Netflix's extended Grand Theft Auto 6 preview has arrived, and players are already dissecting the footage to glean new details about Rockstar Games' heavily anticipated sequel. So far, the response has been largely positive except in regards to the voice of Jason Duval, the game's co-leading antihero.

One of the common complaints about Jason on social media is that he's difficult to understand for some listeners. This has drawn some comparison's to Tom Hardy's nearly incompressible Bane voice in trailers for The Dark Knight Rises. It's unknown if Rockstar will take any measures to adjust Jason's voice to make it easier to comprehend--as director Christopher Nolan did for Bane in the theatrical cut--but the prevailing sentiment online isn't in favor of Jason's vocals.

https://twitter.com/pirate_atomsk/status/2093054631404564769 https://twitter.com/SkramDiesel82/status/2093054873608638678 https://twitter.com/MartinGriffin4/status/2093056502764277798 https://twitter.com/SilverIntoSteel/status/2093056712299143300 https://twitter.com/ricshootsraw/status/2093056133879452120

Many of the other aspects from GTA 6 have been more positively received, including the ability to interact with dogs, the return of six-star wanted levels, and more. Rockstar also recently disclosed how players can switch between controlling Jason and taking over has his literal partner-in-crime, Lucia Caminos.

Prior to the new preview event, Rockstar called the recent GTA 6 leaks "heartbreaking for our team." Several years ago, Rockstar discovered the identity of a previous GTA 6 leaker and initiated legal proceedings against them. For now, the current leaker's true identity is unknown.

Grand Theft Auto 6 will be released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19.

Following Grand Theft Auto 6's over-the-top Netflix gameplay reveal, Rockstar Games detailed one of the game's most important systems. Building on the traditional Wanted system from previous Grand Theft Auto titles and the Honor system from Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA 6 introduces a Criminal Profile system that tracks how violently players handle their crime sprees.

The interview confirmed that the traditional Wanted system does return when you're spotted committing a crime in GTA 6. To shake off the police chasing you, Jason and Lucia may need to change vehicles and clothing, or run away and elude the police in different directions. How violent you are while committing that initial crime and escaping influences the dynamic Criminal Profile system.

"This is a story about a couple on the run. We have tried to make the systems and the design support our narrative when and wherever possible," Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson told IGN. "Meaning, if you hit and run, commit a crime and run, get into trouble and move on before the cops get there, and you don’t start shooting people, don't start escalating – which you absolutely can do if you want to – but if you don’t, you’re generally going to be fine."

In the same interview, it's stressed that this system isn't meant to let players make Lucia and Jason do-gooders. It's more of a tracker of how violent and maliciously players choose to commit crimes in GTA 6. Nelson says "We tried to design the game so that you have options," and that "things can escalate quite quickly if you want them to, or people who don’t want to escalate can try to avoid it."

If you enjoy role-playing as a criminal in Red Dead Redemption 2 or any of GTA Online's NoPixel servers, this Criminal Profile system seems made for you. Grand Theft Auto 6 is still set to launch for PS5 and Xbox Series X on November 19, something reaffirmed by Rockstar in this gameplay reveal and its response to recent gameplay leaks.

Grand Theft Auto VI has finally had its big gameplay reveal. That included more details about the story, which centers heavily on the relationship between Jason and Lucia, and how it'ss impacted by their life of crime.

"We’re trying to reflect a sort of crazy, warped version of this American state and city--we always try to do that,” Rockstar North's Rob Nelson told the New York Times. "I think this story has--if you want it--themes of hopefulness, elements of sacrifice versus selfishness, and it plays out asking questions about whether love can survive through this storm."

That relationship is front and center in the gameplay, which lets you switch seamlessly between them. Elsewhere in the report, Nelson says that the two could be lovers or simply partners in crime, and that will be up to the player. To maintain the relationship they'll have to spend time together, like hanging out and responding to texts.

"It's new for G.T.A., this idea of your actions having meaning in terms of how you treat your partner or how violent you are," Nelson said.

Rockstar has shared more details about its long-awaited and heavily hyped Grand Theft Auto 6, and one key piece of information is that the game's map is apparently three times bigger than Red Dead Redemption 2's. The game takes players back to Vice City, a stand-in for Miami. Players will also be able to explore the surrounding areas.

A New York Times report featuring interviews with Rockstar's developers said, "The overall map, the studio said, is three times as large as the playable area of its previous game, Red Dead Redemption 2."

That's a big map.

Additionally, the report said GTA 6 has "well over 600,000 animations," which compares to 55,000 for GTA 5 and 300,000 in Red Dead Redemption 2.

