The year of the Switch 2 and of Unreal Engine 5 everywhere

Two factors define the shape of the year: the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, and Unreal Engine 5 becoming the default engine for large projects.

The consequence is not obvious. A single engine flattens the image — games from different studios increasingly resemble each other not only in quality but in handwriting. Standing out becomes expensive, and a recognisable visual language turns into a rarity.