Sony’s PS5 2026 Trailer Teases Halo on PlayStation — But GTA6 Is Missing

Sony’s PS5 “Must-Play” Games of 2026: Why Halo on PlayStation Matters (and Where GTA6 Went)

This caught my attention because Sony’s new PS5 promo didn’t just show glossy cinematics – it quietly rewrites console assumptions. Halo: Campaign Evolved appearing in a Sony reel is a seismic, headline-grabbing moment: a franchise long tied to Xbox suddenly being positioned as a “must-play” on PlayStation in 2026. Equally notable is what’s missing: Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto VI doesn’t appear, and that absence has already triggered wild speculation about timing and strategy.

• Key takeaways: Halo’s move to PlayStation is real attention-grabbing news, but it’s also a marketing play.
• Omitting GTA6 from the montage opens questions about release timing and Sony’s messaging cadence.
• Several heavy-hitters (Resident Evil Requiem, Nioh 3, Crimson Desert, Marvel’s Wolverine) cluster in early-to-mid 2026 – plan your wishlist accordingly.
• Watch for live-service rumors and cross-platform deals: they can reshape how these launches play out over years, not just launch weeks.

Breaking down the trailer: what Sony actually did

Sony’s video is designed to set expectations and reorder what players prioritize next year. The most obvious headline – Halo: Campaign Evolved included in the PS5 lineup — is both symbolic and practical. Symbolic because Halo moving off Xbox is the end of an era; practical because it gives PlayStation owners access to a flagship FPS experience without buying an Xbox.

Why now? Halo’s 25th anniversary makes 2026 a natural year for a remake and cross-platform push. From Sony’s perspective, plugging Halo into a “must-play” reel is a cheap way to generate buzz and position PS5 as the place to play the biggest stories next year. From 343 Industries’ side, wider platform support increases install base and revenue — no surprises there.

Halo on PlayStation: how big is the deal?

Don’t mistake this for a simple port. Halo: Campaign Evolved is being remade with modern graphics and updated mechanics, and if 343 Industries nails AI, particle effects, and vehicle feel, it could be a showcase FPS on PS5. That said, remakes can overpromise — legacy level design sometimes clashes with modern expectations. For veterans, nostalgia will pull hard; for newcomers, this is a chance to see where the first-person genre learned a lot of its lessons.

Where’s GTA6? The omission that made people talk

Rockstar’s GTA6 absence is conspicuous but not necessarily a sign of a secret delay. Sony’s reel seemed focused on titles likely to occupy players in early and mid-2026 — many of which were already ready to be shown — while reports have suggested GTA6 will land later in the year. Rockstar’s history of tightly controlled marketing cycles and occasional shifts in timing means we shouldn’t panic, but the silence does leave room for doubt and for Sony to control the narrative around its own exclusives and timed highlights.

Other highlights (and red flags)

The slate Sony emphasized — Resident Evil Requiem, Nioh 3, Crimson Desert, Marvel’s Wolverine — is a sensible mix of safe bets and big swings. These are the kinds of games that will actually keep PS5 players busy in early 2026. The red flags: live-service rumors around Halo and a handful of new IPs. Live-service models can extend a game’s life but often trade one-time polish for ongoing monetization. Treat “live” with healthy skepticism until we see core gameplay.

What gamers should do next

• Prioritize early 2026 releases if you like action RPGs and remakes — Nioh 3 and Resident Evil Requiem look like safe bets for value and replay.
• If Halo on PS5 matters to you, wait for hands-on reviews before buying — remakes are hit-or-miss on whether they retain the original’s flow.
• Don’t read too much into GTA6’s absence yet; track Rockstar updates but be ready for a late-2026 window if reports are right.
• Be cautious with live-service promises. Expect post-launch content and plan purchases around the core game’s quality, not just ongoing features.

TL;DR

Sony’s PS5 montage reshuffles expectations: Halo landing on PlayStation is the headline-grabber and a meaningful moment for cross-platform gaming, while GTA6’s absence is notable but not conclusive. Gamers should map their 2026 plans around the early-to-mid year slate Sony highlighted, keep a cautious eye on live-service chatter, and wait for reviews on the Halo remake before committing.