Latest Playstation, xbox, multi-platform Game News & Updates
☁ Playstation, xbox, multi-platform News
186 articles
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformNintendo Could Inherit The Physical Gaming Crown By Default
Sony plans to sell PlayStation games exclusively as digital products(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-confirms-playstation-disc-production-will-end-in-2028/) starting in 2028, and it's rumored that Microsoft will also adopt a digital-only approach(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/next-gen-xbox-may-not-have-disc-drive-disc-to-digital-feature-coming-reports-say/) with its next-gen Xbox Project Helix(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/next-xbox-release-date-specs-display-price/1100-6525379/), a move that could leave Nintendo as the only console manufacturer that will still release games physically--at least for this current gaming generation. Speaking to VGC(https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/playstation-ditching-physical-games-unlikely-to-influence-nintendos-plans-says-analyst/), Circana senior director and video game industry advisor Mat Piscatella commented on how he believes that both the PS6 and Project Helix will be digital-only gaming consoles. The upside to this is that, thanks to Nintendo operating in its own bubble, it doesn't look like it'll be ditching cartridges in response to Sony and Microsoft's plans. "My gut says Nintendo does what Nintendo wants to do, and I don't see them changing anything in their plans based on what Sony or Microsoft do on anything, really," Piscatella explained. "Nintendo is going to be Nintendo, for better and/or worse. Retail has already leaned into Nintendo support more and more over the past few years--Nintendo also holds a very strong share of physical software and hardware sales since the launch of Switch 2 in particular--so this could continue to increase, sure." According to its FY25/26 end-of-year report(https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2026/2605084e.pdf), Nintendo says that digital sales of its games account for 67.2% of software purchases. Digital sales on Sony platforms have climbed dramatically over the last decade, with 78% of its sales being digital purchases. Reports now claim that both the PS6 and Project Helix will do away with disc drives(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/next-gen-xbox-may-not-have-disc-drive-disc-to-digital-feature-coming-reports-say/?thumbnailid=1806575) entirely. While Nintendo still has a sizable physical presence, it's worth noting that many games--especially third-party ones--are sold as Game-Key Cards(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/certain-nintendo-switch-2-physical-games-are-game-key-cards-for-downloads/1100-6530576/). These are essentially authentication keys in cartridge form, as players will still have to install game data to their Switch 2 and keep the cartridge inserted to play their games. Fortunately, the carts are not locked to a Switch 2 account or console(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-switch-2-game-key-cards-wont-be-tied-to-your-account/1100-6530654/), and they can be resold, allowing a new user to download a game--for as long as the servers are kept online, that is. PlayStation and Xbox game discs have functioned along the same lines for years now, as both consoles required users to download data from the discs onto their respective machines and keep the physical media for authenticating the installs. While Game-Key Cards are designed to be a cheaper publisher-friendly alternative, they're not without criticism, as some historians have expressed fears over the future(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/switch-2s-game-key-cards-are-a-little-disheartening-for-game-preservation-says-dev/1100-6531262/) of video game preservation efforts. The Best Games Of 2026 (So Far) !4650771-2026games.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4650771-2026games.jpg?w=1024) !4642853-cairn.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4642853-cairn.jpg?w=1024) !4686459-diablo-4-loh.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4686459-diablo-4-loh.jpg?w=1024) !4664332-esoteric-ebb.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4664332-esoteric-ebb.jpg?w=1024) !4664744-marathon.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4664744-marathon.jpg?w=1024) !4648432-mewgenics.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4648432-mewgenics.jpg?w=1024) !Mina-the-Hollower(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Mina-the-Hollower.jpg?w=1024) View Images(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/the-best-games-of-2026/2900-7436/)
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformXbox tests digitizing physical games ahead of Project Helix launch
Xbox is reportedly working on a way to make digital copies of your physical games. It's unknown whether or not Project Helix will have a disc drive.
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformPS5 fans are in total shock over Sony putting an end to physical game releases
Sony fans have lots of strong feelings about PS5 games going all digital in 2028, especially after PlayStation executives mocked Xbox a decade ago
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformNext-Gen Xbox May Not Have Disc Drive, Disc-To-Digital Feature Coming, Reports Say
Following Sony's announcement that it will not support PlayStation discs starting in 2028(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-confirms-playstation-disc-production-will-end-in-2028/) and conjecture that the PS6 won't have a disc drive(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-sony-is-killing-disc-based-playstation-games-and-the-implications-for-ps6-and-beyond/), it's now been reported that Microsoft's next-gen Xbox, Project Helix(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/next-xbox-release-date-specs-display-price/1100-6525379/), won't have a disc drive either. Jez Corden of Windows Central reported today(https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/playstation-kills-physical-games-as-xbox-and-sony-continue-making-poor-decisions) that Project Helix will not have a disc drive. The report did not include any further details, but this would not be a surprising development given the increasing percentage of games sold digitally compared to physical, along with existing precedent. The Verge(https://www.theverge.com/report/960173/microsoft-xbox-disc-to-digital-feature-physical-game-collection?viewtoken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6IjRmOEljak1IR1IiLCJwIjoiL3JlcG9ydC85NjAxNzMvbWljcm9zb2Z0LXhib3gtZGlzYy10by1kaWdpdGFsLWZlYXR1cmUtcGh5c2ljYWwtZ2FtZS1jb2xsZWN0aW9uIiwiZXhwIjoxNzgzMzU5Njk2LCJpYXQiOjE3ODI5Mjc2OTZ9.oIfTRukq2XbJkjjtGK4EYmJ6Qm5KXSejNZwdcWqWf9U&utmmedium=gift-link), meanwhile, reported that Microsoft has not decided yet about if Project Helix will have a disc drive. The report also said Microsoft is working on a disc-to-digital feature that would allow users to transition their physical games to digital ones. This feature, which Xbox employees are now reportedly testing, will allow users to convert Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S discs to digital copies; there will apparently be no support for Xbox 360 and original Xbox discs. "Getting a digital copy of a game works simply by inserting a compatible disc and installing and playing the game. This will require a Microsoft account on an Xbox console and will grant a digital entitlement for physical games," the report said. "This digital entitlement is tied to the specific disc, and it will move from account to account if you swap the physical game with a friend or log in to a different Xbox profile and try to play a disc-based game." Not all existing discs will be supported, though, the report said. Supported discs for the disc-to-digital program will continue to work as discs even after being digitized, the report said. However, the entitlements are tied to specific consoles and the entitlements will end if people give away their discs. . !