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15 games we can’t wait to see resurrected on next-gen consoles

Ryan Fleming
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15 games next gen consoles
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There is no shortcut to making good games. Nothing can replace inspired design and clever development, and games designed primarily to make use of new hardware ultimately fail. There are, however, some franchises that could benefit from a jolt of new technology.

Now that the next-generation of gaming systems is here and we’ve had the chance to spend some time with the hardware, it got us thinking. New gaming hardware launches are a time for hope. It lets us dream that our favorite forgotten franchises may make a triumphant return (bring back Fear Effect, dammit!), but it also gives developers a chance to reinvent their franchises through the new tech.

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With that in mind, we offer a few franchises that we want to see on the next gen, partly for their own sakes. Obviously we hope they are fun to play, but they are games that we think would specifically benefit from the new technology offered on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Some we are fairly sure are on the way, while others we’re just hopefuly for. None have officially been confirmed though. There are certainly dozens more we could mention (we love Shemue too, but there are specific reasons for the games listed), so consider these the start of the conversation and feel free to continue it in the comments below.

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Borderlands

Borderlands
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It would take a meteor striking Gearbox headquarters to stop another Borderlands game, and probably not even then. Borderlands 2 was a monster hit for publisher 2K Games, and it became the gift that kept on giving thanks to numerous DLC offerings and a multitude of add-on content. Still, the gaming market is unpredictable. Things could change, and until Borderlands 3 is officially confirmed, there is no Borderlands 3.

The first two Borderlands games did a lot when it came to co-op play, weapon variety, and mixing first-person shooter mechanics with RPG progression. It may not have been the first to do all that, but it is regarded as one of the best.

Imagine what a new Borderlands could do with the new hardware. More processing power could allow the world of Pandora (or even a new setting) to be significantly bigger. The cap of four players per party could jump. We’d look back at that Guinness record of 17.75 million guns in a video game for B2 and laugh at how quaint it is.

Bully

Bully
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You’re going to see a bunch of sandbox games on this list, and that shouldn’t be a surprise. Open world games require a lot of processing power, and expanding that power means more options. Most of what we’ve seen and heard from next-gen sandbox games thus far offer more guns and more ways to make things explode real ‘purdy. There’s nothing wrong with that, and hey, the next-gen graphics make fireballs look super sweet. But still, it’s nice to see games like Bully take that increasingly familiar open world style and present something decidedly not shooty.

2006’s Bully was a game unlike any other. Bring Rockstar’s open world sensibilities to an open world game that doesn’t focus on violent gun battles, just for the sake of originality, and we’re sold.

Crash Bandicoot

Crash Bandicoot
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The character of Crash Bandicoot is due for a revival, and the next-gen systems would benefit from his bizarre visage. The Wii U has taken a wee bit of criticism lately, but one area it does excel at is with platformers like Mario and Rayman. Nintendo’s new tech has led developers to rethink how platformers work, and that philosophy should return for the new options available with the PS4 and Xbox One.

If/when Crash does make his return, he needs to come back strong to stand above his rivals in the genre. Other franchises can build on previous successes while Crash would need to overcome past disappointments and work off nostalgia. The next gen hardware could give Crash new life, while simultaneously giving the platforming genre a shot in the arm.

Dishonored

Dishonored
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Dishonored offered a refreshing twist on the familiar first-person style of play, but it also felt a bit limited at times. A lot of that is down to the game’s presentation, which accidentally and repeatedly lied to us. It touted the freedom of how to approach an objective, but then limited the options. You may have had several ways to enter a house, for instance, but if you wanted to take the stealth route and sneak in a window there were really just one or two ways to do that. That’s not freedom, that’s the illusion of freedom.

With next-gen processing power, the game can let players flex their creative muscles. Let us sneak in several ways. Let us methodically drive a guard crazy by smacking him on the back of the head and teleporting away. Let us wreak havoc and a ghost-like god the guards come to fear! That’s freedom, and we can’t wait to abuse that power.

Dynasty Warriors

Dynasty Warriors
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Yes, there is a port of Dynasty Warriors 8 coming to the PlayStation 4 when the system is released in Japan, but that’s not the same as a DW game made for the next-gen. The series is in desperate need of a complete overhaul, and has been for years. It’s still fun to murder your way across ancient Asia, killing thousands of poor, unprepared peasants with sticks conscripted as soldiers. It’s even more enjoyable to do it with a friend, making them accessories to your mass-murder, you monster, but there are only so many barren landscapes and doomed souls you can kill before it grows old.

