Latest Xbox, multi-platform Game News & Updates
☁ Xbox, multi-platform News
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🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformBuying GTA 6 And A New Console This Fall? You Better Be Rich
When Grand Theft Auto 6 arrives on November 19, 2026, it will undoubtedly be one of the biggest--if not the biggest--entertainment launches in history. The game will, at least initially, only launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles, which have been available for nearly six years. Typically, consoles that have been available for such a long time would be priced significantly lower than they were at launch, letting the current-gen stragglers pick up a console for a nice bargain when it's time to play GTA 6. But nothing is "typical" anymore, and players face a very frustrating reality in 2026. Not only will you not get a discount as reward for your patience--you're going to have to pay much more for a system that's basically identical to the one released in 2020. Let's back up a little bit to examine what the situation was like in 2013, when Grand Theft Auto 5 arrived and became the most profitable entertainment product of all time. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 were on their last legs, with their successors scheduled to arrive just a few months after GTA 5's launch. When the Xbox 360 first arrived in 2005, it was priced at $300 for the cheaper Core version. The PS3 arrived the following year, priced at $500 for its cheaper 20GB model. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GTA-consoles.jpg?w=1024) These might as well be pictures of diamonds and gold bars. But by 2013, both systems had received multiple redesigns that not only added more features and improvements, but came with reduced prices. A new model of Xbox 360(https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/10/e3-2013-new-xbox-360-model-revealed) released in 2013 with a $200 price tag. Similarly, the PS3 "Super Slim" released in 2012 and its cheaper 250GB model(https://www.engadget.com/2012-10-08-playstation-3-review-late-2012.html) retailed for $270. Both prices were drastically lower than the launch versions of either system, and in the case of the PS3, it was nearly half off. Sure, the new systems were due to arrive soon, but Grand Theft Auto 5 didn't require them, and this could feasibly be the only game someone played for months or even years at a time--especially with GTA Online. Anyone willing to wait that long before buying a console was rewarded with massive savings. In 2026, things look a whole lot different. Due almost entirely to the AI industry's never-ending need for chips(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-chip-shortage-is-coming-for-your-games/1100-6538293/), the price of computer hardware has gone through the roof. GPUs and RAM are exponentially more expensive, and the problem affects not just the cutting-edge components, but also standard, consumer-level chips. Rather than gradually lower in price--like we've seen video game consoles do for decades--both the PS5 and Xbox Series X have gotten dramatically pricier. Both standard systems were $500 back in 2020, and now sit at $650 (more on that a bit later). The PS5 Digital Edition is also more expensive than it was at launch--$600 versus $400--so anyone looking to capitalize on GTA 6 not launching with a physical disc(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-physical-copies-wont-include-discs-just-download-codes/) isn't even going to be saving much money this way. There's been no cheaper redesigns this generation, even though a "slim" PS5 did release back in 2023. The console-makers went from the infrastructure nightmare that was launching a console during a worldwide pandemic almost directly into the AI-led chip shortage. With enough trouble already sourcing components for their existing SKUs, launching a new, cheaper model makes little sense. Launching a more expensive version for price-insensitive gamers with monocles and fancy tuxedos seemed to make sense, though. Regardless, if you want to play GTA 6 at its highest possible fidelity and performance come November 19, it'll cost you $900(https://www.playstation.com/en-us/ps5/ps5-pro/). If you want the Ultimate Edition of GTA 6, that's another $100 on top of that. And sure, you could save $20 and pick up the standard edition(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/heres-how-much-youll-pay-for-gta-6-and-whats-included-in-the-ultimate-edition/)--but it is missing several missions. We've never seen such a high barrier to entry for playing a Rockstar game, unless you were just itching to get your hands on Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis a few months after the Xbox 360 released. GTA 4 launched a few years into the 360/PS3 console generation, with prices starting to decline already. Red Dead Redemption followed in 2010, with the systems becoming even more affordable, and Red Dead Redemption 2 launched in 2018--again, years after the PS4 and Xbox One had launched, with their prices much lower than they were initially. It would be easier to remain optimistic about the future if it seemed like there was some glimmer of hope--some sign that we were eventually going to get over this hump and see the cost of gaming hardware start dropping again. Instead, the opposite is happening. As I was preparing to wrap up this piece, Microsoft announced yet another price increase(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/25/xbox-console-price-update/) on Xbox consoles, bringing the Xbox Series S 512GB console up to $500, which is what the 1TB Xbox Series X cost at launch back in 2020. Meanwhile, the aforementioned Xbox Series X 1TB will now be $800, and the 2TB version is being completely discontinued, likely so Microsoft doesn't have to price it at $1,000. How magnanimous. Video games aren't supposed to be a luxury hobby. Grand Theft Auto V would never have sold more than 200 million copies if they were. We're entering a dangerous period that could see the industry morph into something that only the wealthy can even afford to enjoy, and those aren't the people who need to be carjacking someone and stealing their Lamborghini in GTA. At this rate, the people buying an Xbox or a PlayStation will be the same ones buying a Lamborghini in real life.
