The Big changes in the global gaming industry in 2025

Happy New Year! As we step into a fresh year, there’s plenty to look forward to in the world of gaming. Nintendo is gearing up to unveil the next generation of Switch consoles. Major franchises like Civilization and Assassin’s Creed are getting new installments. And in a time of turbulence, many in the industry are hoping for an end to the ongoing correction period.

But while we know some things, there are plenty of unknowns. So, let’s look into the future and take a few bold guesses about what might shape the year to come.

The interest in adult games is hot and growing, due to the creative freedom from AI technologies and individual game makers and they are releasing hundreds of free adult games in 2025.

A Slow but Steady Recovery for the Industry

The last two years have been brutal for the video game industry, with thousands of layoffs and game studios shuttering under the pressure of an over-saturated market and unrealistically high expectations. Even indie developers struggled to secure funding, and the terms were often harsh when they did. But despite the losses, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

The console market may have plateaued, but the PC gaming world is booming. Steam reached a new milestone of 39 million concurrent users in 2024, a huge leap from the previous year. The upcoming launch of the next Nintendo Switch is likely to spark a spending spree from eager early adopters, and more publishers are in acquisition mode than they were just 12 months ago. Though layoffs may continue to some extent, the industry seems poised to slowly but surely climb back.

The End of Exclusives?

A major shift is happening. Take Square Enix, for example. After releasing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as a PlayStation 5 exclusive, the company is now embracing a multi-platform strategy. Rebirth will soon launch on PC, and more cross-platform ports are likely on the horizon. Even console giants like Sony and Microsoft are beginning to release their games on rival platforms. Spider-Man 2, once exclusive to PlayStation, is now headed to PC, and Xbox’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be hitting PlayStation 5.

The math behind exclusivity just doesn’t add up anymore. Game development costs are astronomical, and the console market isn’t expanding fast enough to justify locking content to one platform. The PC market is too large to ignore, and with the rise of cloud gaming, platforms are becoming less important. This year, I predict Xbox will fully embrace multi-platform gaming, and PlayStation will inch closer to that model. The only real holdout could be Nintendo, though we’ll see how long that lasts.

Ubisoft Will Undergo Radical Change

Ubisoft is facing a critical moment. Shares have plummeted to their lowest point in a decade, and a slew of delayed titles, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows, has put the company under intense pressure. At the same time, Ubisoft is reportedly weighing its options, including the possibility of going private.

The launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows could be a turning point. If it succeeds, Ubisoft might get a bit more breathing room to figure out its future. But if it fails, expect a major shake-up — perhaps a buyout or a full-scale sale. Tencent already holds a stake in Ubisoft, and there’s speculation that Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group could swoop in for a big acquisition.

Grand Theft Auto VI Won’t Arrive This Year

The most anticipated game of all time, Grand Theft Auto VI, was slated for release in Fall 2025, according to Take-Two Interactive. But don’t get your hopes up. Rockstar Games has a reputation for perfectionism, and the pressure on them to deliver is immense. They’ve also committed to not overworking their teams in the final stretch, so the game might slip into 2026. While that’s disappointing for fans, it’s not a huge surprise.

Silksong Will Finally Arrive — and It’ll Be Worth the Wait

If you’re a gamer who hasn’t heard of Silksong, get ready. This indie darling, the follow-up to Hollow Knight, has been one of the most hyped games that never seemed to come. Initially announced in 2019, its long silence has only made the anticipation grow. But I’m calling it now — 2025 will be the year Silksong finally releases, and it’s going to sell millions. The wait will have been worth it.

Generative AI Will Fall Short of Expectations

Generative AI has been touted as a game-changer in the industry. EA CEO Andrew Wilson has even called it “the very core of our business.” But despite the hype, the results have been far from revolutionary. Tools like ChatGPT and DALL·E have had their moments, but they’ve often delivered underwhelming content that’s far from perfect.

This year, I expect a major video game company to experiment with generative AI in a high-profile way — and it will likely backfire. Whether through plagiarism, poor execution, or a failed attempt to generate truly original content, AI-powered game development is going to have an “Icarus moment,” soaring too high and crashing down. Expect some canceled projects and public backlash.

Half-Life 3 Will Be Announced (Finally)

The Half-Life franchise is the stuff of legend. After the iconic Half-Life 2 came Episode One and Episode Two, but the promised Half-Life 3 was never delivered. Then, in 2020, Half-Life: Alyx revived the series with a VR spin-off. But the rumors have been swirling: Is Half-Life 3 finally on the horizon?

I’m betting it is. The Half-Life franchise has always been a major part of gaming history, and Valve has been teasing something big for a while. So here’s my bold prediction: Half-Life 3 will be announced in 2025 — albeit two decades late. But when it arrives, it will be a defining moment in gaming.

The year ahead promises to be filled with twists, turns, and surprises. The gaming world is far from predictable, but one thing is for sure — it’s going to be a thrilling ride. Let’s see where it all goes!