With the next-gen systems, the series could retain the core hack-and-slash action, but make the whole thing feel fresh. Up the hundreds of enemies on the screen into thousands. Have co-op teams face armies led by other players. Expand the story with more objectives and side quests that actually mean something. Make little digital children run from you in terror as the legend of your monstrous nature spreads. These are relatively simple concepts that would make a tired franchise feel vital again.

Fallout

Fallout
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Despite repeated teases, Bethesda continues to toy with the emotions of Fallout fans and blatantly refuses to confirm that a new Fallout is on the way. How dare Bethesda not satiate our admittedly selfish curiosity. More Fallout would be boss, and it is likely going to happen sooner or later – followed by Elder Scrolls 6, which would also be rad on the next gen.

Fallout 3 is a huge game. It’s so big that you can complete every side quest and main mission, and still not come close to seeing everything the game has to offer. And that was five years ago. The game was, and still is, impressive, but with next-gen technology at its disposal, a game like Fallout 4 could push the hardware beyond what we thought possible. If Fallout 4 is even bigger and more addictive than, say, Skyrim, people may starve to death as they plan to eat as soon as they finally reach a stopping point that never, ever comes. War never changes, but it gets cooler.

Gears of War

Gears of War
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There will be no shortage of FPS titles in the years to come, but what about the increasingly beleaguered third-person shooters? This year there were 15 FPS released for console compared to six TPS games. The genre isn’t going away, but it needs a champion, and one of the best of the last gen was the Gears of War series.

Beyond the general need for more exclusives on the Xbox One, Gears has excelled at both multiplayer and cooperative modes. Deciding on the first game to offer a horde/survival mode could drive you crazy, but Gears did it very well, and many other games have since featured it. Epic Games is an innovator, and the next gen hardware should give them a chance to flex its muscle – not to mention highlighting its own, new Unreal Engine 4.

God of War

God of War
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Sony has yet to confirm that a new God of War is on the way, but you can assume with some certainty that a new God of War is on the way. Eventually, at least. On the current gen systems, the God of War games feature some jaw-droppingly beautiful backdrops, set against fights that absolutely earned the distinction of being called epic. You fought gods, monsters, titans, and even a giant living statue. More of that, please.

God of War 3 was released in 2010, and yet it still looks as good as most games released in the three years following. The multiplayer introduced in God of War: Ascension showed a lot of promise too. Put those two things together, add a new storyline, do it all under the even better graphics and power of the PS4, and color us sold.

Grand Theft Auto

Grand Theft Auto
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After GTAV’s record humbling performance, a sequel is as certain as any sequel can be, even if it is years from now. GTAV is an impressive game. It is massive, teeming with activities, GTA Online adds another layer, and there is more to come through DLC. Each new iteration of that series has been bigger than the last, and there’s no reason to think GTA6 won’t be bigger still, especially fueled by the next-gen hardware.

It was five years between the previous games, so we will likely have to wait a while. Maybe in that time the politicians that once had an issue with the series, but were too busy hating each other to complain about GTAV can unite and really rage at the next-gen depravity Rockstar is cooking up. Here’s hoping!

Persona (Shin Megami Tensei)

Persona (Shin Megami Tensei)
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Atlus recently announced Persona 5 for release in 2014, but so far it’s being billed as a PlayStation 3 exclusive. That’s swell and all, but the next-gen could do a lot with that franchise. If you don’t know the Persona series, the games are RPGs but with a twist built around social interactions. That social slant ranges from making friends to dating to working menial jobs. Some of it was more fun than others, but it was original.

With the next gen systems, Persona could really delve into the social interactions in a far more complex way, potentially even working real social interaction into the game. We saw that hinted at in Persona 4 Golden, as gamers could see what choices other made before deciding themselves. We’ll probably see a lot more of that in Persona 5 on the PS3, but on the next gen it could make for a completely different experience. Imagine being a janitor, but with next-gen graphics! Can’t wait.

Red Dead 

Red Dead
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Rockstar likes to work on the DL. There may be a new Red Dead game on the way, or there may not be. For all we know, Rockstar’s next game will be a next-gen version of Table Tennis featuring glorious looking Ping-Pong balls. That would certainly confuse Rockstar’s enemies. RDR was more than just a Western skin on the GTA body, the game felt like its own creation, and a massive creation at that.

Red Dead Redemption (or whatever the sequel may be called) could use everything the new systems have to recreate a Wild West setting that is teeming with life, objectives, missions, and plenty of bears that you can blow up using dynamite.

Resident Evil

Resident Evil
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Resident Evil 6 did its best to destroy the franchise, but it still made money for Capcom, so there will probably be a Resident Evil 7. The developer can’t let the Paul W.S. Anderson movie series be the only Resident Evil property still out there, regardless of how awesome Milla Jovovich is. It just can’t.