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformNBA The Run Adds Campaign Mode In 2027
!NBA The Run(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/06/25/002ec044/ant.jpg.webp) Earlier this month, NBA The Run arrived on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC to mixed reviews. Game Informer contributor Danreb Victorio gave it a 7.25 out of 10, summarizing his review(https://www.gameinformer.com/review/nba-the-run/streetball-with-strats) by saying, "As it is, it’s too barebones to wholeheartedly recommend, but there’s a great game of basketball waiting for you if you don’t mind only playing online matches." Today, developer Play By Play Studios announced plans to rectify that when it revealed its roadmap, which includes more content, including an campaign mode. In a new blog post(https://nbatherun.com/whats-coming-next-in-nba-the-run-summer-heat-season-upcoming-roadmap/), Play By Play revealed what fans can expect in the coming weeks, months, and even next year. It all starts today, with a new patch that addresses some bugs and tweaks gameplay, but that's the least consequential of the updates the studio laid out. Next month, players can expect new content and three new players, with a hint towards content surrounding the recent NBA Draft. !Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/06/25/76d316c8/harden.jpg.webp) In August, the title's seasons will kick off, starting with Summer Heat, which will reward an in-game championship belt that evolves over the course of the season. This update will bring a new drive camera to provide a more modern gameplay feel, as well as a comms wheel, practice mode, two new rulesets, new shop items, leaderboards, and another NYC court playable in both daytime and tournament variations. This August update will include updates to the player AI, HUD, and balancing. You can also expect more players, with Play By Play potentially hinting at this update including legends from the past. Then, in the fall, new content will continue with new seasons arriving every two to three months, with the studio eyeing new features like Ranked and Ladders for its online play and voice chat. Then, finally, as the blog post says, the "big one:" campaign mode. The studio hesitates to provide full details, but the hope is that it can be played solo or with friends, and locally or online. The current timeline says "spring 2027," but as the studio indicates, "to do this right, it's going to take time." NBA The Run arrived on June 9. For more on the NBA Street spiritual successor, read our review(https://www.gameinformer.com/review/nba-the-run/streetball-with-strats).
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformMicrosoft reveals another Xbox price hike is coming, the third increase since 2025
Microsoft insists that Xbox Series X is one of the most affordable ways to play major franchises like Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformMicrosoft Is Increasing The Cost Of Xbox Consoles, Again, Starting In August
After hiking the price of Xbox consoles in October 2025, Microsoft is once again increasing the cost of Xbox consoles worldwide starting August 1. In a June 25 Xbox Wire blog post(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/25/xbox-console-price-update/), the company confirmed that the 512GB models will jump up by $100 while the 1TB models will go up by $150. This puts the Series S at $500 and the Series X at $800. As a result of the price increase, Microsoft is discontinuing the 2TB Xbox consoles. The company explained that although it spent "the last several months working with suppliers on options," it had to enact another price hike because "console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x." It also expects another doubling by fall 2027, which could mean we'll see another price hike not long after. "The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles," the company said in its Xbox Wire post. "Unlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make." To assuage the price hike, however, Microsoft is implementing several programs to make buying an Xbox "more accessible." This includes a Buy Now, Pay Later option; interest-free financing plans; a Certified Refurbished Consoles program(https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/configure/Xbox-Series-X-1TB-Digital-Edition-Certified-Refurbished/92cc6w0n36g0?crosssellid=&selectedColor=&exid=33751D) for up to $100 off; and a "previously played consoles" option, which sounds a lot like buying a used console at GameStop. This is the third price increase Microsoft has implemented following the two that came last year. In May 2025, the company jacked up the prices of Xbox consoles(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-consoles-games-and-accessories-see-price-increases-starting-today/1100-6531257/) between $80 and $100 (depending on the model), and then again in October 2025 between $20 and $70(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-is-raising-xbox-prices-in-the-us-again/1100-6534892/) (though this increase only affected those buying consoles in the US). Game consoles are really pricing themselves out of relevancy(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-consoles-are-pricing-themselves-out-of-relevance/1100-6539969/).
