With the next generation of gaming recently kicking off, hope for many video game franchises has been restored. With classics likeDemon’s Soulsbeing given fresh coats of paint, discussion has startedregardingMetal Gear Solidremakes— giving the beloved franchise some life after death.Beyond Good and Evil 2is still seeing progress made in its development, and rumors of a newUnchartedtitle have been picking up steam.
However, even with all the positive developments for some renowned franchises, others are unlikely to see the light of day over the next several years. Whether it is due to a stagnant IP, a developer moving on to bigger things, or a focus being placed on a different series, there is good reason to expect certain franchises toskip a generation, missing out entirely on the PS5 and Xbox Series X era of gaming. While this could change, and one or more of these games can make a surprise showing on the new consoles, there is good reason to doubt an appearance of any of the following franchises.
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Killzone - Cause: Guerrilla Moving On
Sadly, while Guerrilla once hinted that itmay return toKillzone, it seems like any possibility of PlayStation’s most iconic first-person shooter franchise getting another game is now nonexistent. Boasting strong campaigns, stunning visuals, and excellent multiplayer experiences, theKillzonefranchise is remembered fondly by those that played it — with the image of the Helghast soldiers’ glowing orange eyes burned into the minds of fans forever.
However, withKillzone’s official website shutting downrecently and simply redirecting back to the PlayStation home page, the series truly seems to be dead. While it would be nice to see another studio pick theKillzoneIP up and do something special with the brand, as the FPS genre is one of the few areas not currently covered by PlayStation Studios, it is understandable that Guerrilla Games has moved on. WithHorizon Zero Dawnshowing the studio’s potential, and quickly becoming more iconic than any game in theKillzoneseries, it makes sense that Guerrilla will continue to build upon its new IP. For fans ofKillzone, though, it seems clear that there will be no new entries in the series this generation.
Whilefans ofRed Dead Onlinewill surely see some level of support over the next several years, it seems unlikely that a properRed Dead Redemption 3will be released any time soon. Not only does Rockstar Games require a certain standard from each release, with the perfectionist outlook ensuring a lengthy development time, but there is currently a big elephant in the room regarding Rockstar. This elephant, of course, isGrand Theft Auto 6.
The development of the game is an open secret, and with some fanstheorizing about aGTA 6revealas soon as February’s Super Bowl, all eyes are on the next game in Rockstar’s most iconic franchise. As such, it can be expected that this is where Rockstar’s focus is as well. With the studio taking so much time to develop its games,GTA 6may still be a few years away, placing it closer to the middle of the console generation as opposed to releasing right at the beginning. As such, it seems unlikely that two massive open world titles from Rockstar are squeezed into the same console generation — and ifGrand Theft Auto 6’s version ofGTA Onlinefinds as much success asGrand Theft Auto 5’s has, anotherRed Dead Redemptiongame will likely be even further off.
Fallout - Cause: Starfield And Elder Scrolls
Falloutfans hoping for a proper sequel are likely going to be in for an awfully long wait. Not only isfixingFallout 76requiring plenty of attention from Bethesda, but the game’s rocky launch could be making the prospect of a new single-player game less appealing. However, the bigger issue at hand is the fact that Todd Howard and other developers who would normally handle aFalloutsequel have their hands full with two massive projects.
Bethesda’sambitious new IPStarfieldwill be taking gamers to outer space, and it will be the next proper RPG from the studio to be released. Afterwards,The Elder Scrolls 6will be the focus, and with that game likely still years away, there is no telling when anotherFallouttitle will appear. While Bethesda will surely not retire the IP, even afterFallout 76’s mishaps, the release of another game will likely not come for several years — with aFallout 5launch date likely being closer to the year 2030 than 2020. While a smaller,New Vegas-like spinoff could always happen, fans should not get their hopes up regarding the release of aFalloutgame in the PS5 and Xbox Series X generation.
Perhaps the most tragic entry on this list isDead Space, as unlike the other video game franchises that are listed above, EA seems to have no interest in doing anything with the IP. DespiteDead Spacebeing theperfect series for a remake, as the games hold up well in terms of their gameplay, nothing has been said regarding such an update. With a sequel and reboot boasting the same level of potential,Dead Spaceis practically screaming out to be used in some way, though the series remains dormant.
While theupcoming gameThe Callisto Protocolis set to provideDead Spacevisionary Glen Schofield with a similar setting, there is something special about theDead Spaceseries. From necromorphs and tortured protagonist Isaac Clarke to the satisfying plasma cutter and awesome engineering suits,Dead Spacestood tall as one of the absolute best horror offerings of the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Sadly, with the death of Visceral Games seemingly serving as the death of theDead Spaceseries as well, it seems likely that history will repeat itself — meaning that this era of consoles will be skipped byDead Spacejust like the last one was.
