGN when it was first released on PC, saying that it’s more than anything “a retelling and reimplementation of… wonderful ideas from the 2012 cult-classic.”

The Witch’s Bakery (October 14, 2026)

For the cozy gamers, The Witch’s Bakery places you in control of Lunne, a young witch who’s opening a new bakery in Paris. In the vein of something like Dave the Diver, each in-game day is split into multiple phases of managing your bakery and exploring the town while also using your magic to help your friends.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse (October 15, 2026)

The first 2D Castlevania game in almost 20 years narratively follows Castlevania 3: Dracula’s Curse, taking place a little over decade after that one’s story (which also serves as inspiration for the animated Netflix series). Mitchell Saltzman got the chance to preview the game for IGN, with particular praise for the combat, saying there’s “plenty of room to carve out your own personal playstyle thanks to the variety of weapons, Arcana, and relics.”

Tales of Eternia Remastered (October 16, 2026)

Tales of Eternia is getting a remake and returning to its original title. Previously localized as Tales of Destiny II in North America, Eternia was first released for the PS2 back in the 2000 as the third game in Namco’s Tales series.

Nintendo Switch Sports: Resort (October 22, 2026)*

In the tradition of what I consider some all-time greats, Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort, Nintendo recently announced Nintendo Switch Sports: Resort. The Switch 2 exclusive will feature 12 sports, a mix of classics like bowling and tennis as well as new sports like thumb wrestling, that use a combination of the Switch 2’s motion and mouse controls.

Final Fantasy Resonance (October 22, 2026)

This new Final Fantasy game technically adapts the FF mobile game Brave Exvius that was discontinued in 2025. More notably, however, it’s the first Final Fantasy game to embrace the new HD-2D graphics system popularized by modern classics like Octopath Traveler.

IGN’s own Michael Higham got the chance to check out the first couple of hours of gameplay, so you can learn more about how this one blends new and old Final Fantasy traditions in our hands-on preview.

One Piece: Grand Gourmet (October 23, 2026)

Yep, it’s a One Piece cooking game. This one feels like a real throwback to the glory days of Flash games, which I deeply appreciate. The management sim puts you in charge of a restaurant, going on expeditions to acquire new ingredients and recipes while encountering over 400 characters from one of the greatest manga (and anime) series of all time.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (October 23, 2026)

Yep, it’s that time of year. For the next CoD release, Activision is following up the return to Black Ops by bringing us back to the Modern Warfare series. Yep, that means the return of iconic characters like Ghost. It’s not all nostalgia, though, with plenty of new additions like an extraction game mode called DMZ. You can learn more about what to expect from the shooter sequel in our interview with Infinity Ward.

Check out what’s included in the “physical” copies of Modern Warfare 4 for Switch 2

ANOMALITH (October 28, 2026)

This third-person action shooter puts you in control of 17-year-old Reona Minazuki, a professional ‘Diver’ that explores deadly ‘Anomaly Zones’ for the government while searching for her lost friend. The Steam listing offers the rather interesting description that the game is “steeped in the atmosphere of liminal spaces and Showa-era retro aesthetics.”

Hello Kitty Party Land (October 29, 2026)

Not too long after we got our hands on Hello Kitty Island Adventure, the iconic Sanrio character is returning for yet another cute and cozy game. This one is a party game in the tradition of classics like Mario Party, featuring more than 40 minigames and over 140 Sanrio characters.

Steins;Gate Re:Boot (October 29, 2026)

If you’re familiar with Steins;Gate, potentially one of the most acclaimed anime of all time, you might be aware that it’s actually based on a visual novel dating back to 2009. That visual novel is getting the good old remake treatment, which will include the addition of new endings.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time* (November 5, 2026)

Now this is a big one. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was announced earlier this year before getting an entire Nintendo Direct dedicated to it, showing off revamped graphics, gameplay, and camera controls. The Switch 2 exclusive still seeks to retain the magic of the original, including some funky character designs.

The Ocarina of Time remake is now up for preorder alongside a spread of Zelda-themed Switch 2 accessories.

Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Dandori Academy (November 12, 2026)

Pikmin 4 originally launched on the Switch back in 2023, and we were pretty big fans. Jada Griffin praised “all-new features like ability upgrades, a pair of new Pikmin, and our loyal sidekick Oatchi” in her 9/10 review. Like previous Switch 2 editions, it’ll be coming to the newer console with a fresh expansion: Dandori Academy.
Metaphor Re:Fantazio (November 12, 2026)

This new IP from Atlus, best known for the SMT and Persona series, features similar mechanics around turn-based combat and social links. Instead of playing as a high schooler, though, you take on the role of Will, a young man who seeks to bring justice to a fantasy world facing its first version of an election. We gave the game a solid 9/10 when it first dropped on PC, and it even landed as our top RPG of 2024.