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox prices spike another $100 or more
Microsoft is increasing the prices of Xbox consoles again. Starting August 1st, 512GB models will be $100 more expensive, while 1TB models will be $150 more expensive. This means that the Xbox Series S will start at $499.99, the Xbox Series X without a disc drive will start at $749.99, and the Series X with &8230;
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformGTA 6 Has “Near-Instant” Load Times On PS5, And That’s A Bummer For Some People
A PlayStation Blog post(https://blog.playstation.com/2026/06/24/grand-theft-auto-vi-plays-best-on-ps5-november-19/) co-authored by PlayStation and Rockstar Games said GTA 6 leverages the PS5's SSD to allow people to experience's the game's fictional version of Miami and wider Florida with "near-instant load times." That sounds good and exciting, but it's also bumming people out. The original version of GTA 5 that came out in 2013 for PS3 and Xbox 360 was known for its lengthy load times when booting the game up that could be minutes long. Nice artwork from GTA 5 would cycle through as the game loaded, and in cases where the loading took longer than expected, people might see character or environment art they hadn't before. For the 2022 launch of GTA 5's PS5 and Xbox Series X|S edition, load times were improved. The loading screens have always been a distinct element of the GTA series.(https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/EntryScreen) !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/RealDimezlandscape.jpg?w=1024) GTA 6 artwork. People online are saying they will miss this if GTA 6 does indeed have "near-instant" load times. That being said, this is all based off one line in a blog post, so it's unclear what "near-instant" even means or if it even pertains to the main loading page when the game boots up each time or something else. A lot of the GTA 6 artwork hosted on the game's website(https://www.rockstargames.com/VI/media/artwork-wallpapers) bears a resemblance stylistically to the art from GTA 5's loading screens, so you can at least look at it there or download for yourself. But, again, that's not the same as sitting on your couch or in your chair looking at the artwork as the game loads. Preorder GTA 6 at Amazon(https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-1-PlayStation-5/dp/B0H6K928WL/ref=sr11?tag=gamespot-preorders-20) The PlayStation Blog post is titled "GTA 6 plays best on PS5," a claim that has not been independently verified and comes as part of Sony's marketing arrangement with Rockstar, which is seeking to associate the game with PlayStation first and foremost. The game is also coming to Xbox Series X, which has similar technical capabilities to the PS5, along with the relatively less powerful Xbox Series S. GTA 6 will also play on the PS5 Pro, but Rockstar has yet to confirm any specific enhancements. GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. GTA 6 preorders(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/prewrite-preorders-are-live-for-grand-theft-auto-vi/1100-6539953/) are finally, at long last, open on both consoles, and you can choose the $80 standard edition or $100 ultimate edition.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox Layoffs Appear To Be Starting With South Of Midnight Dev Compulsion
It looks like layoffs at Xbox have started, with a number of developers at South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games now looking for new opportunities. The layoffs come as part of a massive shakeup at Xbox under new CEO Asha Sharma, which will reportedly see multiple Xbox Game Studios either closed(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/double-fine-ninja-theory-and-more-reportedly-trying-to-spin-off-from-xbox-game-studios/) or going independent once more. The fate of Compulsion as a studio is still unclear. Reports from earlier in June(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-closing-we-happy-few-south-of-midnight-developer-compulsion-games-report/) suggested that Xbox was preparing to close the studio, though Compulsion leadership was said to be in discussions(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/double-fine-ninja-theory-and-more-reportedly-trying-to-spin-off-from-xbox-game-studios/) with Xbox over potentially spinning the studio off on its own. News of the Compulsion layoffs comes from individual developers' posts on LinkedIn announcing that they are no longer with the studio, as compiled by reporter Mr Rebs(https://x.com/mrrebs/status/2069959570877812839?s=46). https://twitter.com/mrrebs/status/2069959570877812839?s=46 Compulsion is based in Montreal and was founded in 2009. After developing Contrast and being at work on We Happy Few, it was acquired by Microsoft in 2018 as part of a flurry of studio purchases. The Compulsion layoffs may be only the start for Xbox, with CEO Asha Sharma lining up big changes in an attempt to get Xbox "healthy" again(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-ceo-believes-consoles-are-too-expensive-and-radically-different-plans-are-needed/), promising a "reset" on the business(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-studios-boss-is-out-ahead-of-reported-layoffs-and-other-major-changes-to-reset-xbox/). Bloomberg reported that layoffs would likely occur after June 30(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-reportedly-planning-big-layoffs-for-next-month/), after the end of Microsoft's fiscal year. Alongside Compulsion, multiple other studios including Double Fine and Ninja Theory are also reportedly in negotiations with Xbox to get their studios out from under Microsoft's ownership to avoid complete closure. There's been no recent update on how those talks are going--other than a single, not-so-promising emoji(https://x.com/DoubleFine/status/2066719196944478636) posted to Double Fine's X account.
