WHILE 2021 could prove the turning point in the fight against Covid, the video games industry, which has reaped tremendous profits in the lockdown/work-from-home order era is expecting to keep on trucking.
Although new hardware – the Playstation 5 and the Xbox Series X – came out last year, there was a lack of ‘killer’ software with some exceptions. A major appeal was playing older games with better performance. Anticipated games were also delayed, which is an industry norm at this point.
On PC, there is nothing on the level of hype of the ultimately disappointing release of ‘Cyberpunk 2077’, but there is an appetite for something new.
Here are just a few of the games coming out in the remainder of 2021:
Resident Evil: Village (May 7)
The eight numbered game in the storied survival horror series – that has been around since 1996 – will be the second to be played in the first person, a departure from the third-person perspective of most of the series.
Set in a village as per the title, this game is sure to pack equal amounts of terror and gore. The last major title in the series to be set in a similar locale was ‘Resident Evil 4’, one of the most acclaimed games of all time, so there are big shoes to fill.
‘Resident Evil: Village’ is coming to PS5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition (May 15)
The Mass Effect trilogy (2007-2012) – despite how it concluded – was one of the most beloved series of its time. Its immediate follow-up ‘Mass Effect: Andromeda’ was not equally well received. This remastered collection hopes to remind old fans of the glory days while introducing the series to a newer generation, this time with updated 4K Ultra graphics.
For those unfamiliar, these galaxy-spanning role-playing games put the player into the role of Commander Shepard as he faces down an apocalyptic threat while juggling intergalactic politics and interpersonal relationships. There’s character customisation (you can play as male or female, with various looks) and compelling dialogue galore.
‘Mass Effect Legendary Edition’ will be released on Playstation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Halo Infinite (Fall 2021)
Originally put in place as Microsoft’s flagship title to release alongside their new Xbox, the negative public reception to its unveiling at an event last year caused the game’s release to be pushed back a year.
While the newest Halo games have generally not been as well-received as the original trilogy, Microsoft is not exactly flush with exclusive IP. Master Chief, the series protagonist is the standard-bearer for Microsoft gaming, and the success of Halo is important for the company.
Newcomers hoping to climb aboard the series can try out ‘Halo: The Master Chief Collection’ which brings together the first six titles in an updated package.
‘Halo Infinite’ will be released on PC and the Xbox Series X.
God of War: Ragnarok (late 2021)
Not much is known about the follow-up to 2018’s ‘God of War’ – the restart of the acclaimed Playstation franchise from the mid to late 2000s. After laying waste to the ancient Greek pantheon in those earlier games, god killer Kratos and his son Atreus take on Norse legends.
The bloody and satisfying combat, as well as the epic scope of some of the set-piece battles, is sure to return. This is one series where you constantly want to see how the developers can top themselves each time out.
‘God of War: Ragnarok’ is a Sony exclusive that will only come out on the Playstation 5.
Diablo 2: Resurrected (late 2021)
Announced just a couple of weeks ago at Blizzcon, this remaster comes more than 20 years after the release of the almost instantly iconic ‘Diablo 2’. A clicking frenzy inducing hack-and-slash RPG, ‘Diablo’, alongside ‘Warcraft’ and ‘Starcraft’ were some of the defining games of that era of PC gaming.
There’s an air of nostalgia that will always follow the series, which makes it extra important that Blizzard gets it right. Their last remaster – ‘Warcraft III: Reforged’ – was widely derided.
‘Diablo 2: Resurrected’ will release later this year on PC, current and next-gen consoles, as well as the Nintendo Switch.
Horizon Forbidden West (late 2021)
The sequel to 2017’s critically acclaimed and best-selling action RPG ‘Horizon Zero Dawn’, this new title from Guerrilla Games once again follows the heroine Aloy as she treks across a post-apocalyptic US rife with mechanical dinosaurs.
A Playstation exclusive that recently came out on PC, Zero Dawn was a beautiful game with a tremendous sense of atmosphere. There’s no reason the sequel won’t follow suit.
‘Horizon Forbidden West’ will be released on Playstation 4 and 5.
Battlefield 6 (late 2021)
With the failure of ‘Battlefield V’, the mainstream first-person shooter space has been dominated by ‘Call of Duty’. The success of Warzone during the lockdown has catapulted CoD to heights it hadn’t reached in years. However, increasing bugs and performance issues have raised gamers’ frustration levels.
Suffice to say, a lot is riding on ‘Battlefield 6’, even though very little is known about it. There is almost no way it can live up to that lofty expectation and it will be very difficult to live up to the legacy of Battlefields 3 and 4. But there is a hunger among shooter fans for something that can challenge CoD’s recent dominance. – The Vibes, March 2, 2021
