With the new generation of gaming consoles and graphics cards for PC out -- though ittedly difficult to come by -- there are plenty of ambitious new games coming up for players to be excited for. These next couple of months will see launches of major blockbuster titles, however, there are also some exciting DLC expansions coming in 2022 for current games.
Some of the DLCs to release later this year range from long-awaited indie classics like Cuphead to the highly-anticipated next step for Capcom's latest Monster Hunter entry since the breakout mainstream success of World. They'll all be great ways to pad out players' respective catalogs over the year in between new releases, as well as boost the longevity of already substantial games.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (Nintendo Switch, PC)
After the deserved success that Monster Hunter World brought the franchise on an international level, Capcom followed up with their next smash hit on the Nintendo Switch last year with Monster Hunter Rise. It was one of the best action RPGs to play on Nintendo Switch in 2021, and this summer's Sunbreak DLC expansion will give the game an even stronger lifecycle.
The base game has been critically praised for its monsters, beautiful new environments -- with impressive performance and graphical fidelity for the console -- the exhilarating sense of verticality they provide in traversal, as well the new combat mechanics. Sunbreak will expand on those features with new maps, monsters, and new High-Rank quests. As of now, the DLC has no concrete release date outside of summer 2022, but it will release simultaneously for Switch and the new PC port via Steam.
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course (PS4, XBO, Switch, PC)
In the indie scene, the 2017 run-and-gun game Cuphead took the entire medium by storm. It was released to acclaim and was celebrated for its affectionate and charming homage to 20th-century cartoons and a nostalgic throwback to the tough games of the "retro" era. The boss fights of Cuphead were the biggest highlights, with their character designs being wonderfully inventive and serving a purpose to their respective gameplay mechanics.
Fans have been waiting an agonizing amount of time for The Delicious Last Course DLC, as it was announced back in 2019 and suffered several delays. It will add new levels, bosses, and a new playable character in the form of Ms. Chalice. Even amid all the other triple-A titles revealed in December, it was still one of the biggest announcements at the Game Awards. And the wait is nearly over, as The Delicious Last Course launches on June 30th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX|S, PC, Stadia)
Destiny 2 was a marked improvement over the original when it was initially released -- namely when it came to the story -- and it's gone through some structural overhauls in the meantime. Since 2019, the game went to a free-to-play model, with players having the option to buy DLC expansions.
While the game isn't exactly Bungie's next Halo, Destiny 2 has managed to cement a stable player base with its gameplay loop. Now, after five expansions under the game's belt, The Witch Queen is just around the corner with a new storyline tying back to the original Destiny's The Taken King, new PvE and PvP environments, gear, and more. The Witch Queen will have four seasons of content over the year, and it releases on February 22nd for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Google Stadia.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Definitive Edition DLC (PS5, XSX|S, PC)
Though this re-release of The Witcher 3 is a remaster rather than DLC, it will have some more incentives along with it. The Witcher 3 still stands as one of the best fantasy RPGs, so seeing get a modern upgrade with the latest gaming hardware is both expected and welcome. Its rich, dense dark-fantasy world with compelling lore, worldbuilding, and character drama is still a massive benchmark, and the initial Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine DLC expansions were equally acclaimed.
In of DLC for the remaster, CD Projekt Red and Saber Interactive have teased some Netflix-themed ones for free --including for those still playing on the base version. Though these will be smaller-scaled and cosmetic packages, they could be a great complement to a facelifted version of The Witcher 3 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The remaster and its DLCs will release sometime during the second quarter of 2022.
Cyberpunk 2077 DLC (Speculation - PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX|S, PC)
CD Projekt Red's launch for Cyberpunk 2077 back in December 2020 has gone down as one of the most disastrous in the gaming industry, but it seems to finally be in a stable form. After the controversy and technical nightmares that the game had for so long, it was largely well-received as an open-world action RPG. Before they publish Saber Interactive's aforementioned The Witcher 3 remaster, they're set to release a next-gen port for PS5 and XSX|S.
That's not the end of the , as they will continue to pad out the year with patches and free DLC items. Those will also be smaller packages, but there is a proper expansion planned for down the road. While nothing can be set in stone with CD Projekt Red as of now, the current general outline could lead to that expansion's launch by the end of 2022.
Star Wars: The Old Republic - Legacy Of The Sith (PC)
Even though it doesn't carry the same weight as MMORPG titans like Final Fantasy XIV, Star Wars: The Old Republic has gotten more appreciated over the years. Ironically, the game has been regarded at its best when played as if it's a single-player RPG and is one of the most well-received Star Wars games to date.
Developer studio BioWare is now set to release The Old Republic's eighth DLC expansion, Legacy of the Sith, elaborating upon the Legends continuity's story started by the acclaimed Knights of the Old Republic games and fleshed out further in this MMORPG. The story will be centered on the Sith Lord Darth Malgus, introducing new quests, a Flashpoint dungeon, and a new Operation. Legacy of the Sith launches on February 15th for PC.