2026’s Biggest Unannounced Games from Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft - Next-Gen Console Watch

This episode of NextGen Console Watch, with Ryan McAffrey filling in for Damon Hatfield and joined by Logan Plant from Nintendo Voice Chat and Jada Griffin from Podcast Beyond, delves into potential surprises and unannounced games shaping up for 2026, even with major releases like GTA 6 anticipated. Nintendo is highlighted as a significant contender for surprises, with Logan detailing recent leaks from Nate the Hate, a generally reliable source. The most prominent rumored releases for the year are a remake of *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time* for the fall holiday season and a new *Star Fox* game for the summer. Nate the Hate's track record, including accurately predicting the Nintendo Switch 2 premiere date, lends credence to these rumors, further bolstered by corroboration from VGC regarding *Zelda* and *Star Fox*. While acknowledging that leaks are not definitive until officially announced by Nintendo, Logan emphasizes Nate the Hate's high level of influence among leakers. The *Ocarina of Time* remake is particularly significant given it’s the 40th anniversary of *The Legend of Zelda*. Unlike the relatively minimal celebration for *Super Mario Bros.*' 40th anniversary, a full remake of *Ocarina of Time* would be a substantial offering. Logan expresses the belief that it's the opportune time for Nintendo to revisit this iconic title, especially since its last remake was on the 3DS 15 years ago. He suggests Monolith Soft, a frequent collaborator on recent *Zelda* titles, would be a suitable developer. Logan hopes for more than just an HD upgrade, envisioning a reimagining that incorporates elements from *Breath of the Wild*, such as non-linear progression, revamped dungeons, or even voice acting. He stresses the need for a fresh perspective on this classic, particularly as the first major remake for the Switch 2. This would mark the fourth iteration of *Ocarina of Time*, following the GameCube Master Quest, the 3DS version, and the original N64 release. Ryan and Jada echo the sentiment for a refreshed *Ocarina of Time*. Ryan, a longtime fan, fondly recalls playing the original extensively and would welcome new elements that showcase modern console capabilities. Visually, Logan desires an art style that closely mirrors the N64 original's instruction manual and box art, featuring a dark ink outline and hand-drawn aesthetic. Jada suggests going even further by adopting the look of the *Zelda* E3 presentation, believing it would satisfy long-standing fan desires. Regarding *Star Fox*, Logan notes the decade-long drought of new titles. The leak points towards a more classic *Star Fox* adventure, potentially focusing on multiplayer. This is seen as a crucial opportunity to revitalize the franchise after the underperformance of *Star Fox Zero* on the Wii U, which suffered from a small install base and a divisive control scheme. The potential for a four-player cooperative experience, with each player controlling a member of the Star Fox crew, is viewed positively. However, a significant concern is the price point. Logan argues that a $70 price for a classic on-rail shooter, typically lasting only three to four hours, would not sell well. He proposes a $40 price point to encourage wider adoption and reignite interest in the series. Shifting to PlayStation, Jada describes the current landscape as somewhat uncertain for fans, with *Wolverine* slated for September and *Soroos* on the horizon, but a broader lack of announced titles. She acknowledges the existence of great games but notes a period of scarcity for major titles, drawing a parallel to Xbox's situation several years prior. While Naughty Dog is known to be working on *Intergalactic* and Sony Santa Monica on a *God of War* remastered trilogy, details on other projects are scarce. Jada mentions missteps with games as a service and the cancellation of projects. She believes Sony is currently relying heavily on third-party support for titles like *Phantom Blade Zero* and *GTA* and *007*. A potential hint of *Uncharted 5* emerged from a developer's research trip to Trinidad and Tobago, though this remains speculative. Jada expresses excitement for *Soroos* and hopes *Wolverine* will be as impactful as *Spider-Man* was for Insomniac. She also touches upon the trend of Xbox games coming to PlayStation, mentioning *Halo*, but questions the long-term appeal of a 20-year-old title. The conversation then turns to the possibility of a new *Persona* game, with Jada suggesting a *Persona 6* announcement in the near future, especially after the success of *Persona 3 Reload*. She sees a strong demand for traditional RPGs, citing the positive reception of *Clare Obscure*. Given Persona's historical association with PlayStation consoles, Jada believes it's an opportune time for the franchise to make a significant return. On the Xbox front, Ryan notes that most of their cards have already been revealed. *State of Decay 3* is getting a community alpha playtest, suggesting it's unlikely to release this year, which aligns with Microsoft's planned releases of *Fable*, *Halo*, *Gears*, and *Forza*. A likely candidate for this year's Call of Duty game is another *Modern Warfare* title from Infinity Ward, following recent *Black Ops* entries. Other upcoming titles like *Clockwork Revolution* and Ninja Theory's next project are not expected this year. Ryan shares poll results from IGN.com, where *Fable* and *GTA 6* were the most anticipated games, followed by *Gears* and *A Clockwork Revolution*. *Judas* also garnered mentions. The show highlights a poll on IGN.com asking which classic *Zelda* game fans most want a remake of, with *Ocarina of Time*, *Wind Waker*, *Majora's Mask*, *Skyward Sword*, *Oracle of Seasons/Ages*, and *Link to the Past* as options. Logan would vote for the *Oracle* games, hoping for a remake similar to *Link's Awakening*. He suggests that if *Ocarina of Time* is remade this year, 2D *Zelda* titles could follow in the next two to three years. The episode concludes with a review of last week's poll on console launch prices, where $500-$750 and $300-$500 price ranges received the most votes, indicating a general preference for more affordable options. Finally, a promotion for the Humble April Choice bundle is presented, featuring games like *Assassin's Creed Valhalla* and *Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria*, with proceeds supporting Reverb.