Latest Xbox Game News &amp; Updates

🟩 Xbox, Multi-platform

Big Tech has spent the last week warning that gaming prices are about to get worse

Microsoft, Apple, and Lenovo don't expect tech to come back down in price anytime soon, especially following confident comments from Micron

🎮 Big Tech

🖥 Xbox, PC, Multi-platform

GTA 6, Steam Machine, Xbox price hikes, and Destiny layoffs herald the end times

It seems like a terrible time to be into video games, as the medium faces a sustainability crisis and Rockstar threatens to kill physical games

🎮 GTA

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: 3 open-world games to play before launch

The wait for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced doesn't have to be painful if you get through it with these captivating open-world hits.

Xbox responds to claim that there's more interest in Grand Theft Auto 6 PlayStation pre-orders

Xbox says it has seen "record orders" for GTA 6 in the wake of a claim that PlayStation pre-order interest is vastly outweighting Xbox interest

🎮 Grand Theft Auto🎮 GTA

🎮 GTA🎮 Rockstar's decision to make GTA 6 fully digital

🖥 Xbox, PC

Rockstar's decision to make GTA 6 fully digital is a terrible, anti-consumer move that makes me worry about the future of videogames

An increasing digital landscape shouldn't erase physical media entirely.

PCNewsabout 2 months ago

PS5 And Xbox Series X Both Didn’t Sell Very Well In May

PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S saw a significant drop in unit sales in May, according to new data from Circana. May's US Video Game Market Notes from Circana Senior Director Mat Piscatella detailed this slump, even as the month otherwise saw a 38% year-over-year increase in hardware spending. Sony sold 58% fewer PS5 units last month than in May 2025, as spending on the console dropped 43% year-over-year. It was the fewest number of PlayStation consoles Sony has sold in May since May 2000, back when the original PlayStation was its only console on the market in the United States. Meanwhile, Xbox's units sold fell by 12% between May 2025 and May 2026, making for the worst May performance since the Xbox debuted in November 2001. Oddly, Microsoft still saw hardware spending grow by 7% year-over-year despite the drop in units sold, likely due to the multiple price hikes Xbox consoles have received over the past year. !3995502-ps5-xbox.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/3995502-ps5-xbox.jpg?w=1024) Generally, it seems the past year of price hikes(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-is-increasing-the-cost-of-xbox-consoles-again-starting-in-august/) is finally catching up to PlayStation and Xbox. Circana's data points out that the average price of PlayStation and Xbox hardware has increased by 33% and 22%, respectively. That's now clearly impacting how many people will go out and buy a new console, even in a month of high-profile releases like 007 First Light(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/007-first-light-review-youth-in-revolt/), Forza Horizon 6(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/forza-horizon-6-review-dopamine-highway/1900-6418489/), and Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/lego-batman-legacy-of-the-dark-knight-is-the-best-lego-game-in-years/1900-6418492/). The continued success of the Nintendo Switch 2, which Circana estimates has sold 5.9 million units in North America, ultimately offset the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S' poor performance. Hardware spending increased by 37% between May 2025 and May 2026. When you also factor in video game sales and accessories, spending increased by 3% year over year. On Bluesky, Piscatella posted(https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3mp6zovrpr32o) that May 2026 "will be last month with HW growth for a… while. Pricing and Switch 2 launch comp will be a nasty combo."

🎮 spaceship shooter Wildgate🎮 end development after its next

🖥 Xbox, PC

1 year after launch, spaceship shooter Wildgate will end development after its next update

Thankfully, it's not shutting down, and developer Moonshot Games says no layoffs are planned.

PCNewsabout 2 months ago

Xbox Series S, The “Cheap” Option, Now Costs As Much As Series X Did Six Years Ago

When Xbox Series S launched alongside Series X and PS5, it presented a compelling argument: Play all of the same games as elsewhere, albeit with lesser performance and visuals, for way cheaper. $300 felt surprisingly reasonable, giving you a way to save $100 compared to the cheapest PS5 and $200 compared to the more premium PS5 and Series X models. With the Series S turning six later this year, you'd expect it--like every other console--to get cheaper over time, as has always been the case. But this is 2026, baby. Welcome to hell. Beginning August 1, Xbox Series S will cost as much as Xbox Series X did at launch in November 2020: $500. Almost six years after launch, the price will have increased 67%. We've already covered news of this Xbox price increase(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-is-increasing-the-cost-of-xbox-consoles-again-starting-in-august/), and yet the reality of Series S now hitting the Series X's nearly six-year-old launch price is one of the most staggering facts of this entire saga. (For now, you can still grab one for $380 on Amazon(https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-512GB-SSD-Console-S/dp/B0D932YWSZ/?tag=gamespot-buybutton-20) or in this Best Buy deal(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/get-a-50-best-buy-gift-card-when-you-bundle-gta-6-and-a-new-console/), which is more than you would have previously paid but still a whole lot better than $500.) It's the exact opposite direction the price should be going in based on historical precedent. Yet the Series S is, like virtually any piece of modern hardware that needs RAM and storage, faced with price increases due to the AI-driven chip storage(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-chip-shortage-is-coming-for-your-games/1100-6538293/)--a shortage, it should be noted, that Microsoft has meaningfully contributed to as one of the biggest purveyors of AI products. Much has been said about the way gaming consoles are arguably pricing themselves out of relevance(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-consoles-are-pricing-themselves-out-of-relevance/1100-6539969/). Major change is afoot in almost every way--how games are played, made, distributed, and engaged with over longer and longer periods of time. Series S at launch was a much more palatable option for those who are price-conscious, with Microsoft proudly declaring(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/09/09/introducing-xbox-series-s/) it "the smallest, most affordable next-generation console." That might still strictly be true at $500 with other consoles also going up in price, but the reality is, if you're an average person just looking for a cheap way to play something like GTA 6 this fall--or, frighteningly, any point in 2027 or beyond(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-may-have-another-price-hike-up-its-sleeve-in-2027/)--you're pretty much screwed(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/buying-gta-6-and-a-new-console-this-fall-you-better-be-rich/).