Barbie Rewind (November 12, 2026)

This collection will come with 16 classic Barbie games that were originally released between 1991 and 2007, as well as one unreleased game, Barbie: Vacation Adventure. Funnily enough, this happens to be one of the only games daring enough to announce a release date in the November crossfires of GTA 6.

The Binding of Isaac: Repentance+ (November 19, 2026)

The rogue-like classic we called “non-stop fun” is making its way to Switch 2 with a fully packed Repentance+ edition, which includes all released expansions.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (December 3, 2026)

In the lead-up to Xenoblade Genesis, an entirely new game in DADSS’s iconic RPG series, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is getting the Switch 2 edition treatment. The port will also be available as a digital upgrade pack for anyone who already owns the game. IGN’s reviewer tackled the 150-hour campaign, which he considered worth the time for “great characters and addictive tactical combat.”

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World (December 3, 2026)

A new addition to the monster-taming Dragon Quest spin-off series is coming to Switch 2 this December. The RPG will star two protagonists, Bianca and Nera, who are trying to find a cure for their fathers. The girls end up in the Kingdom of Witherwood, where you can catch, train, and battle with some adorable monsters.

Monster Hunter Wilds (December 4, 2026)

We said the latest mainline Monster Hunter game features “some extremely fun fights,” and the boss-focused action game is getting a Switch 2 port this Winter. The upcoming expansion Ascendance will also be making its way to the Switch 2 at some point next year.

Professor Layton and The New World of Steam (December 10, 2026)

The next puzzle-focused Professor Layton game from Level-5 finally has a release date. The story takes place around one year after the events of Unwound Future, taking the professor and Luke to the steampunk-inspired town of Steam Bison. This will be the first Professor Layton game to launch on PlayStation and PC.

Danganronpa 2x2 (January 14, 2027)

Danganronpa is coming back. This upcoming visual novel combines a remake of Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair with a new game mode, Slayhem, which features the same characters but with new scenarios for you to help solve.

Metroid Ravenous (January 28, 2027)

Following up on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, MercurySteam has announced a new 2D side-scroller starring the iconic Samus. The game is seemingly a follow-up to Metroid Dread, which we said merges “legendary exploration and progression” with “excellent modern combat and some of the best boss fights ever," in our original 9/10 review.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (February 12, 2027)

Crystal Dynamics is remaking Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis from the ground up, and the new version of Lara Croft’s debut adventure will be playable on Switch 2 at launch. You can learn more about what's changed from the original 1996 game in our hands-on preview.

Yu-Gi-Oh! TAG FORCE GX (February 16, 2027)

For folks who prefer battling with decks, this remake of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX TAG FORCE 3 will feature modern visuals, enhanced Dueling, and nostalgic cards from the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime era.

Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United (February 16, 2027)

This turn-based JRPG originally launched on the Super Famicom all the way back in 1995. Now, 30 years later, Square Enix has announced a 3D remake that will include new gameplay and full voice-acting.

Eternal Anima (March 4, 2027)

This entirely new game from studio Marvelous is being pitched as a “love letter to JRPGs,” featuring some classic turn-based combat and tons of classes and abilities. The game will also feature some good ol’ time travel as well as a unique “Future Sight” mechanic.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation (April 8, 2027)

We officially have a release date for the third and final part of Square Enix’s FF7 remake. Titled Revelation, the final arc of the trilogy will pick up immediately after Rebirth, with Cloud and co. working to stop Sephiroth. Aside from the continued revamped graphics, the third remake will introduce even more battle customization. Square Enix has also confirmed that the game will receive two new expansions: Story DLC 1: Sephiroth and Story DLC 2: Vincent & the Turks.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation is already up for preorder with a spread of editions available for PC, Xbox, PS5, and Switch 2.

Persona 4 Revival (May 20, 2027)

Before we get our hands on Persona 6, Atlus is dropping yet another remake in its iconic Persona series. Persona 4 will be getting a similar treatment to what we saw with Persona 5 Royal and Persona 3 Reload, with remastered graphics, refined turn-based combat, and, potentially, additional storylines and social links.

