A guide to all of the biggest video games, movies, and TV premieres coming in January.
While we’re all still recovering from our stomach-filling holiday snacks and beverages, 2016 has arrived and it’s time to gear up for another massive year of entertainment. While January and the following few months used to usher in a break from the overwhelming tide of releases from September to December — from video games in particular — the last few years have changed quite drastically, with high profile launches coming thick and fast throughout the new year and beyond.
In saying that, it’s Oscar season in the movie department this month, and all of us Aussies should hopefully find something to look forward to seeing throughout January, whether that’s The Hateful Eight, The Revenant, or the acclaimed Steve Jobs biography – there’s more-or-less something for everyone this month.
Now for a quick disclaimer: while the dates listed below follow Australian release dates for video games and movies, I’ve taken into account that TV Shows operate a bit differently in that rights and regulations usually see Australians getting shows late on Foxtel and other services, so instead I’ll be listing American dates for TV, considering a lot of us are quite up to date on that side of the spectrum. Be aware that I’ve also taken into account the time difference and have moved premiere dates a day forward to accommodate this.
Video Game Release Schedule
Night School Studios’ Oxenfree looks to be a refreshing twist on the modern day adventure game, and has already been receiving a lot of attention thanks to its depiction of truly realistic dialogue options and choice, as well as a pretty fascinating story. On the topic of dialogue, think Telltale, but remove all aspects of the awkward delay after choosing what to say.
The game takes place at an overnight island party and follows Alex and a group of friends who, in true teen thriller spirit, unwittingly open a ghosty rift. It’s set to debut on Xbox One and PC on January 15.
Jonathan Blow’s long-awaited exploration-puzzle game The Witness, developed by Thekla Inc., is entering the home stretch and will launch later this month on January 26 for PC and PlayStation 4, with an iOS version to launch shortly thereafter.
The Witness, announced all the way back in 2009, is Blow’s follow-up to the beloved puzzle platformer Braid.
Full Release Schedule:
Hardware: Rivals – PlayStation 4 – January 5
Volume – PS Vita – January 5
Amplitude – PlayStation 4 – January 6
Lovely Planet – Xbox One – January 6
Story of Seasons – 3DS – January 9
Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India – PC, PS4, Xbox One – January 12
The Banner Saga – PlayStation 4, Xbox One – January 12
That Dragon, Cancer – PC – January 12
Pro Basketball Manager 2016 – PC – January 14
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen – PC – January 15
Oxenfree – PC, Xbox One – January 15
Zheros – Xbox One – January 16
A Boy and his Blob – PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PS Vita – January 19
Blade & Soul – PC – January 19
Darkest Dungeon – PC – January 19
Resident Evil 0 HD – PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One – January 19
Stardust Vanguards – PlayStation 4 – January 19
Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak – PC – January 20
Resident Evil Origins Collection – PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One – January 22
Life is Strange: Limited Edition – PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One – January 22
Pokemon Rumble World – 3DS – January 23
Civilization Revolution 2 Plus – PS Vita – January 26
The Witness – PC, PlayStation 4 – January 26
Lego Marvel’s Avengers – PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, 3DS, PS Vita – January 27
Slain – PC – January 27
Final Fantasy Explorers – 3DS – January 28
Atelier Escha and Logy Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky – PS Vita – January 29
Bombshell – PC – January 29
This War of Mine: The Little Ones – PlayStation 4, Xbox One – January 29
Movie Release Schedule
Quentin Tarantino’s eighth film, dubbed The Hateful Eight, has had its own unique tale of production. Following its script leaking back in 2014, Tarantino’s reluctance to move forward with the project saddened fans but fortunately, even in the face of disappointment and “betrayal”, Tarantino elected to move forward with The Hateful Eight, and here we are now… just a week out from its release.
Featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Walton Goggins just to name a few (because, like many Tarantino films, the complete cast’s always stellar), The Hateful Eight follows a bounty hunter and his prisoner as they take shelter in a cabin inhabited by a handful of unordinary, wicked characters. Tarantino’s eighth film is out on the 14th of January.
