As nearly every 2026 video game looks to avoid releasing close to Grand Theft Auto VI, it has resulted in some busy months this fall. September, in particular, is jam-packed with games, which has, in turn, created a new conundrum: by avoiding GTA, these games are starting to cannibalize each other. As a result, the upcoming soulslike Valor Mortis has been delayed to October 13th.
That crowded month is something referenced by publisher Lyrical Games in their announcement via the game’s Steam page, saying that September “has become absolutely stacked with incredible looking games.”
It’s resulted in the decision to let Valor Mortis, as well as our wallets, have some extra time to breathe.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen games be pushed back to avoid an anticipated release. Last year, when Hollow Knight: Silksong finally revealed its release date, several indie developers scrambled to delay their games to avoid the Silksong-sized shadow in the room. We’re seeing that this year across the entire industry, and no one is immune; XBOX, for example, delayed Fable to early next year to give their other first-party titles, such as Halo: Campaign Evolved and Gears of War: E-Day, time to shine. I’m sure it was a happy coincidence that it would also be avoiding the Grand Theft Auto VI release window.
A demo for Valor Mortis is available now
It’s not all bad news, though. Lyrical Games also announced that a demo for Valor Mortis is available now. This is the first time the game has been available for a public demo, but has been available at various industry shows and expos.
Speaking of which, we had the chance to go hands-on with the game back at PAX East and quickly fell in love. Yes, the Soulslike genre is becoming a little saturated these days, but there’s something about Valor Mortis that feels different.
Our biggest takeaway after spending roughly 30 minutes with the game is that this one has the sauce; it’s something fresh for soulslike fans that demands your attention, featuring snappy gameplay and a horror-heavy atmosphere with the unique backdrop of taking place during the Napoleonic era.
The studio also confirmed that French actor Vincent Cassel, best known for his role as Thomas Leroy in Black Swan, will be voicing Napoleon Bonaparte himself.
September 2026 is indeed jam-packed with video game releases
The decision to delay Valor Mortis out of September isn’t just about Lyrical hyping up the month.
Following Summer Game Fest, we have a clear picture of what the release schedule for later this year looks like. To call September “jam-packed” is honestly an understatement.
Headlined by Marvel’s Wolverine and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, the month of September is filled with dozens of game releases, all looking to get ahead of Grand Theft Auto VI. Here are the headlines for the biggest releases, and even this leaves out several games:
- The Blood of Dawnwalker – September 3rd
- Orbitals – September 3rd
- Halloween: The Game – September 8th
- Valheim – September 9th (1.0 release)
- Marvel’s Wolverine – September 15th
- RuneScape: Dragonwilds – September 15th
- Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave – September 17th
- Control Resonant – September 24th
- Silent Hill: Townfall – September 24th
- Onimusa: Way of the Sword – September 25th
- Minecraft Dungeons II – September 29th
Hope your wallets are ready; gaming season will be here before you know it.
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