Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Trending
  • Summer Game Fest
  • New games for 2025
  • Upcoming Switch 2 games
  • Switch 2 stock

Recommended reading

The Witcher 4
Games Wildcard Wishlist: These are the games we've pinned our hopes and dreams on turning up at Summer Game Fest 2025
Upcoming PC games 2025 header imagine featuring InZoi / Split Fiction / Elden Ring: Nightreign / Dune: Awakening
PC Gaming Upcoming PC games: New PC games for 2025 and beyond
Acer Predator Orion X review of the PC next to another ITX chassis
Desktop PCs The best gaming PC 2025: Take the pre-built route to greatness
The best laptop games - Hades 2 screenshot of Melinoë and Hecate, flanked by shades, at the crossroads. A large cauldron sits in the middle of the image.
PC Gaming The best games to play on a laptop right now
The best Steam games to play in 2024 - Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3 looking pensive with his hand on his chin
FPS Games The 25 best Steam games for 2025
Rear lid of Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 showing LED lighting strip
Laptops When should you upgrade your gaming laptop? The top three rigs I'd buy this year (and who should grab them)
PC Gamer presents PC Gaming Show logo
Events & Conferences The PC Gaming Show 2025 confirms Ubisoft, Devolver Digital, and more
  1. Games

10 bold PC predictions for 2015

Features
By Connor Sheridan published 8 January 2015

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Compute this

Compute this

My dear PC gamers, it is a new year, and so it is time for me to don my sparkly purple soothsaying hat and let you know what you should expect over the coming twelve months. It's a bit hard to make predictions of what all will occur in 2015 that will make you super happy/sad/smirk that you saw it coming, but I'm going to do it anyway. Despite all the disparate genres, hardware setups, and subreddits that PC gaming adheres to, there're still a few things almost all of us care about. Stuff that I'm going to predict the hell out of.

With that in mind, it's time for my soothsaying hat to do its magic. I hope it works, because it was kind of expensive and the kiosk at the mall had disappeared by the time I got back from the food court

Page 1 of 12
Page 1 of 12
Oculus Rift ships, doesn't change the world (yet)

Oculus Rift ships, doesn't change the world (yet)

Oculus has fallen into a comfortable little cycle of showing off a new development kit, sticking around to hear the lustful sighs of tech bloggers, then going quiet for a quarter or two. But even with bookoo Facebook bucks keeping Palmer Luckey, John Carmack, and crew working in comfort (it's a good thing, too, since that Kickstarter cash had to run out long ago) they can't wait too much longer to ship an actual consumer version.

Luckey's previously said he'd be 'disappointed' if the first version of the device didn't hit retail by 2015. That said, I don't think the grand consumer release is going to change the world to the degree that Snow Crash-reading, Second Life-tolerating virtual reality diehards may expect. The consumer Rift will garner the most public interest VR has enjoyed in decades, but it's not going to take over our lives until we have a better way to interact with it than 'sit in a chair and hold this Xbox gamepad'.

Page 2 of 12
Page 2 of 12
Valve's Steam Controller releases, is just another gamepad

Valve's Steam Controller releases, is just another gamepad

Remember the first time you saw a mock-up of the Steam Controller? Valve's bizarre creation looked more like a robot owl than a traditional gamepad, complete with a big ol' circular trackpad for each thumb and a glowing touchscreen set right in the middle. It was meant to satisfy the diverse demands of PC gaming while delivering the couch-friendly comfort you'd want from a living room computer.

But every time we've seen it since then, it's looked more and more like a regular old controller - away went the touchscreen, in came a four-button face layout and joystick, and now it looks like one of those crrrrrazy trackpads will sport a traditional D-Pad overlay. I was tempted to say that Valve would drop the project entirely, but Steam Machines will still need some kind of bundled input device if they're ever going to take off. Said device just won't be nearly as interesting as the robot owl I was hoping for.

Page 3 of 12
Page 3 of 12
Valve doesn't announce Half-Life 3 (sorry)

Valve doesn't announce Half-Life 3 (sorry)

Divide and factor the number of letters in this sentence to arrive at the number '3' any way you want, Half-Life 3 isn't coming in 2015. A projected release date for Half-Life 3 isn't coming in 2015. Any official statement about Half-Life 3 from Valve beyond 'yeah, we still want to make that' isn't coming in 2015. I'm terribly sorry, I really am.

But I didn't have to tell you that, did I? You already knew it. Just look at what Valve's keeping busy with these days - virtual reality experiments, taking over living rooms, expanding the scope of the Steam store, keeping free-to-play games like Dota 2 and Team Fortress 2 worldwide phenomenons years after their release with frequent tweaks and updates... I'm not saying Valve will never pick up the crowbar again, but it's time to move on for now.

Page 4 of 12
Page 4 of 12
Facebook reveals it's getting (back) into gaming

Facebook reveals it's getting (back) into gaming

There was a time that the average PC gamer was an avid player of Farmville, or Mafia Wars, or any number of other Facebook games. They spread like literal viruses, infecting users who accepted invites from their friends. These new users were encouraged to spread the game further. Ever since Facebook clamped down on those vectors (and casual gamers started flocking to mobile devices for their puzzle/farming fix), its gaming side has withered.

