They've been a long time coming, but the next generation of consoles could finally make an appearance in 2013: rumours suggest the new Xbox will launch by Christmas, with PlayStation 4 hot on its heels. What they'll be like – and whether they'll manage to distract gamers from their laptops, smartphones and tablets – remains to be seen. For now, the focus is on seeing the current generation out in style. For Microsoft, this means Gears of War: Judgment (March), a last hurrah for a 360 staple. Yes, it's another Gears game, but it's by the makers of the riotously inventive Bulletstorm. Sony, by contrast, is touting two ambitious new PS3 projects: Beyond: Two Souls (Q2) is a moody "interactive drama", while The Last of Us (May) is a post-apocalyptic action game from Uncharted's developers. The Vita, meanwhile, plays host to the adorable, origami-themed Tearaway.
Elsewhere, end-of-console-cycle malaise is apparent in a rash of sequels, prequels and reboots. Devil May Cry (January) gives a Japanese classic an all-American makeover; Dead Space 3 (February) attempts to splice chills with thrills, while Tomb Raider (March) bids to imbue the original cyberbabe with some psychological depth.
We can also expect Bioshock Infinite (February), Grand Theft Auto V (Q2), a long-long-awaited expansion for Starcraft 2 (March), Bungie's top-secret shooter Destiny and at least one new Metal Gear game: Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance drops in February; internet fans are convinced that Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes and perhaps even Metal Gear Solid 5 (which has yet to acquire a ludicrous subtitle) will follow later in the year.
Of course, games don't need to be about cyborgs, shotguns and/or survivalism. If anyone understands that, it's Nintendo. The Wii U got off to a wobbly start, but Pikmin 3 (Q2), Wonderful 101, Lego City Undercover (Q1), the madcap mini-game collection Game & Wario and the gorgeous sidescroller Rayman Legends (March) all look vibrant, original and fun – and then there's the prospect of a new Zelda on the horizon. On the 3DS, meanwhile, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (March) and Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Q2) should further cement Nintendo's reputation as a purveyor of superior, kid-friendly fare.
Factor in downloadable games and indie titles, such as Braid-maker Jonathan Blow's The Witness, and gamers should have plenty to do while they wait for those new consoles.
