Source: Capcom / Onimusha: Way of the Sword / The Game Awards 2024
The Game Awards 2024 wasn’t just about celebrating the year in video games and handing out trophies. It also has become the night when we can expect to have our minds blown by some big announcements, and this year, Geoff Keighly came with the fire.
On a night when PlayStation’s least popular mascot, Astro Bot, secured a Game of The Year win thanks to Team Asobi’s fantastic platformer and Balatro, an Indie poker roguelike, continued to captivate gamers, Keighly made sure that his annual awards show delivered the goods regarding game announcements.
In what was easily the best Game Awards show in a long time, numerous beloved franchises returned, and other massive announcements from your favorite video game studios.
So, let’s jump into them.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword
Source: Capcom / Onimusha: Way of the Sword
It’s been nearly two decades since the last installment in the popular Onimusha franchise, but our patience is finally being rewarded when the game arrives in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam.
Based on the trailer, the legendary Oni Gauntlet, the mystical tool that helps the heroes in the Onimusha games take on the demons, can be seen on a yet-to-be-revealed lone samurai who is tasked to save the world like those who rocked the gauntlet before him.
The synopsis for Onimusha: Way of the Sword reads:
Onimusha: Way of the Sword takes place in Kyoto during the early Edo period. In this time of relative peace for Japan, Malice has befallen the ancient city. Twisted into an eerie and unsettling place, Kyoto has been infested by the demonic Genma. In the debut trailer for Onimusha: Way of the Sword, a lone samurai armed with the Oni Gauntlet engages in fierce, blood-soaked sword fights with these hellish creatures from another world.
Consider us hyped; 2026 can’t come soon enough. Below, you can watch the trailer for the reveal of Onimusha: Way of the Sword.
Virtua Fighter Is Back & Other Announcements From SEGA
One of the many pleasant surprises on the night came from SEGA. The iconic 3D fighting game franchise Virtua Fighter is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and what better way to do this than with a new game, Virtua Fighter Project?
The brief teaser shows a mystery fighter wearing a fedora before he is eventually seen fighting Sarah Bryant, a longtime character from the franchise. SEGA released no other details about the game. A VF Direct shared more information about the game and the announcement of Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown Version 2.0, a free update that will only be available for 5 days.
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. was also announced and will finally bring the fighting game to Steam. It’s currently in open beta if you’re eager to take this one for a spin.
Also announced on the heels of the Sonic The Hedgehog 3 The Movie’s release Sonic Racing: Crossworlds was announced. The brief teaser of Shadow The Hedgehog in his vehicle before he pulled off. According to a press release, the game “features a distinct racing mechanic that promises to transport Sonic racing fans into a new dimension.”
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, creators of the Like a Dragon franchise, is still hard at work and teased a “brand-new concept, Project Century.”
Ninja Gaiden Returns!
Source: The Game Kitchen / DOTEMU / Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
The team behind Blasphemous is bringing us a brand new chapter in the iconic Ninja Gaiden franchise called Ragebound. DOTEMU, the Paris-based publisher doing the lord’s work bringing back all the fire side scroller beat ’em up games, is also attached to this latest game.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is described as a brand new sidescrolling adventure in the franchise that will dive into the untold chapter of the Ninja Gaiden saga. It features old-school gameplay with a brand-new polish, displayed in spectacular pixel art.
The synopsis for Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound reads:
Our story begins when Ryu Hayabusa journeys to America to honor his father’s will. While he is away, the barrier between the human and the demon worlds suddenly shatters, unleashing a terrifying army upon the Hayabusa Village, which now faces an unprecedented threat in Ryu’s absence.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound slashes its way onto consoles and PC the summer of 2025.
Naughty Dog Has A Brand New Franchise
Source: Naughty Dog / Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
Naughty Dog is taking its act to outer space for its brand new franchise, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Naughty Dog Head Neil Druckmann revealed the game is currently in development for the PlayStation 5 console and that the studio has been working on the game since 2020.
While not revealing everything about the game’s plot, Druckmann gave a brief description:
Intergalactic stars our newest protagonist, Jordan A. Mun (Tati Gabrielle), a dangerous bounty hunter who ends up stranded on Sempiria – a distant planet whose communication with the outside universe went dark hundreds of years ago. In fact, anyone who’s flown to it hoping to unravel its mysterious past was never heard from again. Jordan will have to use all her skills and wits if she hopes to be the first person in over 600 years to leave its orbit.
Druckmann also revealed that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross will score the game’s soundtrack. The game developer did not provide information on the release window.
There were plenty of other big announcements during The Game Awards 2024; you can see the rest in the gallery below.