It sounds like a third Wolfenstein game is, in fact, in the works at MachineGames, and fans could get their first look at it before long. It's been more than five years since the release of Wolfenstein: Youngblood, and there has been plenty of speculation about a third entry in the rebooted franchise since. MachineGames still hasn't confirmed anything, but it's looking increasingly likely that Wolfenstein fans will get an announcement sometime soon.
Wolfenstein is one of the oldest and most influential shooter series still around, and it got new life when Bethesda-owned MachineGames revived the franchise in 2014 with The New Order. After releasing the spin-off Youngblood in 2019, though, things have been relatively quiet for the Nazi-shooting series, apart from a handful of teases from the studio. However, the tide seems to be turning, with MachineGames teasing a mysterious upcoming game in late 2025, and now there's reason to believe that game could be the next Wolfenstein.
Every Wolfenstein Game, Ranked
Wolfenstein is a franchise that has often played second fiddle to others in the gaming industry, but it deserves recognition for some of its games.
Multiple Sources Say Wolfenstein 3 Is in Development
Windows Central's Jez Corden, who has a history of accurate leaks, mentioned he'd heard MachineGames is actively working on Wolfenstein 3, and Kotaku says its own sources have verified the claim. According to Corden, the game's release will coincide with the Wolfenstein TV show in the works at Amazon, which does not currently have a premiere date but may come out soon to capitalize on the success of Amazon's Fallout series. Even if the show doesn't come out in the coming year, it could get an official announcement before long, and that timing would make sense for a simultaneous game announcement, especially in light of the steady buildup of teasers from MachineGames.
The studio subtly hinted at the possibility of a new Wolfenstein before it pointed to an as-yet-unnamed upcoming game in the fall of 2025. Studio Head and Game Director Jerk Gustafsson said MachineGames always envisioned Wolfenstein as a trilogy in a YouTube documentary about the making of the series. While MachineGames has technically made four Wolfenstein games already (not counting the VR experience Cyberpilot), The Old Blood is a prequel, Youngblood is a spin-off, and The New Colossus is branded as Wolfenstein 2, so that trilogy remains unfinished. It would seem odd for Gustafsson to bring attention to that detail if there wasn't something in the pipeline, making Corden and Kotaku's claims seem all the more believable.
It's worth noting that Bethesda's 40th anniversary is in June 2026. While the company has plenty of big things it could announce around then, the milestone would make for a good time to reveal Wolfenstein 3. Of course, there's always the chance that the upcoming game teased by MachineGames is a different IP entirely, but it's been all but confirmed that MachineGames is working on multiple titles after releasing Indiana Jones. In light of Gustafsson's trilogy comments, earlier word from Bethesda that it planned on additional Wolfenstein games, and the timing of it all, it's hard to imagine that another Wolfenstein isn't one of these things currently in development.
Up until this point, MachineGames' Wolfenstein games had come out at a steady drip of one title every one to two years, so fans are hungry for something new after a five-plus-year wait. After Wolfenstein: Youngblood largely disappointed gamers, the franchise could use a spark to take it back to its earlier heights, too. A big Bethesda anniversary and an upcoming TV show make for an all too perfect opportunity to get fans excited again. Like all leaks and rumors, though, players should take these theories and timelines with a grain of salt. Nothing is certain until one of the companies involved makes an official statement.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 67 /100 Critics Rec: 36%
- Released
- July 26, 2019
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Game Experience May Change During Online Play, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- MachineGames, Arkane Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Source: Windows Central, Kotaku