“Every room in the game, somebody thought about this,” Rockstar North boss Aaron Garbut said. “Who’s sitting where, what they’re drinking, the marks that are left on the table. The pictures on the wall will have the people that are in that room, with their tattoos on their arms and their family behind them. That whole thing has been made, and built, and photographed, and placed in this random room in a random building in a huge city, in a world.”

Other GTA 6 details that have been confirmed recently include how a playthrough of the main game can take 80 hours, the game returning to six-star wanted levels, and how you can pet the dog.

Keep checking back with GameSpot for lots more on GTA 6. The game launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Rockstar's GTA games had six-star wanted levels until GTA 5 dropped it down to five, and now Rockstar is returning to its roots by going back to six with GTA 6. How fitting.

This was confirmed in the GTA 6 Netflix gameplay video today. We don't know exactly what Jason and Lucia will need to do to achieve a six-star wanted level, but it will no doubt be the worst of the worst crimes.

A logo showed in the GTA 6 trailer also suggests there will be icons for specific crimes that players commit. The full details aren't available, however, but it makes sense that Rockstar would evolve the wanted system in some form.

One of the icons, a car, disappears when Jason or Lucia hide a car in a garage, for example. Additionally, players can destroy security camera footage to avoid the cops. Also, the police will react more aggressively when you are also more aggressive by going into an area guns blazing.

Keep checking back with GameSpot for lots more on GTA 6. The game launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The CEO of Helldivers studio Arrowhead Game Studios has commented on the upcoming launch of GTA 6, saying he's happy there will be no PC version or online mode at launch, because that will help Helldivers 2 "keep crushing it."

In a statement to press, Sham Jorjani said Rockstar makes "ridiculous, high-effort stuff, and it's awesome that games like this get made." He said he's selfishly happy that the game won't be on PC at launch, nor will there be an online mode right away.

"It means Helldivers 2 gets to keep crushing it in our own space, and is also why it won’t be the all consuming behemoth everyone’s worried about," he said.

Rockstar has confirmed GTA 6 will launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but the developer has not said a word about a possible PC edition. Additionally, Rockstar has said GTA 6 is a "single-player experience," but the company has not confirmed outright that there won't be an online mode at launch.

It's expected Rockstar will evolve GTA Online in some form for GTA 6, but we don't know anything about that yet. With GTA 5, the game launched first on console before later coming to PC. For GTA 6, it's expected the game will also eventually come to PC. Additionally, it won't be unprecedented if GTA 6 launches with no online mode, as GTA 5 also launched without one.

Jorjani went on to say Rockstar has "the brand power to confidently take their time and run their classic play," as opposed to chasing trends and pivoting like some other developers do.

"They have the confidence and freedom to spend a decade doing things the old-school way because they know the core game will deliver. It’s going to raise the bar for sure," he said.

The "Extended Look" for GTA 6 aired today, August 27, on Netflix. For more, be sure to read GameSpot’s breakdown of how to watch and what to expect from the GTA 6 Extended Look event.

The Netflix event comes after GTA 6 has suffered numerous, significant gameplay leaks. Rockstar reacted to the scandal, saying the leaks are “heartbreaking” for the developers.

GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It’s coming to market with an incredible amount of hype behind it, in part because fans have been waiting 13 years for the sequel to GTA 5.

Grand Theft Auto VI had its big debut on Netflix today, and as part of the opening sequence we got confirmation that there will be very good boys, by which I mean dogs, and you can interact them in a few different ways.

When exploring an apartment complex for a package pickup, Jason and Lucia come across a dog in the hallway. Jason leans over to interact, allowing you to pet the dog, as we've come to expect in video games. But two other options were also notable: Scold, and Study.

Scolding a dog is probably exactly what it sounds like, though we didn't see it in action. Maybe there's a dog behavior mechanic and scolding helps steer them right? The Study option appears borrowed from Red Dead Redemption 2, which allowed you to study wild animals. That may indicate GTA 6 will allow you to study a variety of creatures, not just dogs. A New York Times report further detailed that you can buy treats for dogs at shops and give them out.

If you saw footage of Exterminauts come out of Gamescom this week, then you might have thought it bore some resemblance to Helldivers 2. The two games are both cooperative PvE shooters with an assortment of powerful weapons to use and creatures to battle, but the team at Behaviour Interactive believe Exterminauts stands out in several key ways.

