Many AAA games suffered serious delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in many major titles being released in 2022, including Breath of the Wild sequel. As development teams moved remotely, work on many highly-anticipated projects stalled or slowed. Many teams are still working remotely, though with more time to secure the necessary equipment, organize schedules, and regulate internal communication, timelines in the development process began to pick up. While most communities have exercised extraordinary patience, fans won't have to wait much longer to continue several video game series (and the release of many new IPs) in 2022.
AAA games are projects developed and released by mid-sized to prominent developer and publisher companies, referring to larger entities like EA, Riot Games, Rocksteady Studios, and more. Though many companies began as indie developers, growth, success, and budget inevitably evolve into an AAA entity. These companies create , and more but rarely deviate from their moneymaking IPs. As a result, many games on this list are sequels or spin-offs of preexisting games, with only a few exceptions anticipated for the coming year.
Though many AAA games suffered delays thanks to the pandemic and quality assurance, all games listed as having 2022 release dates are subject to further delay or adjustment that affects the accuracy of their descriptions. Games without a scheduled release date are most likely to be further delayed and may not launch until early 2023 if developers deem it necessary. Listed features and activities for games may also be removed before launch and added later in the game's lifetime, with these decisions ultimately residing with the developers and publishers.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction - January 20th, 2022
Like Rainbow Six Siege, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction (originally called Quarantine) is a tactical PvE shooter where players navigate levels filled with parasitic-human mutants called Archaeans. Players must work together to avoid detection and gather information, working in teams of three and utilizing special abilities to unlock different map areas. Once players are downed, they can be captured and held captive by Archaeans while converting them into mutants. Operatives from Rainbow Six Siege appear within Rainbow Six Extraction, along with some new faces unexplored within the franchise. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction will become available in January 2022 on PlayStation, Xbox, Amazon Luna, Google Stadia, and PC systems.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus - January 28th, 2022
Pokémon Legends: Arceus has received a somewhat skewed reputation following the disappointing news that the game wouldn't feature a completely open world. Despite this update, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is quite different from other games in the Pokémon franchise, featuring non-encounter catching mechanics, boss Pokemon, and acting as the first official prequel game in the series. Players customize their characters and assist the Galaxy Team in charting Hisui and researching strange happenings across different areas. In addition, new Hisuian Pokémon forms have appeared, with Zorua, Growlithe, and Braviary just some of the new creatures available in-game. It's unknown if Pokémon Legends: Arceus will develop into a series of its own, but the premise is promising for Pokémon games to veer from the standard formula.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human - February 4th, 2022
Announced by Techland back in 2018, Dying Light 2: Stay Human has suffered severe delays due to the pandemic. Thankfully, fans won't have to wait much longer to enjoy the action RPG zombie game. Gameplay and cinematic trailers for Dying Light 2 confirm the sequel's scope and ambitions to be much higher than its predecessor.
In addition, Techland focused more resources on its story and gameplay systems, which will improve the overall experience at launch and beyond. Dying Light 2 occurs in a European urban center broken into seven districts and filled with different factions to associate with. The map is four times larger than Dying Light and has a reputation system that affects how NPCs perceive the player character, Aiden. Dying Light 2 is set to release on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC systems.
Horizon Forbidden West - February 18th, 2022
The long-awaited sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn is finally releasing in February 2022 after an unfortunate delay during the COVID pandemic. Horizon Forbidden West follows Aloy as she ventures into new lands, meeting powerful tribes and defeating larger machines. On a harrowing quest to discover the origin of a deadly plague, Aloy ventures through the Forbidden West, seeking answers and a cure for her people. Guerilla Games promises Horizon Forbidden West to be far more extensive than Horizon Zero Dawn, embracing fresh new mechanics, scenery, and designs. Fans of the franchise have only a few more weeks to wait before receiving Horizon Forbidden West on PlayStation 4 and 5.