Room, directed by Lenny Abrahamson and starring Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, and Sean Bridgers, depicts the tale of five-year-old Jack and his mother as they escape from an enclosure and its surroundings. Jack, only knowing of the surrounds he and his mother have just traversed through, makes a discovery that will change him forever.
Room is set to release on January 28.
Full Release Schedule:
Devil and Angel – January 7
Sisters (Tina Fey, Amy Poehler) – January 7
The Revenant (Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy) – January 7
Wazir – January 7
Carol (Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara) – January 14
Detective Chinatown – January 14
Goosebumps (Jack Black) – January 14
Steve Jobs (Michael Fassbender) – January 14
The 5th Wave (Chloe Moretz) – January 14
The Big Short (Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt) – January 14
The Hateful Eight (Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Channing Tatum) – January 14
Dirty Grandpa (Robert De Niro, Zac Efron) – January 21
IP Man 3 – January 21
Airlift – January 22
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (John Krasinski) – January 28
Looking for Grace (Radha Mitchell) – January 28
Rock The Kasbah – January 28
Room (Brie Larson) – January 28
Spotlight (Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams) – January 28
The Danish Girl (Eddie Redmayne) – January 28
TV Premiere Schedule
It’s safe to say that a lot of us are pretty excited for the return of The X-Files. It’s been a long time since we’ve had Fox Mulder and Dana Scully grace our television screens, and since the original had concluded back in 2002 the whole landscape of television has seemingly changed. It’ll be fascinating to see how it all pans out, and we’re really excited to see what Mulder and Scully are up to next.
The X-Files is set to premiere on January 25.
Colony, created by Ryan Condal and Carlton Cuse, centres around a family struggling to survive in Los Angeles, which has been occupied by a contingent of outside intruders. Rebel and suffer the consequences, join them and reap the rewards of the new world order.
Josh Holloway (Lost, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol) and Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead, Into the Storm) feature in a new show depicting a world consumed by violence and an unjust regime. The series premieres on January 15.
Full Release Schedule:
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride (Special Episode) – January 2
Cooper Barret’s Guide to Surviving Life (S1) – January 4
Bordertown (S1) – January 4
Downton Abbey (S6) – January 4
Superstore (S1) – January 5
Telenovela (S1) – January 5
The Breaks (S1) – January 5
New Girl (S5) – January 6
The Shannara Chronicles (S1) – January 6
Mike & Molly (S6) – January 7
American Crime (S2) – January 7
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (S11) – January 7
Man Seeking Woman (S2) – January 7
Angel from Hell (S1) – January 8
Growing Up Hip Hop (S1) – January 8
Child Genius (S2) – January 8
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (S3) – January 8
Shades of Blue (S1) – January 8
Mythbusters (S14) – January 10
Shameless (S6) – January 11
Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments (S1) – January 13
Second Chance (S1) – January 14
Younger (S2) – January 14
Teachers (S1) – January 14
Colony (S1) – January 15
Workaholics (S6) – January 15
Idiotsitter (S2) – January 15
Angie Tribeca (S1) – January 18
Billions (S1) – January 18
Mercy Street (Mini-Series) – January 18
Hit the Floor (S3) – January 19
Marvel’s Agent Carter (S2) – January 20
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (S1) – January 22
The 100 (S3) – January 22
Baskets (S1) – January 22
Portlandia (S6) – January 22
Chelsea Does (S1) – January 24
Black Sails (S3) – January 24
The X-Files (Mini-Series) – January 25
Lucifer (S1) – January 26
The Magicians (S1) – January 26
Recovery Road (S1) – January 26
Outsiders (S1) – January 27
Note: Some dates may change and shuffle around, and we apologise for any confusion this may cause.
Be sure to check back at the beginning of each month for an article similar to this one, discussing all of the month’s upcoming releases!