Speaking to GameSpot at Gamescom, creative director Vincent Regimbart acknowledged that there are definitely similarities in the two games, but also a few key changes that help Exterminauts stand out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wlka-ypMHTQ

"Our game is not war: It's work," Regimbart said. "It's a workplace that fights back. So there's a thematic difference that we don't want it kind of, to be too heavy on the player--to make it feel like everything is ominous and dire. You're just here to do your 9-5 and get back out."

Regimbart also said that the team felt like it could actually make some improvements to certain aspects of Helldivers, particularly regarding the progression system.

"There are mods to your weapons, there are passives, there are a lot of upgrades, and there are a lot of different paths that you can take with a particular build. So we're putting a lot more emphasis on that."

For more on Exterminauts, you can check out our full Gamescom preview and read about how the season pass is respecting dedicated players. The game comes to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2027.

Few game companies are brave enough to go head-to-head with the release of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto 6, but that's exactly what publisher Devolver Digital is doing with the launch of Volvy's Adventure: Reslimed on November 19.

Billed as a "remaster of the second remake of the original monochrome action-platformer starring the most famous video game mascot of all time," Volvy's Adventure is actually almost none of those things. The original "Volvy's Adventure" doesn't exist. This isn't a remaster but an entirely new and original game. Volvy, while actually being Devolver Digital's tongue-in-cheek platformer mascot, is obviously not the most famous of "all time."

So what is Volvy's Adventure: Reslimed, actually? It's a Game Boy Color-style 2D platformer coming to Steam from developer Doinksoft, the studio behind 2D sidescrollers like Gato Roboto and Gunbrella. Volvy himself is a rat-esque (I think?) creature with one big hand and one small hand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UEeIDWVZY8

Like any good platforming mascot, Volvy dashes and jumps through levels while collecting items (in this case, onions), bouncing on the heads of enemies, and battling bosses. Occasionally, Volvy transforms into a hulked out alter-ego called Swolvy capable of smashing through anything that gets in his way. 

It's all a little absurd, but that's also what makes it fun. While much of the marketing and the entire premise of Volvy's Adventure: Reslimed comes off as a meta-video-game-industry joke, the actual game on display in its debut trailer looks like a rollicking good time. 

Volvy's Adventure: Reslimed is immediately reminiscent of its Game Boy Color-era inspirations, with a vibrant art style, a popping soundtrack, and kinetic movement. Volvy can dash through the air with his giant fist, burrow underground, or hover like a helicopter using his tail, and the trailer shows how all these abilities can all be chained together.

GTA 6 will certainly be hogging the headlines when it releases in November, but the open-world crime simulator isn't everyone's cup of tea, is $80 (or $100), and isn't releasing on PC at launch. Volvy's Adventure: Reslimed, at only $5, offers a nice bit of counterprogramming then for those who are looking for something else to do November 19. 

Surprisingly, Volvy isn't the only one bold enough to release on the same day as GTA 6. The Binding of Isaac: Repentance+ Online, a port adding online co-op, is also releasing November 19.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has suggested Microsoft could make more exclusive games again, but will The Elder Scrolls 6 be among them? We still don't know, but that's the question the BBC asked Sharma at Gamescom this week. But first, Sharma discussed her thoughts generally about exclusives, and how every platform, in her estimation, needs some form of exclusive content to grow.

"We are increasingly going to be one of the largest platforms in the world. Every platform needs some form of exclusive experiences and content," she said. "And so, what we've shared is Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork [Revolution will be exclusive on console to Xbox]. We're going to do the best we can to continue to do that, all in context of the business being healthy, and so we have to balance that."

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2ua0Q65JXyE

Pressed to say if it is a "priority" to make The Elder Scrolls 6 exclusive to Xbox on console, Sharma smiled and said, "It's a beautiful game." Sharma recently visited the developers at Bethesda and offered an update on how the game was progressing. During her visit, protestors came to Bethesda's offices to drag Sharma for her decision to lay off thousands of Xbox developers, including people working on The Elder Scrolls 6.

Due to these layoffs and other cuts, staffers at Bethesda are facing "crushing morale" and fears of more delays.

In terms of Microsoft's approach exclusive games going forward, the team has said it will honor existing agreements for Xbox-made games that were previously announced as multiplatform releases. The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced in 2018, but at the time, Bethesda did not confirm platform details. Microsoft acquired Bethesda in 2021, and documents from the Microsoft vs. FTC case said The Elder Scrolls 6 was not planned for PS5.

Former Xbox boss Phil Spencer, for his part, said in 2021 that making games exclusive to Xbox is "not about punishing any other platform." He also alluded to the possibility of The Elder Scrolls 6 being exclusive to Xbox.