Upcoming Switch 2 Games With Unknown Release Dates

There are plenty more Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 games in development that don’t have a solid release date yet. Here are some more games we know are on the way, including the highly-anticipated 10th generation of Pokémon:

• Turok Origins - Fall 2026
• The Eternal Life of Goldman - 2026
• Witchbrook - 2026
• The Duskbloods- 2026
• Valheim - 2026
• Stellar Blade - 2026
• Kirby and the World Beyond - Spring 2027
• Mega Man: Dual Override - Spring 2027
• Pokémon Winds - 2027
• Pokémon Waves - 2027
• Xenoblade Genesis - 2027
• Kingdom Hearts IV - Late 2027
• LEGO Skylines - 2027
• Resident Evil Veronica - 2027
• Metal Slug Ultimate Collection - 2027
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Royal Edition - 2027
• Haunted Chocolatier - TBA
• Persona 6 - TBA

Looking for specific recommendations? Check out our top-reviewed Switch 2 games so far

Blythe (she/her) is an Audience Development Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.

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Professor Layton and the Curious Village Remake Announced, Coming to Multiple Platforms in 2027

A Professor Layton and the Curious Village remake has been announced by series developer Level-5.

Revealed today during the Level-5 Vision 2026 Showcase, this fresh version of the classic puzzle game will arrive at some point in 2027 for Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PC via Steam and PlayStation 5.

A press release notes that the remake's characters have been reimagined in 3D, while the world of St. Mystere has been made more immersive with greater depth and richer detail. Professor Layton and the Curious Village's animated cutscenes have also been given a lick of paint, with higher resolution and widescreen formatting.

🆕 Annonce – Professeur Layton et l’étrange village Remake sortira sur Nintendo Switch 2 et Nintendo Switch en 2027, découvrez la première bande-annonce du jeu. pic.twitter.com/cuhbyIpMbH

— NintendHOME – News & Opinions Nintendo (@NintendHOME) September 10, 2026

Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of Professor Layton and the Curious Village's original release back on Nintendo DS, kickstarting a series that now extends to two trilogies of games featuring Professor Hershel Layton and his apprentice Luke Triton, plus further spinoffs and a memorable crossover with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.

An all-new Professor Layton game is also on the way, of course: Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, which is set to launch for Switch, Switch, PC and PS5 on December 10.

Will further remakes follow? That may depend on how well Professor Layton and the Curious Village performs. But for anyone wanting to see how the series started on modern hardware, this remake may end up well worth a look.

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Kirby and the World Beyond Revealed With Gameplay Ahead of Spring 2027 Nintendo Switch 2 Launch

Nintendo has revealed Kirby and the World Beyond with a first-look gameplay trailer ahead of its launch on Nintendo Switch 2.

In what will almost surely come as a surprise to Super Smash Bros., Nintendogs, and even Kirby fans everywhere, everyone’s favorite powerful pink hero closed out today’s September 2026 Nintendo Direct. This first look at Kirby and the World Beyond came with an early look at gameplay, showing that, per usual, Kirby will be able to use his copy abilities to slay foes.

This looks like a much more open adventure than Nintendo has offered in the past. In fact, Kirby and the World Beyond might be Kirby’s most open experience yet when it launches for Nintendo Switch 2 spring 2027.

"A new 3D adventure is on the horizon for Kirby!" Nintendo confirmed in a press release. "Freely explore an expansive world and put Kirby’s Copy Abilities to creative use as you uncover what awaits in Kirby and the World Beyond."

As noted during the Direct, Kirby and the World Beyond's spring 2027 launch for Switch 2 just so happens to coincide with the franchise's 35th anniversary. Nintendo's Yoshiaki Koizumi promised that more details on this front will be shared "in the future."

It's been a while since we got a proper new Kirby game. Aside from spinoffs like 2025's Kirby Air Riders and reimaginings like 2023's Kirby's Return to Dreamland Deluxe, the last mainline installment in the classic Nintendo franchise arrived with Kirby and the Forgotten Realm when it launched for the original Switch in early 2022.

With a fresh look at a new, more open world and refreshed copy-ability gameplay, fans have already begun to imagine how this next new game will take the series forward. Part of that has seen some drawing comparisons between Kirby's world-hopping antics and Jim Carrey's 1998 film, The Truman Show.

They put Kirby in the Truman show pic.twitter.com/y06tfl8CBH

— Gazun 💮 (@Gazungamer) September 9, 2026

kirby and the world beyond pic.twitter.com/OeLExIjtTL

— zac (@TNiZac13) September 9, 2026

It sounds like there are big plans in store for Kirby, but we'll have to wait to see what's in store. Until there's more to share about Kirby and the World Beyond, you can check out IGN's 7/10 review for the Kirby and the Forgotten Land Star-Crossed World re-release.

In case you forgot, this is Nintendo’s second Direct of the week. For everything announced during yesterday’s Zelda Direct, click here. For everything announced during today’s Direct, click here.

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