Bandai Namco is a strange publisher. One moment it serves you a dark fantasy RPG about vampires in medieval Europe, the next an anime soccer where people kick the ball as if trying to break the atmosphere, and then in between it squeezes in Elden Ring for the new Nintendo console, Sword Art Online action RPG, and a new Ace Combat. Chaos? Yes, but definitely interesting chaos.
Looking at the current schedule for 2026, Bandai Namco has quite a diverse lineup. There isn't just one big title around which everything revolves, but rather several different attempts to cover multiple audiences at once: RPG fans, anime enthusiasts, Switch 2 owners, action lovers, and nostalgics.
The Blood of Dawnwalker
The biggest and most interesting title in Bandai Namco's calendar for 2026 is definitely The Blood of Dawnwalker. The game is set to release on September 3, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and it is developed by Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by former CD Projekt RED veterans. Bandai Namco confirmed the release date, opened pre-orders, and showcased new gameplay from the current PC version of the game at the end of April.
If everything falls into place, this could be Bandai Namco's most important RPG outside of already established franchises. Not because we desperately need another vampire game, but because Dawnwalker seems like an attempt to create something ambitious, dark, and character-driven, and that is always worth following. Especially when it comes from people who know that “open world” doesn’t just mean a bigger map and more question marks.
Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online tries to capture the magic of Aincrad again
For the anime and JRPG audience, Echoes of Aincrad is set to release on July 10, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Bandai Namco describes it as an action RPG set within the deadly floors of Aincrad, featuring real-time combat, character progression, equipment, weapons, and a partner system.
This is, of course, Sword Art Online territory. So, a virtual world, a fight for survival, and anime drama. What seems most interesting so far is the combat system. The game uses a partner who fights alongside you and responds to commands, and the key feature is the so-called Switch system, where players can swap with their partner, chain attacks, and use special skills.
That's a good direction. Echoes of Aincrad emphasizes more active combat and tactical use of partners. If that dynamic really works, this could be more than just another product for fans.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve: the return of flying, drama, and missiles from all directions
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is coming in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Bandai Namco officially announces the return of its long-running aerial action franchise, focusing on high-octane combat, spectacular skies, and a stronger narrative presentation of pilots and squadrons.
The official site mentions the pilot's story through first-person scenes, the pressure of command, decision-making, and relationships within the squadron. In other words, Bandai Namco clearly doesn't want just "another Ace Combat," but wants to further emphasize the human side of the aerial spectacle.
If Ace Combat 8 captures the feeling of speed, the sky, and melodrama, it could be one of the big action titles of the year, and if it doesn't hit the mark, at least we'll have beautiful clouds.
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition: Lands Between finally coming to Switch 2
One of the most notable Bandai Namco moves for 2026 is Elden Ring Tarnished Edition for Nintendo Switch 2. This edition includes the base Elden Ring, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, new gear, and customization options for Torrent's appearance. It has been officially announced for 2026 on Switch 2.
This is not a new game, of course. Elden Ring has long consumed enough human hours to be considered a public health phenomenon, but its arrival on Switch 2 is still significant, as it opens FromSoftware's massive RPG to a new audience and, interestingly, tests how much the Nintendo Switch 2 can handle large modern open-world titles.
If the port is technically stable, Tarnished Edition could become one of the most important third-party titles on Switch 2. If not, the internet will have a week's worth of material to complain about.
Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters: soccer, but the physics have gone on strike
For an audience that loves sports games but finds FIFA too lacking in drama because players don't kick the ball like energy projectiles, there's Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters. The game is coming in 2026 to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Bandai Namco announces 22 national teams, over 110 playable characters, and more than 150 animated special moves.
World Fighters brings enhanced on-field action, new super moves for passing, dribbling, sliding tackles, and blocks, and the system where the mind games between the goalkeeper and shooter are further emphasized during shots on goal sounds intriguing.
Will it be a serious competitive sports game? Probably not in the traditional sense. Will it be chaotic anime soccer fun for fans of the series? If they do the job right, absolutely.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3: a big comeback, but not until 2027.
Although it's not a game for 2026, it's hard to overlook Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, as Bandai Namco officially confirmed in April 2026 that a sequel is planned for 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Xenoverse 2 has become almost comically long-lived. The 2016 game is still receiving content, which is impressive. The new sequel introduces a completely new Dragon Ball world set in AGE 1000, with original characters designed by Akira Toriyama, West City as the center, and the Great Saiyan Squad as the new story framework.
For Dragon Ball fans, this is a big deal. Xenoverse is not a perfect series, but it has what many anime games lack: the feeling that you are truly creating your own character in that world and participating in its chaos.
Tales of Arise on Switch 2: old RPG, new audience
Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn Edition is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on May 22, 2026. This edition brings Tales of Arise with the Beyond the Dawn expansion to the new Nintendo platform.
This is not the most exciting item on the list if you have already played the game, but for the Switch audience, it can be a very solid addition to the catalog. Tales of Arise is one of the more modern and accessible entries in the Tales series, and its arrival on Switch 2 nicely shows that Bandai Namco is seriously counting on the new Nintendo platform, not just through smaller ports, but also through major RPG titles.
What does this lineup tell us?
Bandai Namco in 2026 is not just playing one card. There are big RPG projects like The Blood of Dawnwalker, the return of major franchises like Ace Combat, anime titles for an audience that knows what it wants, Switch 2 ports to expand reach, and announcements for 2027 that are already laying the groundwork.
Not every title is equally big, nor will every one hit every audience. But the lineup is interesting precisely because it is not monotonous. Bandai Namco currently acts as a publisher that understands that its strength is not just in one big blockbuster, but in breadth.
If I had to highlight three games that will be most worth following, they would be The Blood of Dawnwalker, Ace Combat 8, and Elden Ring Tarnished Edition. Dawnwalker because it could become a new serious RPG IP. Ace Combat 8 because the franchise has the rare ability to turn military action into a melodramatic spectacle. Elden Ring on Switch 2 because it will be interesting to see if one of the most important games of the last generation can really function well in portable form.
