With increasing talk about what the next generation of gaming platforms will look like, the PS6 and next Xbox seem headed for a fall 2027 launch at the earliest, though they may be delayed. If that’s the case, the current generation would be one of the longest to date, but many players still believe even 2027 is too soon for a change. Given today’s longer development times, players are lucky to get even one AAA game from leading studios like Rockstar, Naughty Dog, or CD Projekt Red in an entire console generation.
The 10 Greatest Epic Video Game Masterpieces To Play Right Now, Ranked
If you somehow missed out on any of the games below, 2026 should be the year that you finally experience their greatness.
Presuming the next console generation indeed starts in 2027, what might it look like, and how different will games in a couple of years be from today’s biggest releases? How significant a graphical leap can players expect? To answer, we’ll look at open-world RPGs slated to release no earlier than 2027, and that are big enough to define the next console generation. Many titles below have scarce details and may lack official names, perhaps being teased too early, but they still promise a stellar gaming experience.
Remember, all the info we have so far is from “work in progress” titles, and everything from names to release windows may change significantly over the years.
Click or tap on the games that match the category
The Witcher 4
Very Big Shoes To Fill
With The Witcher 4 officially not coming out in 2026, the game will mark CDPR’s biggest gap between releases so far. It most definitely won’t skip the current generation, but it has the potential to become one of the biggest cross-gen titles, perhaps with some changes tailored for upcoming consoles. Developed in Unreal Engine 5, The Witcher 4 promises a game world comparable in scope to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, aiming to push realism and reactivity to new levels.
So far, only a tech demo has been shown, which looks undeniably spectacular but still doesn’t reflect how the final game will look and feel. Despite that, the stakes are high, yet so is the trust in the developers after their impressive Cyberpunk 2077 redemption arc. It’s also worth noting that, for some reason, not every player is fond of playing as Ciri in The Witcher 4, still associating the series only with Geralt of Rivia. It’ll be interesting to see whether Ciri can eventually win over the skeptics in the final game.
The Elder Scrolls 6
Coming When It’s Ready
Where do we even start with this one? Todd Howard officially announced The Elder Scrolls 6 all the way back in 2018, repeatedly admitting that, in hindsight, it wasn’t the best decision, but the studio was under constant pressure from fans asking about the sequel to Skyrim. Well, things haven’t changed much. With little to no new details about TES6 in over seven years, fans are still asking one question: when is The Elder Scrolls 6 coming?
The Biggest Upcoming Western RPGs
The RPG scene is about to be enriched by these promising games, each of which is looking to shake up the genre in exciting ways.
It’s clear that The Elder Scrolls 6 is still pretty far away, with Bethesda’s latest game, Starfield, released in 2023 after eight long years of development. With all that in mind, TES6 may skip the current generation entirely, being created “for growth” and targeting future hardware specs. Given how Bethesda pushes for grander scope and more gameplay possibilities with each new game, The Elder Scrolls 6 will likely stick to this paradigm as well. Of course, everything about the game is mere speculation at this point, as the devs haven’t officially confirmed the setting (though it’s believed to be Hammerfell). However, it’s undeniable that TES6 is among the most anticipated games ever, up there with Grand Theft Auto 6, so no pressure here.
Light No Fire
Small Team, Big Ambitions
Depending on the perspective, Light No Fire is both a smaller and bigger game than anything else on this list. No Man’s Sky developer Hello Games revealed that very few people have been working on it so far, despite its promised massive scope. Light No Fire aims to deliver a detailed game world the size of our planet, brimming with adventure, deep lore, places to see, and things to do, all alongside friends or strangers online. It instantly sounds like a dream game for many, but can the devs actually pull it off?
With years of No Man’s Sky updates adding new features to its repertoire, Light No Fire seems to be in capable hands, but it’s better to stay patient. As the team inevitably expands and the studio learns from the No Man’s Sky launch, players won’t see this game for two or three years at the earliest. Given its unique positioning with hardly any competitors for its massive scope, Light No Fire could end up being very special, potentially one of the titles defining next-gen platforms with near-endless possibilities.
Project Orion (Cyberpunk 2077 Sequel)
A Sleeping Giant Yet To Awaken
Following Cyberpunk 2077’s release, CD Projekt Red has expanded significantly, with the idea to work on its two big franchises simultaneously. It remains to be seen how well the studio holds all the inner processes for that, but the idea of getting The Witcher 4 and a Cyberpunk 2077 sequel (Project Orion) closer to one another than their predecessors is definitely appealing. It’s known that CDPR has ditched its Red Engine tech in favor of UE5 for both upcoming games, so Project Orion will probably look and feel very different from the first game.
