Gaming’s First-Half Highlights and Second-Half Hype

Ben brings on Polygon‘s Giovanni Colantonio and Oli Welsh to sum up the first half of 2026 in gaming and preview the remainder of the year. First, they discuss the odd dynamic of dire industry news coinciding with a glut of great games. Then, they each share their top 10 games of the first half of the year and break down the differences and similarities among their respective lists. Finally, they assess the up-in-the-air race for Game of the Year, how the timing and rollout of Grand Theft Auto VI could affect its fortunes, the late-summer pileup of pre-GTA releases, and their biggest questions about the upcoming calendar.

Host: Ben Lindbergh
Guests: Giovanni Colantonio and Oli Welsh
Producer: Devon Renaldo
Additional Production Support: Arjuna Ramgopowell