Best Games Coming in July & August 2026 — The Summer Before GTA 6

November 19 is on everyone's calendar. GTA 6 is coming and it's going to swallow the rest of the year whole. But between now and then, July and August 2026 are quietly shaping up to be one of the best summers gaming has seen in years.

Attack on Titan 3. Halo: Campaign Evolved. DOOM: The Dark Ages Revelations. Star Wars: Zero Company. Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2. Elden Ring on Switch 2. These aren't filler releases to tide you over — these are proper games worth your time and money. Here's everything worth knowing about what's coming in the next two months.

July 2026 — The Highlights

Attack on Titan 3 — July 2026 (PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, PC)

One of the biggest surprises of Summer Game Fest 2026 was a brand-new Attack on Titan game. Attack on Titan 3 draws Eren's story to its dramatic conclusion and follows directly from 2018's Attack on Titan 2 — covering the final arc of the manga and anime that consumed the world when it finished. If you followed the series, this is the game you've been waiting for. If you haven't, July might be the time to start.

Halo: Campaign Evolved — July 2026 (Xbox, PC)

Built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, Halo: Campaign Evolved is a full remake of the original 2001 Xbox launch title — one of the most important first-person shooters ever made. This isn't a remaster. Every asset, every level, every enemy encounter has been rebuilt to modern standards while keeping the combat and structure of the original intact. For Xbox players who grew up with the original Halo, this is the nostalgia hit of the year. For players discovering it for the first time, it's the best possible entry point into the series.

DOOM: The Dark Ages Revelations — July 2026 (PS5, Xbox, PC)

The long-awaited expansion to 2025's DOOM: The Dark Ages arrives in July. The Dark Ages was already one of the year's best shooters — brutal, fast, and visually stunning — and Revelations expands the campaign with new environments, new enemy types, and new weapons. If you played and loved the base game, this is an easy yes.

Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game — July 23 (PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, PC)

Based on Avatar: The Last Airbender with 12 playable characters from the show, Avatar Legends is a 2D fighter that looks and moves exactly like the anime it's based on. Pre-orders are live now. With a new Avatar movie also in development, the franchise is back at peak cultural relevance — and this game is arriving at exactly the right moment.

Splatoon Raiders — July 2026 (Switch 2)

A story-focused spin-off to Nintendo's multiplayer ink-shooter series, Splatoon Raiders shifts the focus from PvP competition to a single-player adventure across different islands with a wave-based co-op mode alongside it. If the main Splatoon series always felt too multiplayer-heavy for you, Raiders is the version you've been asking for.

High on Life 2 — Coming to Switch 2 July 2026

The Rick and Morty creators' comedic first-person shooter sequel originally launched in February on PS5, Xbox and PC. July brings it to Switch 2. If you missed the absurdist humour and solid gunplay the first time around, the Switch 2 version gives you another entry point — and it's reportedly even more ridiculous than its predecessor in the best possible way.

August 2026 — The Big Month

August is where things get serious. Three massive games on the same day, plus Elden Ring finally coming to Switch 2.

Star Wars: Zero Company — August 27 (PS5, Xbox, PC)

A brand new Star Wars strategy game set during the Clone Wars era. Zero Company follows a squad of clone troopers and their allies through tactical turn-based combat across multiple planets. It's the first major Star Wars game to lean fully into the strategy genre rather than action-adventure, and the early coverage has been extremely positive. If you're a Star Wars fan who also plays XCOM, this was made for you.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 — August 27 (PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, Switch, PC)

Vol. 1 collected the first three Metal Gear Solid games. Vol. 2 brings Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker together for the first time on modern hardware. MGS4 in particular has been effectively unavailable since the PS3 era — it never received a remaster or PC port and could only be played on original hardware. This collection finally changes that. For anyone who followed the series and never got to finish it, August 27 is a significant date.

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy — August 27 (PS5, Xbox, PC)

The third entry in the Plague Tale series following Innocence and Requiem. The series follows siblings Amicia and Hugo through medieval France overrun by plague and rats — tense, emotional, and visually stunning in a way that routinely surprises people who go in expecting a standard action-adventure. Legacy continues their story with what appears to be an expanded world and new mechanics. If you've never tried the series, both predecessors are worth playing before this arrives.

Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition — August 28 (Switch 2)

Elden Ring — FromSoftware's 2022 GOTY winner and one of the best games of the decade — finally comes to Switch 2 as the Tarnished Edition, which bundles the base game with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. This is the complete Elden Ring experience on a handheld for the first time. If you've never played it or want a portable version of the full package, August 28 is the date.

The Bigger Picture — Planning Your Summer

Here's the honest read on July and August 2026 for your wallet.

If you're primarily a PlayStation player — Attack on Titan 3, DOOM Revelations, A Plague Tale Legacy, and Star Wars: Zero Company are your summer. Four different genres, four strong reasons to have PlayStation credit ready.

If you're on Xbox — Halo: Campaign Evolved is the headline. Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 and Star Wars: Zero Company round out a genuinely strong summer that doesn't require Game Pass to enjoy, though both are expected on the service.

If you're on Switch 2 — August alone gives you Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, Metal Gear Solid Vol. 2, and Star Wars: Zero Company. Stacked with Splatoon Raiders and High on Life 2 in July, it might be the best two months Nintendo's new hardware has had since launch.

And then November arrives, GTA 6 launches, and everything changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the biggest game releasing in July 2026?

Halo: Campaign Evolved and Attack on Titan 3 are the two standouts in July. Halo is the bigger cultural moment — a ground-up Unreal Engine 5 remake of one of gaming's most important titles — while Attack on Titan 3 is the most anticipated anime game of the year.

What games are coming in August 2026?

August 27 is the highlight: Star Wars Zero Company, Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2, and A Plague Tale Legacy all release on the same day. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition arrives on Switch 2 the following day, August 28.

Is Elden Ring coming to Switch 2?

Yes — Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition arrives on Switch 2 on August 28, 2026. It includes the base game and the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, making it the complete Elden Ring experience on Nintendo's handheld for the first time.

Will Metal Gear Solid 4 be on PC?

Yes — Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 launches August 27 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Switch, and PC. This is the first time MGS4 has been available on PC or modern hardware outside the original PS3 release.

Is Star Wars Zero Company on Game Pass?

Not confirmed at the time of writing. Given the game is published independently and not by Xbox Game Studios, day-one Game Pass is not guaranteed. Check the Xbox Store closer to August 27 for confirmation.

What should I play before GTA 6 in November?

If you want one game from each month — Halo: Campaign Evolved in July for Xbox players or Attack on Titan 3 for everyone else, and Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition in August if you're on Switch 2, or Star Wars: Zero Company if you prefer strategy. Then save your biggest budget for November.

Planning your July and August gaming? Make sure your PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo eShop or Steam wallet is loaded ahead of the summer's biggest launches. We stock EU digital gift cards for all platforms with instant email delivery — top up now and be ready when the release dates hit.

Sources: AIDigitalKeys,GameSpot, GamesRadar, VGC, Game Informer, TheGamer, GamingBible. All release dates correct as of June 28, 2026 and subject to change.