The gaming industry in 2025 will be remembered for its faltering AAAA projects and the problems of major studios, but also for one of the largest acquisitions in the history of the industry – the sale of the American gaming giant EA, which ended up in Saudi hands for an amount greater than the gross domestic product of most countries in the world. Although the year was marked by numerous downturns, it simultaneously clearly demonstrated why indie games are the true "pillar" of the entire industry and why they provide hope for creative developers who, regardless of budget, manage to deliver top-notch experiences.
Along with the waste of money and creative misfires from major publishers (we're looking at you Ubisoft and BioWare), we also received a number of indie gems. Titles like Megabonka and Clair Obscure 33 literally swept the competition during 2025, while Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong with their sequels once again proved that the sub-genres of action-adventure and RPGs, once neglected, are now among the highest quality genres in the industry. Additionally, major announcements for 2026 have arrived, among which the long-awaited GTA VI stands out, which, despite multiple delays, remains the most anticipated game of the last decade.
It can be said that 2025 brought fundamental changes to the gaming industry, but the changes did not spare the other, significantly more popular branch of entertainment – the film industry. Hollywood has finally realized that gaming represents an inexhaustible source of ideas and profit and that successful games can be transformed into new, attractive film franchises. Producers have turned to adaptations of gaming hits, and the announcements for the next twelve months offer enough material for a short but very promising list of titles.
The first in a series of announced film adaptations is Return to Silent Hill. Director Christopher Gans returns to the cult franchise with a psychological horror based on Konami's game Silent Hill 2. The film is scheduled for release on January 26, 2026, and follows James Sunderland, played by Jeremy Irvine, as he returns to the haunted town after receiving a mysterious letter from his deceased wife. Hannah Emily Anderson portrays the character Mary Crane, and the film promises a faithful adaptation of the eerie and emotionally powerful core of the original game.
Of course, there is also Mortal Kombat II, the sequel to the first film which unexpectedly achieved success among gamers as well as the wider audience, thanks to a combination of brutal action and recognizable humor. The plot of the upcoming film focuses on the rise of Shao Kahn and the brutal conflict that threatens the very structure of reality. The Mortal Kombat series is known for its visceral fights, rich mythology, and uncompromising violence, and it seems that the sequel is ready to fully embrace all these elements. The inclusion of Johnny Cage further hints at the return of more classic characters, so if the first film was just a warm-up, the second looks like the real main event.
The next film comes from another legendary "fighter" franchise – Street Fighter. Directed by Kitao Sakurai, the film hits theaters on October 16, 2026. This is the fourth live-action adaptation of Capcom's cult fighting game. The screenplay was written by Dalan Musson (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), while the cast is led by Andrew Koji as Ryu, Noah Centineo as Ken, Callina Liang as Chun-Li, and Jason Momoa as Blanka. The story is set in 1993, at a time when Street Fighter II dominated arcades, and follows Ryu and Ken as they are recruited by Chun-Li for a global tournament tied to a deeper conspiracy. What awaits us, we do not know, but if we believe the words of the film's director, there is definitely no lack of love for the project.
The Mushroom Kingdom is moving to space in the film Super Mario Bros. Galaxy, a sequel to the hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie from 2023. The film arrives in theaters on April 3, 2026, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, based on a screenplay by Matthew Fogel, inspired by the legendary game Super Mario Galaxy from 2007.
The voice cast returns in full force – Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, and Keegan-Michael Key, and Yoshi officially joins the adventure. Although the plot details are still a secret, a space adventure with new worlds and characters is expected, and given that the first film grossed over $1.3 billion, expectations are extremely high.
On the list is also Resident Evil, a fresh reboot of the cult horror franchise directed by Zach Cregger (Barbarian). The film arrives on September 18, 2026, and brings an original story set in snow-covered Raccoon City, with clear influences from Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3. The plot follows a delivery driver trapped in the midst of a viral collapse, with production by Constantin Film, Vertigo Entertainment, and PlayStation Productions.
We should also briefly mention one of the most popular mobile games, Angry Birds, which will receive its third film adaptation in the new year of 2026. Six years after the sequel to this once-viral game, Angry Birds Movie 3 will hit theaters in December 2026. We’re not quite sure if there will be an audience for this film in 2026, but we’ll live and see.
If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that creativity does not reside in Excel spreadsheets and budgets of several hundred million dollars, but in good ideas; regardless of whether they come from a small indie studio or a dark Japanese underground passage with no exit. Gaming and film have finally found a common language, and the audience is the biggest winner of this alliance.
Whether these projects will succeed remains to be seen, but if we look at the last few years of synergy between Hollywood and the gaming industry, we can say that the audience is not so averse to these projects and welcomes adaptations of their favorite games more than ever. You can definitely expect articles on this topic from the Virus.hr portal, and until then, let’s remember these legendary gaming titles.