One of the early demos of the new Kinect showed that the peripheral could judge how flushed a person’s face was. In theory that means the Kinect could judge reactions, and to a degree, fear. At the very least the Kinect and PS4 camera could use little, simple tricks, like waiting for you to look relaxed before triggering the next attack. It could also wait for you to be distracted. Maybe the game could even call your real smartphone using a second screen app, then attack when you were distracted. It would be like cheating, but awesome. If nothing else, better graphics would help sell the monsters.

SOCOM

SOCOM
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The SOCOM franchise may be among the unluckiest game franchises of all time. There was a time when the SOCOM games on the PS2 were the height of online console play. It was a big fish in a small pond, but new technology brought new competitors.

Developer Zipper Interactive tried to reclaim its online dominance with MAG on the PS3, but an anemic PS3 community in the early days of the system couldn’t support it. It then tried to revive SOCOM, but the game released two days after the PlayStation Network was hacked, keeping it offline for nearly a month. Zipper tried to bounce back with the Vita-only Unit 13, but it wasn’t enough to stop the developer from closing. With a bit of luck, maybe someone else can give SOCOM another chance using the next gen hardware.

Syphon Filter

Syphon Filter
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There was a time when the Syphon Filter series was considered one of the best on the PlayStation, and a rival to Metal Gear Solid. It couldn’t keep up with Hideo Kojima’s games though, and so it didn’t try. Instead it went in a different direction, including a PS2 game that was meant to be played cooperatively online. It was radically different from most console games at the time, and required precise teamwork. It also made you hate noobs like no other game on consoles, so it had that going for it.

The series is not only ripe for a comeback, it would benefit from the next-gen technology. The last game released, Syphon Filter: Combat Ops, was a PSN only title. It was released in 2007 when the PSN was still in its infancy, and you can make the argument that it was ahead of its time. With the next gen power, the time is nigh.

Xenogears

Xenogears
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Since Final Fantasy is apparently the all-Lighting all-the time franchise these days, there is room for another classic JRPG to return triumphantly on the next-gen. Beyond that though, there is a good reason Xenogears/Xenosaga specifically would work well on the new systems.

The original Xenogears was essentially a movie that you occasionally took a break from watching to fight and choose which subplots to pursue. The JRPG-style fighting was solid too. With the next-gen hardware, the game could become even more like a movie, a damn good looking one at that.

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Ryan Fleming
Ryan Fleming
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…
Every blockbuster reveal from the Xbox leak: new consoles, Bethesda games, and more
Xbox's logo used during the Extended Games Showcase

Unredacted documents submitted and made publicly available to view as part of the ongoing Microsoft vs. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) trial just led to what may be the biggest leak in video game history.
A flood of files have revealed deep secrets about Xbox's upcoming plans for the bulk of the decade, giving us unprecedented insight into what's on the horizon for the gaming giant. That includes information on upcoming hardware refreshes, next-gen consoles, and unannounced Bethesda titles, as well as a further peek into Microsoft's acquisition ambitions. It's a lot to trudge through, so we've rounded up five key revelations that you'll want to know.
A new Xbox Series X model is coming next year
https://twitter.com/stephentotilo/status/1704121068519133313
The most shocking thing to leak as part of the trial is a new Xbox Series X model. Referred to as "Brooklin -- Xbox Series X Refresh" in the leaked documents, this is a diskless, cylindrical version of the Xbox Series X with 2TB of internal storage, a USB-C port, and smaller technical improvements to the system's Wi-Fi, PSU, standby mode, and more. An upgraded Xbox Series S code-named Ellewood may also be in the works and released before Brooklin.
If Microsoft still follows the plan laid out in this "Roadmap to 2030" document created in May 2022, it would release Brooklin in late October 2024 for $500. If Microsoft still plans to release Brooklin next year, it does contradict recent statements from Xbox chief Phil Spencer, who acted bearish on the idea of a mid-gen refresh in Gamescom interviews. It's possible Microsoft's plans have changed since these leaked documents were made, but if not, we now know what to expect in terms of Microsoft's console refreshes.
A new Xbox controller is in the works
https://twitter.com/charlieINTEL/status/1704088621475598345
Throughout that Brooklin leak, a new version of the Xbox Series X controller is also teased. The Xbox Series X controller is great, but lacks the unique features of controllers like the DualSense or Joy-Cons, so it makes sense Microsoft would want to change that. Referred to as "Sebile -- The New Xbox Controller," this controller can seamlessly pair and connect to the cloud.
It also will feature haptic feedback, an accelerometer gyro, quieter buttons, modular thumbsticks, a rechargeable and swappable battery, and the ability to wake just by being picked up. The same road map that lists Brooklin and Ellewood's release windows says the Sebile controller will launch sometime in late May 2024 for $70.
First details on Microsoft's next-gen console leak
https://twitter.com/AR12Gaming/status/1704102055206322389
It's hard to believe we're almost already three years into this console generation and that Microsoft is planning for its next major console release, but that is the case. Unfortunately for Microsoft, its current technical ambitions for the platform were included in this leak. A leaked document states that Microsoft's ultimate goal is to "develop a next-generation hybrid game platform capable of leveraging the combined power of the client and cloud to deliver deeper immersion and entirely new classes of game experiences." 
In practice, a list of technical improvements lays out that we can expect an ARM64 CPU that balances big and little cores, a GPU co-designed with AMD, and an NPU that balances "the desire for flexible, programmable ML silicon versus high-performance silicon for targeted workloads," as well as support for better ray tracing, global illumination, micropolygon rendering, and an ML-based Super Resolution. Microsoft also mentions a "thin OS" meant for cheaper consumer and handled devices, likely to play games via the cloud.
This next-gen console is currently slated for a 2028 launch.
Several upcoming Bethesda games leak