Facebook isn't going to let Oculus, its wholly owned VR subsidiary, just be a passive source of income. Just as Amazon Game Studios arrived soon after the Fire TV, I can easily see Facebook betting on a new publisher/developer division to help expand the reach of Oculus Rift and maybe even take another stab at mobile gaming. All first-party - no more weird, independent-yet-co-dependant business relationships (again, just ask Zynga).

Page 5 of 12
Page 5 of 12
4K resolutions put consoles in the rear-view

4K resolutions put consoles in the rear-view

PS4 and Xbox One looked pretty fly for their first year on shelves, boasting 1080p resolutions and the kind of ultra-clear textures that let you stop and read a street sign or poster in between gun fights (if that's your thing). For the first time in years, the visual differences between a game running on a high-end PC and a game running on a new console weren't all that appreciable to the average consumer.

But the honeymoon period is nearly over. The ever-growing power of the PC platform already supports 4K resolutions for many games, and as super-high-res displays get more common it will become apparent that consoles just can't keep up. Sure, we could see some games with minimalist visuals running at 4K on consoles with smooth results. But more graphically complex games still cling to 30 frames-per-second while running at 1080p. You'll never see this generation replicate those kinds of visuals while trying to render four times as many pixels.

Page 6 of 12
Page 6 of 12
Ubisoft abandons Uplay for PC distribution

Ubisoft abandons Uplay for PC distribution

Ok, so this one is mostly a wish on my part with some circumstantial evidence to back it up. But if Ubisoft was ever going to stop the mad bid for digital distribution/loyalty rewards/social networking/DRM that is Uplay, 2015 is the year to do it. Seriously, look at how its perception among avid gamers suffered last year between Watch Dogs disappointment, Assassin's Creed Unity glitches, and network problems keeping The Crew offline, then consider where it goes from here.

Ubisoft could instantly generate some goodwill by just dropping Uplay and selling on Steam - no more of this buy-it-here-play-it-there nonsense. Hell, it could start selling PC games exclusively on Origin and it would still be an improvement. I've never met a single person who enjoys dealing with Uplay on PC, so why not take this moment to simplify operations, eliminate some strain on Ubisofts servers (pray for The Division, you guys, pray for it), and end the suffering?

Page 7 of 12
Page 7 of 12
The second wave of Kickstarters crashes in

The second wave of Kickstarters crashes in

Last year was pretty scarce in terms of high-profile Kickstarters. You could say that's because people are more wary of the platform after some crushing disappointments, and you wouldn't be wrong. But there was another factor at play: so many of the old-school, feel-good creators that folks supported en masse in years past were already working on a Kickstarter project.

Just look at all the Kickstarter projects that are set to release in 2015: Pillars of Eternity, the second act of Broken Age, Mighty No. 9, Shroud of the Avatar, and many more. All those creators will need something to do after they complete those projects. Assuming they don't all suck and burn up years of consumer goodwill, why wouldn't those creators return to Kickstarter for the next one?

Page 8 of 12
Page 8 of 12
Space sims get even more massive

Space sims get even more massive

Elite: Dangerous is out, and people seem to love it (including us). Star Citizen is um. Well, you can play parts of it, which seem cool, and I can only imagine that more bits and pieces will be made playable throughout 2015. No Man's Sky is riding hype from Sony for its 2015 release, but it will be just as enigmatic and enticing on PC. And as we wait for more body awareness and input solutions for virtual reality, stuff like Oculus Rift is best suited to making you feel like a head floating in space.

In other words, the old flame between PC and space sims has been rekindled. The decade-dormant genre is seeing a new wave of relevance for old-school PC gamers and tech junkies alike. Expect to see a bunch of new contenders emerge to capitalize on this happy confluence, each with its own new take on the formula. Thankfully, there's plenty of room up in space for everybody.

Page 9 of 12
Page 9 of 12
ESPN gets a League of Legends beat

ESPN gets a League of Legends beat

If you pay attention to eSports, you already know this, but if you don't, it's time to start: League of Legends' 2014 world championship finals were watched by 27 million people. That's 3.5 million more than watched the last game of the 2014 MLB World Series. Many of those viewers watched the match on online streaming service ESPN3 - which also aired Dota 2's The International 4 in July. That's right, eSports on ESPN.

It's just a short leap from there to regular coverage for LoL, Dota 2, Counter-Strike and other competitive stalwarts on mainstream sports channels - a leap I expect many of them to take in 2015. Traditional/physical sports will still be their primary focus, but they'd be daft to ignore one of the fastest growing competitions in the world... even if it uses goofy screen names instead of jersey numbers.

Page 10 of 12
Page 10 of 12
Kentucky Route Zero's last episode ends human suffering

Kentucky Route Zero's last episode ends human suffering

It wouldn't be a holistic look at the near future of PC gaming without an enthusiastic endorsement of some high-falutin game that relatively few people have played. In this case, I'll direct your attention to Kentucky Route Zero, an episodic point-n-click adventure in five parts. The first three released from January 2013 to May 2014, so I'm hopeful that we'll see the finale to the quietly poignant story in 2015.

