2024’s big gaming anniversaries: Half-Life 2, Warcraft, and more | Digital Trends

2024 isn’t going to be as jam-packed with new AAA video games as 2022 and 2023 had been, giving us extra time to return and admire the classics. Anniversaries and the celebrations that comply with are commonplace within the online game business, particularly if that anniversary is a a number of of 5. Plenty of incredible, influential video games will hit milestones this yr, however a number of stand out. Some might even supply teasers into what is likely to be in retailer for 2024 if builders plan to have a good time their classics. Regardless of whether or not these birthdays include any presents, these are 10 online game anniversaries price celebrating this yr.
Warcraft — 30 years
Blizzard Entertainment
I can’t discuss online game anniversaries in 2024 with out mentioning Warcraft. 2024 is stuffed with milestones for the sequence, due to some uniform releases from Blizzard. The whole franchise will flip 30 on November 15, as that’s the day Warcraft: Orcs & Humans launched and redefined the real-time technique style in 1994. Then there’s World of Warcraft, the most well-liked MMO of all time, which turns 20 in November 2023. Finally, the Warcraft digital collectible card recreation Hearthstone turns ten on March 11. To have a good time, Blizzard Entertainment plans to launch World of Warcraft’s The War Within enlargement and add Cataclysm to World of Warcraft Classic.
Super Metroid — 30 years
Les Shu / Digital Trends
On March 19 in Japan and April 18, 1994 in North America, Nintendo launched Super Metroid on the SNES. It would go on to redefine the action-adventure recreation, laying the intricate groundwork for the Metroidvania style that might immortalize the sequence’ title. Nintendo isn’t celebrating this in any vital approach at the moment, nor does it appear to be the corporate will have a good time the 20-year anniversaries of Metroid: Zero Mission and Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. At the very least, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can play Super Metroid through its SNES and hope that that is the yr Metroid Prime 4 lastly arrives, maybe as a successor to the Nintendo Switch.
Earthbound — 30 years
Nintendio
Although its North American launch wouldn’t come till almost a yr later, in June 1995, Earthbound launched in Japan on August 27, 1994. A cult basic initially, Earthbound grew to become one probably the most influential RPGs of all time due to its biting humorousness, artistic turn-based fight mechanics, and distinctive modern-day setting. Official accounts for the franchise are teasing collaborations and occasions to look at the anniversary this yr, however it doesn’t appear to be that’ll entail any new video games. Like Super Metroid, the sport is on the market through Nintendo Switch Online, as is its predecessor, Earthbound Beginnings.
Grand Theft Auto — San Andreas: 20 years
Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was first launched on October 26, 2004, shortly cementing itself as probably the greatest open-world video games ever made and bringing the GTA sequence’ recognition to new heights. In phrases of celebrations, Rockstar has but to announce any concrete plans. Hopefully, it pays homage to San Andreas ultimately in GTA Online round then and tells us extra about Grand Theft Auto VI all year long. A Definitive Edition of the sport is playable throughout PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and cellular, so that is the yr to present San Andreas a shot in case you haven’t earlier than.
Half-Life 2 — 20 years
Nvidia
Half-Life 2 is among the finest first-person shooters ever made, and it seems like the sport hasn’t aged a day since its launch. That’s why I’m sorry to make you are feeling outdated by confirming that Half-Life 2 will probably be turning 20 on November 16. While I’m not anticipating Valve to announce Half-Life 3 this yr, I hope it does one thing much like the anniversary replace the unique Half-Life acquired final November when it turned 25. Maybe Nvidia’s Half-Life 2 RTX also can come out this yr, impressing as a remaster utilizing expertise like DLSS 3 and RTX IO.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater — 20 years
Konami
The third entry within the Metal Gear Solid sequence got here out on November 17, 2024, and its daring, subversive, and provocative story left an plain mark on the online game business going ahead. It turns 20 this yr, and like the opposite video games within the sequence, Snake Eater’s core political themes nonetheless really feel disparagingly related right now. Those trying to replay Snake Eater this yr can discover it on trendy platforms as a part of final yr’s Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1. While Konami hasn’t confirmed a launch date for it but, I wouldn’t be shocked if its upcoming remake, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, launches this yr.
Nintendo DS — 20 years
Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends
Now it’s time for me to really feel outdated, because the system that outlined my childhood turns 20 on November 21. On that date in 2004, Nintendo continued to revolutionize the hand-held gaming area with the dual-screened Nintendo DS handheld. In an period earlier than smartphones, it popularized touchscreen gaming, doing so proper from launch with video games like WarioWare: Touched!, Pokémon Dash, and Super Mario 64 DS. It’s price digging out that DS you in all probability have tucked away in a drawer someplace this yr; hopefully, Nintendo brings video games from the system to Nintendo Switch Online.
Five Nights at Freddy’s — 10 years
Patti Perret / Universal Pictures
I used to be nonetheless in highschool throughout Five Nights and Freddy’s preliminary launch on August 8, 2014, so I skilled the mania surrounding the franchise firsthand. While I by no means obtained that into the sequence, this franchise has undeniably impacted a technology due to a nonstop flurry of jump-scare-filled follow-ups that dominated on the zenith of YouTube Gaming’s virality. We don’t understand how this yr’s anniversary will probably be commemorated, however contemplating we’re sizzling off the heels of a success movie based mostly on the franchise, I’d anticipate some kind of celebration.
Dragon Age: Inquisition — 10 years
EA
EA’s Dragon Age sequence helped set the usual for contemporary AAA RPGs, and two of its video games have notable anniversaries in 2024. First is Dragon Age: Origins, which aptly kicked off the sequence on November 2, 2009. Then there’s the tenth anniversary of Dragon Age: Inquisition, which got here out on November 18, 2014. The sequence laid dormant during the last decade, however that can change quickly. BioWare and EA have promised to disclose extra about Dragon Age: Dreadwolf this summer time. We don’t know if meaning the fourth recreation will come out this fall.
Shovel Knight — 10 years
Yacht Club Games
While loads of different essential gaming anniversaries are taking place this yr — like Prince of Persia, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and Halo 2 — the final one price remembering is Shovel Knight. Yacht Club Games’ retro throwback platform launched on June 26, 2014, and have become one of the iconic indie recreation sequence ever made. That occurred partly due to the hefty post-launch help Shovel Knight acquired, getting three DLC campaigns, a combating recreation aspect mode, and a number of spin-off video games within the decade since its launch. Even if Shovel Knight doesn’t get something new this yr, 2024 could also be when Yacht Club Games’ first new IP since Shovel Knight, Mina the Hollower, lastly comes out.