Enough about hardware -- several upcoming Bethesda games also leaked. A document from 2020 outlining Bethesda's game road map through fiscal year 2024 includes some games we don't know about. Alongside games we know of like MachineGames' Indiana Jones project, the list also includes several code-named projects, remasters of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Fallout 3, a GhostWire: Tokyo sequel, Doom Year Zero, and Dishonored 3.
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Microsoft considered acquiring Nintendo and Warner Bros. Interactive
https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/1704021807341203802
A leaked email from 2020 gives some insight into Spencer's acquisition ambitions at that point. Namely, it sounds like he'd love to acquire Nintendo as it would be a "career moment" for him.
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Ultimately, Spencer didn't want to do a hostile takeover of Nintendo, so he settled for playing the "long game" when it came to acquiring it. This same email also reveals that Microsoft was interested in acquiring Warner Bros. Interactive around the same time as Bethesda, although the lack of any WB IP ownership was its undoing, Spencer is also as intrigued about acquiring Valve as it was Nintendo.
It's worth noting that this email is from over three years ago, and these acquisition ambitions might have been quelled following changing economic conditions and the rocky and expensive process of acquiring Activision Blizzard. 

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1K looks at a cliff in The Talos Principle 2.

It's been a fantastic year for puzzle games, thanks to titles like Viewfinder, Humanity, Fantavision 202X, and Storyteller. This run of engaging puzzlers isn’t over yet, though, as one of the year’s most ambitious puzzle games, both thematically and mechanically, hasn’t come out yet. I’m talking about The Talos Principle 2 from Croteam and Devolver Digital, a long-awaited sequel that I got a hands-off look at ahead of Gamescom.

The Talos Principle 2 | Gameplay Trailer

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One of Game Pass’ best titles leaves PC on August 15 and you don’t want to miss it
Death Stranding

While Xbox Game Pass frequently adds new games to its library, some titles do leave the service every fifteen days. Sometimes, those games are fantastic and PC Game Pass will lose a heavy hitter on August 15: Death Stranding. If you aren't familiar with this game, it, ironically, is a PlayStation console exclusive that's part of Microsoft's subscription service only on PC. Death Stranding first released on PS4 in November 2019 and tells a story about a man who is trying to reconnect a post-apocalyptic while dealing with lots of supernatural threats along the way.

It didn't come to PC until July 2020, before that was followed by Death Stranding: Director's Cut for PC and PS5 in the following years. The version of the game that's available through Xbox Game Pass is based on the July 2020 PC release, although it only came to PC Game Pass in August 2022. After a year on Microsoft's subscription service, the deal is up, and it's going to leave on August 15. Death Stranding is a game with a very compelling and socially relevant story and gameplay not quite like anything out there, so Game Pass subscribers who haven't tried this game yet need to before it leaves the service soon. 
It's all connected
Death Stranding follows the journey of Sam Porter Bridges, the adopted son of the President of the United Cities of America, as he attempts to reconnect what's left of America with a Chiral Network and save his sister. Of course, this game has Kojima's signature eccentricity, as Sam also carries around and starts forming a deeper connection with a baby in a pod (called a BB) that helps him avoid deadly creatures called BTs and gives him visions of a mysterious figure played by Mads Mikkelsen. On that note, Death Stranding has a stacked Hollywood cast as it stars people like Norman Reedus, Lea Seydoux, and Margaret Qualley and features characters modeled after Lindsay Wagner, Guillermo del Toro, Nicolas Winding Refn, and more. 
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