New Games October 2026: The 7 Biggest Releases on Xbox, PlayStation, PC and Nintendo Switch

October 2026 is one of the busiest months for video game releases in years. Between a brand-new Call of Duty, the return of Gears of War, a fresh 2D Castlevania and a family-friendly sports game for Nintendo Switch 2, there is something for every player and every platform. To help you decide what to play, we have rounded up the biggest new games out in October 2026, with a short synopsis of each and the platforms it is available on.

Whether you game on Xbox Series X|Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, PC, or Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, here are the October game releases worth your time and money.

October 2026 Game Releases at a Glance

Use this quick table to see which new games are available on your console or PC.

Game	Release date	Xbox	PlayStation	PC	Nintendo
Gears of War: E-Day	6 Oct	✓	–	✓	–
Star Wars: Galactic Racer	6 Oct	✓	✓	✓	–
Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen	9 Oct	✓	✓	✓	Switch 2
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse	15 Oct	✓	✓	✓	Switch
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort	22 Oct	–	–	–	Switch 2
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4	23 Oct	✓	✓	✓	Switch 2
Phantom Blade Zero	28/29 Oct	–	✓	✓	–

1. Gears of War: E-Day

Release date: 6 October 2026   Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (day one on Xbox Game Pass)

The Coalition and People Can Fly take the series back to where it all began. Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel set 14 years before the original game, on the planet Sera, during Emergence Day: the moment the Locust Horde burst out of the ground and attacked humanity. Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago are struggling with civilian life after the Pendulum Wars, and their friendship is strained after the death of Dom’s brother. The invasion of the industrial city of Kalona forces them back into combat alongside newcomers Mags Carter and Lucas Reyes as Bravo Squad.

The cover-based shooting is still at its heart, but a rebuilt movement system adds sliding, jumping and climbing. The campaign supports four-player online co-op and two-player split-screen. Multiplayer brings 4v4 Team Deathmatch and Conquest, plus Horde Siege, a new 12-player co-op mode. It is an Xbox console exclusive, so there is no PlayStation version at launch.

2. Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Release date: 6 October 2026   Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Podracing is back. Star Wars: Galactic Racer is set in the New Republic era, after the fall of the Empire, in the lawless frontier of the Outer Rim. You play as Shade, a lone racer with a grudge against the powerful Bool family, who is recruited by circuit boss Darius Pax to topple reigning champion Kestar Bool in the unsanctioned “Galactic League”. The mechanic Hibi backs you up with upgrades and tools.

Podracers, landspeeders, speeder bikes and skim speeders all race together on tracks across Tatooine, Jakku, Ando Prime and the volcanic Sentinel One. The single-player campaign uses a roguelite structure: lose and you return the next season with some progress kept. Online races support up to 12 players with cross-platform play. A Nintendo Switch 2 version has not been confirmed.

3. Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen

Release date: 9 October 2026   Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2

Capcom’s open-world fantasy RPG gets a major expansion. Dark Arisen sends the Arisen to Norgan, a long-abandoned, snowbound northern region, where they team up with Eir to uncover the secrets of the undying Fallen Dragon. Players find and appraise forgotten relics to unlock new weapons and skills, and take on 12 “Lost Rites” dungeon challenges that reward rare gear once used by past Arisen. The character creator also gains new hairstyles and tattoos.

On PS5, Xbox and PC, Dark Arisen is available as a bundle with the base game or as standalone DLC. It also marks the game’s first appearance on Nintendo Switch 2, where it is sold as a complete package with the base game included.

4. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

Release date: 15 October 2026   Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch

Konami’s classic vampire-hunting series returns to 2D. Set 23 years after Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, Belmont’s Curse stars Rose Belmont, the daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades. Armed with the Vampire Killer whip and her mother’s tarot deck, Rose fights through the burning streets and catacombs of Paris in 1499 against a mysterious monster known as The Fallen.

It is an exploration-based 2D action game that previews have compared to Symphony of the Night. Defeated bosses are sealed into tarot cards as Arcana, which Rose uses to cast spells, and optional “Works of Mercy” challenges unlock upgrades called Blessings. The Switch version runs at 30fps (60fps elsewhere), and a free demo with carry-over progress is available on every platform.

5. Nintendo Switch Sports Resort

Release date: 22 October 2026   Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2 (exclusive)

A spiritual successor to Wii Sports Resort, this Switch 2 exclusive moves the action to an island getaway. Twelve motion-controlled sports are included: archery, basketball, bowling, boxing, golf, power cruising, prop plane, skateboarding, table tennis, tennis, thumb wrestling and volleyball.

Skateboarding makes use of the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, while the other events rely on familiar swing-and-aim motion. Players can create and customise Sportsmate or Mii characters, and there is both local and online multiplayer. It is the obvious family pick of the month, and it is also sold in a Switch 2 console bundle.

6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Release date: 23 October 2026   Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2

Infinity Ward’s latest is the final chapter of the rebooted Modern Warfare series and the first Call of Duty to launch only on current-generation consoles. The campaign centres on a renewed war between North and South Korea, with missions in New York, Paris and Mumbai, as Captain Price hunts members of a Russian-backed private military company led by “the Archer”, played by Mads Mikkelsen.

Multiplayer launches with 12 core 6v6 maps, the return of Gunfight and Big War, and a new map called Kill Block whose layout changes mid-match. The DMZ extraction mode returns with a Forward Operating Base hub, permanent Operator trait trees and dynamic weather. It is also the first mainline Call of Duty on a Nintendo console in years, with cross-play and optional Joy-Con 2 mouse aiming on Switch 2. Note that it will not arrive on Xbox Game Pass until at least a year after launch.

7. Phantom Blade Zero

Release date: 28 to 29 October 2026 (varies by region)   Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC

S-Game’s stylish action RPG closes out the month. You play as Soul, an elite assassin for a secretive organisation called The Order. Framed for murder and left for dead, he is revived by a mystic healer, but has only 66 days to live and to find out who set him up.

The game blends a dark, “kungfupunk” world with combat inspired by wuxia cinema, built on motion-captured martial arts choreography. After a delay from September, it is landing digitally on PS5 and PC, with physical PS5 editions following in 2027.

Best New Games October 2026 by Platform

• Best for Xbox: Gears of War: E-Day, especially for Game Pass subscribers who can play it from day one.
• Best for PlayStation 5: Phantom Blade Zero for action fans, or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 for shooter fans.
• Best for PC: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, which adds expanded ray tracing on PC.
• Best for Nintendo Switch 2: Nintendo Switch Sports Resort for families and parties, or Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen for RPG fans.
• Best for retro fans: Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, a true sequel to Castlevania III.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the biggest games coming out in October 2026?

The biggest new games in October 2026 are Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Gears of War: E-Day, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort and Phantom Blade Zero.

Is Gears of War: E-Day on PS5?

No. Gears of War: E-Day launches on 6 October 2026 on Xbox Series X|S and PC only, and is available on Xbox Game Pass from day one.

Is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on Nintendo Switch 2?

Yes. Modern Warfare 4 launched on 23 October 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2 as well as PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with cross-play support.

Which October 2026 games are Nintendo exclusives?

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, released on 22 October 2026, is exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.

Final Thoughts

From blockbuster shooters to a nostalgic 2D Castlevania and a feel-good sports collection, the new games of October 2026 cover every genre and every platform. Most of these titles are out now, with Phantom Blade Zero rounding off the month. Bookmark this page and check back for our round-up of the biggest November 2026 game releases.