And when we do, that will be the end. Everyone will acknowledge that Kentucky Route Zero is so damn good that there's no point in making anything else. Purpose-built laptops will be airdropped all over the world, and there will be no more war, disease, or starvation. We'll all just derive our nutrition and warmth from Kentucky Route Zero. A few billion years later the sun will engulf the planet, but we'll too busy talking about Conway's relationship with Lysette to notice.

Page 11 of 12
Page 11 of 12
Never tell me the odds

Never tell me the odds

Those are my top predictions for 2015, but what do you think? Will I be eating some of those words this time next year, or will I be enjoying my new career as a PC gaming prophet? Let me know in the comments!

While you're at it, make sure you check out our 10 predictions for Xbox and for PlayStation in 2015.

Page 12 of 12
Page 12 of 12
Connor Sheridan
Connor Sheridan
Social Links Navigation

I got a BA in journalism from Central Michigan University - though the best education I received there was from CM Life, its student-run newspaper. Long before that, I started pursuing my degree in video games by bugging my older brother to let me play Zelda on the Super Nintendo. I've previously been a news intern for GameSpot, a news writer for CVG, and now I'm a staff writer here at GamesRadar.

See more Games Features
Read more
The Witcher 4
Wildcard Wishlist: These are the games we've pinned our hopes and dreams on turning up at Summer Game Fest 2025
Upcoming PC games 2025 header imagine featuring InZoi / Split Fiction / Elden Ring: Nightreign / Dune: Awakening
Upcoming PC games: New PC games for 2025 and beyond
Acer Predator Orion X review of the PC next to another ITX chassis
The best gaming PC 2025: Take the pre-built route to greatness
The best laptop games - Hades 2 screenshot of Melinoë and Hecate, flanked by shades, at the crossroads. A large cauldron sits in the middle of the image.
The best games to play on a laptop right now
The best Steam games to play in 2024 - Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3 looking pensive with his hand on his chin
The 25 best Steam games for 2025
Rear lid of Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 showing LED lighting strip
When should you upgrade your gaming laptop? The top three rigs I'd buy this year (and who should grab them)
Latest in Games
The Witcher 4 tech demo trailer screenshot of Ciri chatting in a market
The Witcher 4 narrative lead says CD Projekt Red "can't break" the stuff that people want from a Witcher game: "We have to do that"
Screenshot from Dear me, I was' announcement trailer, showing a woman in a necktie sitting in what looks like a class room.
New Switch 2 game comes from the developer of some absolute DS classics, is designed for "adult women," and is doing something genuinely exciting for visual novels
Screenshot from Hytale, showing three warriors with a sword, bow, and staff sighting a big, icy dragon.
OG Hytale founder confirms he "will reach out" to Riot Games about buying back the Minecraft rival: "The chances of revival are next to impossible… It's the least I can do"
A Short Hike
"I might never finish this game, so I'm releasing the demo": After 9 years, A Short Hike dev soft-cancels Paper Mario-inspired RPG but lets players try a build
Mario Kart World screenshot featuring Birdo
"Games are amazingly affordable": Former PlayStation boss defends $80 prices because stuff like Mario Kart provides "hours and hours and hours with just one purchase"
FC 25
FC 25 Path To Glory tracker with all Women’s Euro 2025 cards
Latest in Features
Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
The Squid Game season 3 finale is a crushing but ultimately hopeful conclusion – and I wouldn't have it any other way
Resident Evil Requiem
I don't care what Capcom says, Leon not being in Resident Evil Requiem makes no sense
One-Punch Man season 3: Saitama punching while in mid-air during the anime One-Punch Man.
Anime Expo 2025: dates, announcements, and why One-Punch Man fans should be excited
The Shrouds
It may feature corpses, missing limbs, and AI, but with The Shrouds, legendary director David Cronenberg has made the ultimate meditation on grief: "To me, there is no afterlife"
Henry Cavill at the premiere of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
Henry Cavill’s Warhammer 40K series should ditch Space Marines for one of the series’ most important characters, and I know exactly how it would work
A full setup for Fate of the Fellowship with cards, tokens, and pieces all laid out
Legendary board game designer says his upcoming Lord of the Rings project is "definitely the most thematically and mechanically rich game I’ve worked on"
  1. Sam fires at the ghost mech squid boss in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
    1
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  2. 2
    Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic"
  3. 3
    Tron: Catalyst review: "Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I'm let down by a time-loop story that falls flat"
  4. 4
    FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special"
  5. 5
    Dune: Awakening review: "Both extremely compelling and extraordinarily boring, sometimes at the same time – yet still a true Dune love letter"
  1. M3GAN doll in M3GAN 2.0
    1
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  2. 2
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  3. 3
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  4. 4
    From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: "Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu"
  5. 5
    Karate Kid: Legends review: "Better than Karate Kid (2010), nothing on Karate Kid (1984)"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...