Upcoming Open-World RPGs That Promise Hundreds of Hours at Launch
If you're searching for your next big obsession to sink hundreds of hours into, keep an eye out for these open-world RPGs when they release.
As for Project Orion details and release window, it’s still too early, as it doesn’t even have a name yet, but the game will most certainly be one of the biggest titles released for the next console generation. In the latest company reports, it was revealed that over 130 people are currently working on Project Orion, reflecting that the game finally entered pre-production and is possibly starting to take form. In any case, fans should be ready for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel to stay in The Witcher 4’s shadow for a while, with the studio probably starting to focus on the game and teasing its major features only following The Witcher 4’s launch.
Tom Clancy’s The Division 3
A Monster Looter-Shooter Is Coming
Once generous in teasers, announcements, and unexpected reveals, today’s Ubisoft is very different and a lot more secretive, not rushing to showcase its next big titles. The current slate of Ubisoft’s releases is surprisingly scarce, with numerous titles in development reportedly canceled, including the long-awaited Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake. Assassin’s Creed Hexe is a top current priority for Ubisoft, but it’s unknown whether it will be an open-world RPG like Odyssey, Valhalla, and Shadows. Earlier reports suggest that the company aims to reinvent the core formula for a game very unlike its predecessors.
This leaves us with Tom Clancy’s The Division 3, a mysterious game long in development at Massive Entertainment, which will most likely stick to The Division 2’s formula while expanding on it in every aspect. Unfortunately, aside from vague claims from the game’s ex-director, Julian Gerighty, that “The Division 3 is shaping up to be a monster,” nothing else about the project has been officially revealed, including its target release window. With that in mind, we cannot rule out The Division 3 arriving earlier than the next console generation, but there’s also a possibility that the game is still far off and won’t end up in fans’ hands for a couple more years.
Project Windless (The Bird That Drinks Tears)
Fighting in Massive One-Versus-Many Battles as a Bird-Like Warrior
Some players may have already forgotten that back in 2022, Krafton unveiled an ambitious game known as Project Windless, based on the acclaimed Korean fantasy novel The Bird That Drinks Tears by Lee Youngdo. At the time of its announcement, Project Windless was described as a single-player open-world action-RPG in the vein of The Witcher 3, with a massive scope, detailed mythology, and rich world-building. Four major races coexist in its world: humans, flame-wielding Tokkebi, bird-like Rekon, and reptilian Nhaga, each with their own fleshed-out differences, languages, and beliefs.
The 7 Biggest Upcoming Open-World Adventure Games
Expansive worlds, gorgeous visuals, and a dizzying sense of an adventure ahead — these titles promise to deliver all three.
Just recently, Project Windless suddenly reappeared at the February State of Play, giving fans their first look at its stunning visuals, rich world, and exciting combat. The game, developed by Krafton Montréal, still doesn’t have an official name or targeted release window, but it’s confirmed to be in development for the PS5. Given the ambition on display, it wouldn’t be too surprising if the project ends up as one of the launch titles for the PS6. The most interesting thing shown about Project Windless, aside from Dynasty Warriors-inspired massive battles with hundreds of enemies on screen, is its distinct protagonist from the humanoid bird Rekon race: a nomadic warrior known for its strength and size. This alone instantly sets the game apart from the myriad other open-world RPGs.
Project TAL
More Monster Hunter Protagonists, Please
Another upcoming game, seemingly in the vein of Project Windless, Project TAL (also known as TAL: The Arcane Lands), is yet to receive its final name, but at least the devs have already showcased its early gameplay, instantly putting the title on the map of the most intriguing upcoming open-world RPGs. Developed by Korean studio Madngine in UE5, Project TAL emphasizes stunning visuals, massive boss encounters, and fast-paced, spectacular combat. The devs also promise an emotionally resonant story, companions, and a rich fantasy world set in a fictionalized Joseon Dynasty era, infused with elements of mythology and Korean folklore.
What’s best, the devs also stated that Project TAL is targeting 2027 for release, so if the game isn’t delayed (which is always a possibility), it may become one of the first open-world action-RPGs available as a cross-gen title when the PS6 and the next Xbox arrive. The creators specifically stated that it’s not a soulslike, so fans of more traditional, action-heavy adventures may want to keep a close eye on this one.
Get Ready To Die In The Biggest Upcoming Soulslike Games Of 2026
How many times will you die, die, and die some more in 2026's biggest Soulslike games before finally achieving victory?