🟩 Xbox, Multi-platform

Xbox May Have Another Price Hike Up Its Sleeve In 2027

If you thought today's Xbox price hike was jaw-dropping, it appears that Microsoft is preparing for another one in the next year. Following the June 25 announcement that Xbox consoles will increase worldwide by $100 and $150 starting August 1(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-is-increasing-the-cost-of-xbox-consoles-again-starting-in-august/) (depending on the model), the company confirmed that 2027 (or maybe 2028) could see the cost of Xbox consoles going up one more time. "Last October, we increased Xbox console price by $20-$70 in the US." Microsoft wrote in a June 25 Xbox Wire blog(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/25/xbox-console-price-update/). "We hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options. Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x, and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027." This suggests that Microsoft could be planning to jack up the price of Xbox consoles as early as winter 2027. 2028 is entirely viable, too, and while we don't know how much the company plans to increase the cost of Xbox systems, there's the anticipation that another price hike may come in the next couple of years. This comes not long after Microsoft already bumped the prices of its consoles. A price hike was implemented in May 2025(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-consoles-games-and-accessories-see-price-increases-starting-today/1100-6531257/), which saw Xbox consoles increase between $80 and $100 (depending on the model), and another came in October 2025(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-is-raising-xbox-prices-in-the-us-again/1100-6534892/), which pushed up the cost of Xboxes between $20 and $70 (though that was only in the US). While the ongoing chip shortage(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-chip-shortage-is-coming-for-your-games/1100-6538293/) is affecting almost every piece of technology--from consoles to laptops to phones--these frequent price hikes are starting to price game consoles out of relevance(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-consoles-are-pricing-themselves-out-of-relevance/1100-6539969/).

GameNewsabout 2 months ago

🟩 Xbox, Multi-platform

Xbox Consoles Are Getting Another Price Increase In August

!Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2020/09/16/dcbccdc0/seriesxs.jpg.webp) Xbox consoles are getting a third price increase in roughly 13 months. Effective August 1, the costs of certain Xbox models are being raised worldwide by no less than $100. An Xbox Wire post(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/25/xbox-console-price-update/) states that the 512 GB models of Xbox will increase in price by $100 and the 1 TB models by $150 in the U.S. The 2 TB Xbox Series X model is also being discontinued. Xbox does not list the new prices, but this update would indicate that the affected consoles will soon be sold at the following prices: Xbox Series S 512 GB - $499.99 (currently $399.99) Xbox Series S 1TB - $599.99 (currently $449.99) Xbox Series X Digital 1 TB - $749.99 (currently $599.99) Xbox Series X 1 TB - $799.99 (currently $649.99) It's worth noting that Xbox recently revealed a limited 25th anniversary edition of the Series X(https://gameinformer.com/xbox-games-showcase/2026/06/07/the-xbox-series-x25-limited-edition-console-celebrates-the-original) with 1 TB of storage, launching in November. The price of this console has not been revealed, but one would have to imagine it, too, will be priced at an even higher premium. This most recent price adjustment follows previous price hikes in May(https://gameinformer.com/2025/05/01/xbox-console-and-accessory-price-increases-begin-today-80-first-party-games-starting) and October(https://gameinformer.com/2025/09/19/xbox-console-prices-will-increase-again-next-month) of last year. Xbox appears to acknowledge the frustration these changes will likely create for consumers and cites the ongoing component crisis as the primary factor for the price adjustments. The company even says it expects this supply problem to worsen by the fall of 2027. Their message reads, “Last October, we increased XBOX console price by $20-$70 in the U.S. We hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options. Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027. The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles. 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.” Xbox is far from alone in this situation, as both Sony and Nintendo have raised prices for the PlayStation 5(https://gameinformer.com/2026/03/27/sony-announces-playstation-5-and-portal-price-increases-coming-next-week) and Switch 2(https://gameinformer.com/2026/05/08/the-switch-2-is-getting-a-price-increase), respectively, over the past year due to similar reasons. Valve has also significantly raised the price of the Steam Deck(https://gameinformer.com/2026/05/27/valve-just-raised-the-price-of-the-steam-deck-by-hundreds-of-dollars), and its upcoming Steam Machine is priced at over $1,000(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/22/valves-steam-machine-costs-between-1049-and-1428-the-option-to-sign-up-for-potential) due to the current economic conditions surrounding tech. The news is another unfortunate blow for Xbox, which has made headlines in recent weeks due to reports of significant layoffs(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/11/report-xbox-preparing-for-significant-layoffs-as-new-ceo-asha-sharma-details-xbox-0) set to hit the gaming division in the coming weeks, if not days. Following the announcement of an Xbox reset by CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty, several Xbox-owned studios are reportedly at risk of being closed or spun off. Compulsion Games, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/15/compulsion-games-and-other-xbox-studios-reportedly-at-risk-of-being-shut-down) have reportedly been negotiating their future, with further reports indicating Xbox unveiled Ninja Theory’s next game, Senua, during Summer Game Fest to attract a potential buyer for the studio(https://gameinformer.com/2026/06/17/a-new-report-claims-xbox-had-already-planned-to-close-ninja-theory-despite-senua).

Buying 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.

🎮 GTA🎮 Grand Theft Auto