Elden Ring - February 25th, 2022
Though FromSoftware confirmed Dark Souls 3 as the conclusion of the franchise, it's not the last Souls-like game from the company. Elden Ring has expanded on the game's design, complete with new abilities, an open world, and new challenges. This highly anticipated project presents fans of Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and open-world fantasy with a sizable conquest that spans six major territories. Players can explore Elden Ring in any order and upgrade their character to become more powerful as more enemies are slain. The player character is a Tarnished, summoned back to the Lands Between to retrieve the Great Rules and restore the Elden Ring to become the Elden Lord. Elden Ring is scheduled to release in February 2022 on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC systems despite suffering several delays.
Starfield - November 11th, 2022
Much to the disappointment of Elder Scrolls fans awaiting the sixth mainline game, Bethesda confirmed Starfield would be the next game to release. Announced back in 2018, Starfield suffered several delays during development before finally receiving a 2022 release date. Unlike The Elder Scrolls, Starfield is a sci-fi adventure that takes place in the 2300s along a stretch of planets called the Settled Systems. The United Colonies and the Freestar Collective exist as factions in an uneasy peace, occupying different locations for the customizable player character to explore during the game. Bethesda will likely release more information in the coming months, including updated gameplay and story trailer, but Starfield's release date is still far away.
God of War: Ragnarok - 2022
God of War (also known as God of War 4) revolutionized the franchise by beginning Kratos' story in the Norse lands. God of War: Ragnarok promises to be the conclusion of Kratos' time in Norse mythology, exploring the myth of Ragnarok and driving Atreus closer to his destiny as Loki. The foreshadowing of Kratos' death at God of War's ending promises some severe drama for franchise fans.
While battling powerful Norse gods like Freya, Thor, and (possibly) Odin, Kratos must also continue raising Atreus, whose maturity and independent thinking have revived the boy's desire to uncover his destiny. God of War: Ragnarok is a PlayStation exclusive, but given the release of God of War on PC, it's likely Ragnarok could debut for PC gamers in the future.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 - 2022 Release Date
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is the long-awaited sequel to Breath of the Wild, regarded as one of the greatest open-world games of all time. Breath of the Wild 2 takes place two years after its predecessor, though Nintendo has revealed few details concerning the game's story. Link can explore new territories and brave new horizons, but with Calamity Ganon slain, fans are beginning to wonder what the game's main antagonist will be. Breath of the Wild 2 has no official name yet, but will likely release as a Nintendo Switch exclusive in the later months of 2022.
Gotham Knights - 2022 Release Window
Gotham Knights is one of two DC games coming in 2022, developed by WarnerBros Games Montreal and kickstarting a new video game universe of games. Gotham Knights takes place after Batman's death, leaving Gotham City under the protection of Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Robin. Without Batman to keep order, villains like Mr. Freeze and the Court of Owls have moved in to stake their claim on the city. Gotham Knights appears to share many features with the Batman: Arkham series but introduces a long-awaited addition to the franchise: a co-op mode. Players can engage in a two-person co-op across an evolving open-world map. Gotham Knights is scheduled to release during 2022 but hasn't received a set release date from WB Games.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League - 2022 Release Window
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is the sequel to Batman: Arkham Knight, taking place in Metropolis after Brainiac attacked Earth and controlled the Justice League. Developed by Rocksteady Studios, players can control Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, or King Shark in co-op sessions with parties of four total. A ruthless government agent named Amanda Waller controls the conscripted supervillains by implanting bombs in their heads, threatening to detonate them at the first sign of failure. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's release date hasn't been confirmed but has its own Steam page and several trailers.
Hogwarts Legacy - 2022 Release Date
Hogwarts Legacy is a highly anticipated open-world RPG set in the 1800s of the Harry Potter universe, where players attend the famous School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A project of this scope and theme has long remained a demand of the Harry Potter fandom, but the game suffered a year-long delay like many AAA titles during the COVID pandemic. Early trailers of Hogwarts Legacy show players learning spells, brewing potions, taming magical beasts, and exploring locations within and around Hogwarts. Unfortunately, Hogwarts Legacy is a single-player game, meaning players can only share their experiences with friends via screen capture or screenshots.
