The next few months are packed with major game releases, from GTA 6 to Control Resonant, and one reader has ranked their chances of being a smash hit or a flop. Recent previews have highlighted how stacked the schedule is, with companies releasing flagship titles within days or weeks of each other to avoid GTA 6. This makes commercial flops seem inevitable for some, while others could become awards season contenders.
Star Wars Zero Company
Turn-based strategy games have been a tough sell recently, and the Star Wars affiliation may not be enough to buck the trend. Previews have been complimentary, suggesting good review scores, and a late August release might give it distance from the September/October pile-up. However, releasing the same day as the Netflix GTA 6 preview could hurt its success. The prediction is an outside shot at a Game of the Year nomination, a dead cert for sub-category nods, and a likely half-price discount by the new year.
Verdict: Critical hit, commercial flop.
Control Resonant and Silent Hill: Townfall
Control Resonant is an easier sell than Alan Wake 2, being more action-orientated and mainstream. Yet its release date is risky: nine days after Wolverine on PlayStation 5, the same day as Silent Hill: Townfall, and one day before EA Sports FC 27. Despite a diehard fanbase for the Alan Wake/Control universe, it might be overlooked. Still, it should get very good reviews and could earn a Game of the Year nomination. It might start slow but recoup its budget over time, with a significant discount likely in the new year. Verdict: Critical hit, commercial hit (in time).
Silent Hill: Townfall releases the same day as Control Resonant, and there may be overlap between fans of both horror-adjacent titles. The Silent Hill franchise is more well-known, and with horror survival games in short supply, it could turn a profit quicker than Control. Halloween being close to release helps. Given Silent Hill's recent roll, Townfall is predicted to continue the trend. Verdict: Commercial and critical hit.
Marvel's Wolverine and Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Marvel's Wolverine is a surefire hit on paper, being the biggest Sony exclusive of the year and from Insomniac, who had success with Spider-Man. However, Spider-Man has more mainstream appeal across age demographics, given Wolverine's gore and violence. Marvel games other than Spider-Man haven't fared well. Wolverine should do well but may struggle to match Spider-Man's heights, with a possible discount early next year. Critically, it might hit low to mid 80s on Metacritic, not a failure but perhaps below expectations. Verdict: Commercial and critical hit, but perhaps not at the expected level.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is the hardest to predict. The Star Wars franchise isn't in the best shape, though recent games have been an exception. It releases at a busy time, weeks before Call Of Duty and after EA Sports FC. Big budget racing games are rare, so petrolheads might show support. It's impressive so far and should do well with critics, though Forza Horizon 6 may retain its crown as best reviewed racer. Prediction: a solid 88 Metacritic score. Verdict: Critical hit and commercial hit, though with less confidence.
Grand Theft Auto 6
GTA 6 will be a massive commercial and critical success, but the extent is unclear. Whether it outsells GTA 5 or ranks among the best-selling games of all time won't be known for years. Community reception could be interesting, with possible review bombing over unpopular decisions like the Netflix deal and digital-only release. Some fans will treat even mild criticism as treason. No matter how good it is, it can't live up to the hype. Prediction: a 94 on Metacritic and a sweep at awards season. Verdict: Biggest commercial and critical hit of the year.
These are predictions on which games might flop and what the critical consensus could be. If correct, the reader may be hailed as a video game Nostradamus; if not, the opinions may be met with scorn in the comments.