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Helix.jpg?w=1024) Project Helix may not have a disc drive. Microsoft already offers a digital-only version of the Xbox Series X, while all Xbox Series S consoles do not have disc drives. Microsoft has been plotting a future for consoles with no disc drives for more than a decade, as the company considered doing away with the disc drive for the Xbox One.(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-considered-xbox-one-with-no-disc-drive/1100-6416883/) While many millions of games continue to be sold physically on discs(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstations-disc-based-game-sales-have-dropped-dramatically-in-recent-years/), the share of digital games compared to disc-based games sold continues to grow in favor of digital. Sony had its highest-ever quarterly digital game sales period(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-just-reported-a-new-record-breaking-high-figure-but-its-unsurprising/1100-6539856/) just before it announced it was abandoning discs. Companies like EA, Capcom, Nintendo, and others have reported increased shares of digital game sales, too(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstations-disc-based-game-sales-have-dropped-dramatically-in-recent-years/). Sony said it was ending support for discs because the majority of its users buy games digitally, and that's likely true for Xbox as well. Sony publishes this data in its quarterly reports, but Microsoft is much more secretive and doesn't share much in the way of concrete data for how its Xbox division is performing. Not much is known about Project Helix, apart from Microsoft touting it as a system that will "push the boundaries of rendering and simulation." At Summer Game Fest recently, Xbox's Matthew Ball said Microsoft remained committed to releasing Project Helix(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/is-xbox-fixable/), despite ongoing concerns about component and memory pricing due to the AI craze.
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformXbox testing disc-to-digital feature that digitizes a physical game collection
Microsoft will likely soon follow Sony and stop the production of physical discs for Xbox games. But instead of leaving physical discs behind entirely, sources familiar with Microsoft's plans tell me the company has quietly been working on a disc-to-digital feature that will allow Xbox owners to digitize their existing physical game collections. Xbox employees &8230;
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformWhat PlayStation's digital-only future means for PS6, explained
While Sony's end of disc games doesn’t mention PlayStation 6, there are several things we can infer about the its plans for a new wave of hardware.
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformGTA 6 Seeing “Record” Orders On Xbox, Microsoft Claims
Microsoft has responded to a report regarding GTA 6 preorders and the apparent gulf between Xbox and PlayStation numbers, saying this early, unofficial third-party information "doesn't represent preorder data." "We’ve had record orders. People should wait for real data and not clicks on affiliate links," Microsoft said. This came in response to a data from IGN(https://x.com/IGN/status/2070671284481179813) that said its own internal information from affiliate links from its userbase found that GTA 6 preorders were outperforming Xbox by a rate of 8 to 1. This is not official preorder data from Rockstar or Take-Two, but rather early results from IGN's own userbase. As such, it doesn't represent the full picture of preorders--it was never meant to or billed as such. Still, the story took off, prompting Microsoft to issue a statement. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GTAd6092f.jpg?w=1024) GTA 6 releases in November. GTA 6 undoubtedly has a high number of preorders, and it makes sense that PS5 numbers would track ahead of Xbox given the higher install base of consoles and the Rockstar-PlayStation marketing deal for GTA 6. In any event, GTA 6 is expected to have the biggest launch of all time, so preorders setting an Xbox record--whatever record that might be--is no surprise, either. For now, we'll just have to wait for Rockstar or Take-Two to announce preorder data, should they choose to. Preorders opened on June 25 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and as a digital-exclusive game(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-is-not-releasing-with-a-disc-and-that-just-makes-sense-in-2026/), stock is not going to sell out. Despite that, people are already trying to flip their preorders on eBay(https://www.ebay.com/itm/800253310120?skw=gta+6+preorder&itmmeta=01KW9NVXPTMBGCSNFX2FP1DRRS&hash=itemba52d074a8:g:Ec4AAeSwBoRqQFAG&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA0GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xCAshd6iBGxntWcsnYXTu%2FHunTRVxR7cSKMCu5wuP4zQ9ws2fRqaH4BJJnQme042W96S3BV9Zkx%2FovJNdQOhOE71yv8JniyQcXPF1Yilz3zcfSMLDvqCDeVs6PKkLCq1e1o9SUbBqrtAbzwJ8iDG2Xyk1Fkc%2BBIu2Bwr2rr8flxdQaVK7%2BpAw7bA6ILwWWh44TBEeCIqIesm8lHmiLmH71WWGVdrcB6c2I7vS2y1KU4ma065ZAAQbsoV9qt3LsTJAE%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8zb77XiZw) for big premiums. GTA 6 is scheduled for a November 19 launch. It “features a single-player experience,”(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-features-a-single-player-experience-at-least-at-launch/) leading many to wonder what the game’s online plans will be. GTA 6 is priced at $80 for its standard edition and $100 for the ultimate edition that locks away lots of exciting content(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/heres-how-much-youll-pay-for-gta-6-and-whats-included-in-the-ultimate-edition/) behind that $20 extra paywall.
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformAssassin'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.
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformXbox 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
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformPS5 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."
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformXbox 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/).
🎮 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.