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformAfter Over Two Years In Early Access, Enshrouded Launches Into 1.0 This October
!Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/06/23/b94aa471/enshrouded-kites.jpg.webp) After coming together in PC Early Access for two years, survival action RPG Enshrouded(https://gameinformer.com/preview/2023/07/13/surviving-made-easier) has a 1.0 launch date. Look for the game to arrive on PlayStation 5 and PC on October 15. An Xbox Series X/S version of Enshrouded will arrive in Spring 2027. The voxel-based survival action game sees players working alone or with others in 8-player co-op as the Flameborn, the only hope for stopping a corrupting fog wreaking havoc across a kingdom. While exploring the vast world to uncover forgotten remnants of the past, players can gather resources to construct buildings and settlements to house NPCs, craft gear, and cut down threats in combat and while dungeon crawling. "Our team worked tirelessly to launch Enshrouded 1.0 and its exciting new content simultaneously across PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, and Xbox Series X|S. Enshrouded combines large-scale voxel building, fully terraformable worlds, advanced multiplayer systems, and a vast open world in ways that are technically very demanding. As we approached launch, we decided that achieving the level of quality and performance we expect on Xbox would require additional time," said Jan Jöckel, CEO of Keen Games, in a press release. "We never want to rush a platform release or compromise on quality. Development of the Xbox version is progressing steadily, and we’re planning to bring Enshrouded to Xbox players in spring 2027. Players can look forward to learning much more about Enshrouded 1.0 this summer." During its two years in Early Access, Enshrouded received eight major content updates, three new biomes, along with new monsters, weapons, armor, materials, decor, and more. Developer Keen Games also added dynamic weather. Despite launching into 1.0, Keen Games promised to support Enshrouded with new content "for years to come."
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox May Have Just Solved A Major Annoyance About Huge Game Updates
Microsoft released an update for Xbox Insiders today to test several new features coming to Xbox Series X|S(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-series-x-review/1100-6484104/). The update brings changes to Gamertags and more, but the most useful of these features allows players to use cloud gaming to play updating titles, fixing one of user's biggest annoyances with the console. An Xbox Wire post(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/24/xbox-insiders-august-2026-console-features/) broke down these new features in more detail. Typically, games that are updating on consoles become unplayable, and that wait can get quite long for large, high-fidelity AAA titles. However, this update makes it so that, if the game is part of the Game Pass catalog and you have a subscription, you'll now be able to boot it up via cloud gaming and play it while the update downloads. If you have the internet bandwidth to support it, this update is extremely alluring. It also shows Xbox is still putting some focus on cloud gaming, even as it recenters its strategy around consoles like the upcoming Project Helix(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/next-gen-xbox-project-helix-wont-get-much-new-info-in-todays-event-exec-says/1100-6539840/). !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/4.-Cloud-playable-update-b9dd870a9661db314986.png?w=1024) There are plenty of other updates for those who don't like cloud gaming to look forward to as well. Game hubs for Xbox 360 games will now show achievements, and a wishlist option will be added to game cards for ones you don't own. Those are small UI tweaks, but they do add things I'm surprised weren't already supported. In 2019, Microsoft's last big overhaul(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-gamertag-update-lets-you-take-someone-elses-n/1100-6467648/) of Xbox Gamertags(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-gamertag-update-lets-you-take-someone-elses-n/1100-6467648/) limited them to 12 characters at most. Seven years later, it's finally upping the limit to 15 characters. Maybe it's finally time for me to change the Gamertag I've had since I was eight years old. Xbox Insiders who are part of the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring are the first to have access to these updates. These updates will roll out to other Xbox Insider tiers in the future before eventually being released to all Xbox Series X|S owners.
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformGTA 6 PS5-exclusive features detailed, PS5 Pro enhanced confirmed
Sony and Rockstar Games announce that Grand Theft Auto 6 "plays best" on PlayStation 5, but haven't revealed PS5 Pro enhancements yet
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformGTA 6 is a "single-player experience" only, Rockstar clarifies
Grand Theft Auto 6 is single-player only, Rockstar confirms, leaving questions about the future of GTA Online when GTA 6 releases in November 2026.
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformGTA VI finally gets a price tag
We finally have a price for Grand Theft Auto VI: $79.99. That gets you the standard edition of the game, while the Ultimate Edition will set you back $99.99. Preorders start at midnight tonight, local time, when you'll be able to reserve a copy on PS5 or Xbox Series X/S. You'll be able to order &8230;