The 5 Most Anticipated Gaming Developments of 2017

Luke Silvers ’20 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

In both the real and the gaming world, 2016 was not the most impressive year, with some impressive results, but also its fair share of duds and letdowns. However, that doesn’t mean that 2017 has to be the same. In the world of games, at least, there’s a good amount of things to look forward to coming very soon. Here’s just a few things that gamers can and should be excited to see come next year.

We demand an explanation, Mr. Kojima!

One of the most anticipated releases in the gaming community as we leave 2016 isn’t even coming out next year. Hideo Kojima‘s Death Stranding is a mysterious project that already has gained widespread attention with its two incredibly captivating trailers. The only problem is that nobody can seem to figure out exactly what is going on in them. It’s even a mystery to Mads Mikkelsen, who is starring in the game alongside Norman Reedus and Guillermo del Toro. Hopefully, 2017 can bring us enough new developments on what exactly Death Stranding is to hold us over. You know, like actual gameplay, if we’re lucky.

Persona 5, maybe?

The fifth installment in Atlus‘s acclaimed Persona franchise was announced in 2013 and originally slated for release in 2014. It was soon delayed until 2015… then 2016… and now 2017. Understandably, fans are hesitant to get their hopes up for an actual release date, but with Persona 5 already out in Japan, April 4, 2017 seems to be the actual day that we can get our hands on the game. Persona 5 boasts sleek visuals, innovative gameplay, and an incredibly expansive story, all of which makes the wait even harder to bear. However, Japanese critics say that, thanks to all of these important elements, Persona 5 is absolutely worth the wait.

Red Dead Returning

It’s hard to believe that developer Rockstar‘s most recent game, Grand Theft Auto V, was released in 2013, especially considering all the updates that keep getting pumped into it to this day. Now, however, we finally have confirmation that the company has been working hard on the long-awaited sequel to 2010’s critically-acclaimed Red Dead Redemption. Red Dead Redemption 2 promises the same iconic Western atmosphere that made the original so great, and with a fall 2017 release, it give fans something to look forward to once next year reaches its final months.

Next year’s indie darling

This year was an interesting one in the world of indie games. For the first time in quite a while, this year didn’t produce a title that went above and beyond to put the indie medium in the spotlight. While Stardew Valley, Firewatch, and several other 2016 releases certainly came close, 2016 didn’t have a game like 2014’s Five Nights at Freddy’s to show the monetary potential of indie games or 2015’s Undertale to show the depth that a game’s narrative can go into. However, this could very well change in 2017, with the potentially spectacular Cuphead and Tacoma already slated for release early in the year.

Nintendo switching things up

Four and a half years after the Wii U hit shelves, Nintendo is introducing its newest home and mobile console in one device, the new Nintendo Switch. Like several of its predecessors, the Switch looks a bit wacky, especially with its removable mini-controllers that allow it to go from home entertainment console to mobile gaming device and back again. Regardless, the system shows serious potential, especially with the exciting new The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild releasing for it. With promises of numerous third-party titles, a colorful new Mario title, and even hints of a second Splatoon, the Nintendo Switch may quite possibly be the most exciting gaming development of 2017.