"In order to be on Xbox, I want us to be able to bring the full complete package of what we have. And that would be true when I think about The Elder Scrolls 6," he said. "That would be true when I think about any of our franchises."

Spencer spearheaded the effort to bring more Xbox games to rival platforms in a bid to make more money. He left Xbox earlier this year, and one of Sharma's first moves was to tell fans how important exclusives are to the business. Gears of War: E-Day, which launches this October, was reportedly planned for PS5 before Microsoft opted to make it exclusive on console to Xbox.

Despite being announced more than eight years ago, The Elder Scrolls 6 still has no release date or official details.

Microsoft opened up preorders for its limited-edition 25th-Anniversary Xbox Series X, and within a minute, the most expensive Xbox ever sold out. While units will likely make their ways into the hands of Xbox fans with deep pockets, it looks like scalpers have also snatched up units, and as you'd expect, they're expecting to make a big payday by flogging them on sites like eBay.

A quick look at the commerce platform reveals dozens of the rare Xbox Series X consoles have been listed, with prices ranging from $2,200 all the way up to an incredibly optimistic $27,426 by one seller in Australia--likely as a way to grab the top spot on eBay's search page.  Microsoft opened up preorders with a $900 asking price for the console, so this is quite the jump. So far, it looks like quite a few of the consoles have been sold at the marked-up price, with several sales on eBay averaging between $1,900 to $2,300 per unit sold.

That's a lot of cash for an Xbox!

This is also an unpleasant reminder of the early years of the current console generation, as thanks to a semiconductor shortage, the Xbox Series X and the PS5 were hard to find. Scalpers using a variety of methods and programs were quick to snatch up restocks online and resold them, but supply chains eventually stabilized and access to the current console generation was easier--at least until a variety of factors saw their prices surge upwards last year, with no sign of relief in the immediate future.

This is also yet another thing that scalpers have ruined, as many hobbies has been impacted by hustle culture. The Pokemon Trading Card Game has been especially hard hit, as every new restock at retailers usually sees scalpers buy up all of the available stock. Not even Pokemon donuts are safe, as the recent Krispy Kreme collaboration attracted plenty of people looking to make a quick buck.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps5-xbox-and-switch-2-heres-how-their-prices-have-changed-since-launch/

This is also yet another thing that scalpers have ruined, as many hobbies has been impacted by hustle culture. The Pokemon Trading Card Game has been especially hard hit, as every new restock at retailers usually sees scalpers buy up all of the available stock. Not even Pokemon donuts are safe, as the recent Krispy Kreme collaboration attracted plenty of people looking to make a quick buck.

This year's Gamescom event is underway in Cologne, Germany, and now the country's president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier--speaking at the event itself--warned people to consider the downsides to gaming. He also said gaming is great and has lots of positive effects on people and society.

As reported by DPA International, he said video games have "become so ubiquitous," so it's only prudent to "discuss the downsides of this development." He said people should look at video games "objectively, honestly, and in a nuanced way."

Steinmeier pointed out how the World Health Organization has warned of the dangers of gaming addiction, and he went on to say some video games expose people to "brutality and raw violence, to sexism, racism, inhuman thinking, and extremist ideologies."

Also during his speech, Steinmeier said it's an outdated way of thinking to believe a "gamer" is someone who plays video games 24/7, eats junk food, and drinks energy drinks in a dark room. This "does not do justice to reality," he said.

"Games have long since found their place at the heart of our society," he said, adding that advancements to gaming technology have helped various other industries, including medicine, architecture, and motor vehicle design.

Gamescom 2026 kicked off with Geoff Keighley's Opening Night Live event, where a lot of announcements were made. The show itself is underway now, and for more, you can read GameSpot's interview with the organizers about how the biggest gaming event in the West continues to grow.

Great racing games have an x-factor that sets them apart from their peers, but you could argue that the genre hasn't meaningfully evolved over the decades. Star Wars: Galactic Racer aims to change that perception, as the new title from developer Fuse Games looks to other genres for inspiration. While it might look like a spiritual successor to 1999's Star Wars Episode 1: Pod Racer, Galactic Racer adds in some roguelite flavor and a dash of Burnout to its take on high-speed competition in a galaxy far, far away.

"Our intention was actually to move the genre forward," Fuse Games CEO Matt Webster said to GameSpot. "We've made a lot of racing games in the past, and we love racing. This game came together because of a shared love of racing and Star Wars, but we needed to evolve. It needed to change; it needed to be something to push it forward and modernize it. It's probably the last sort of major genre that hasn't really had a transformative stealing of different types from different genres into racing."

"And so, that's what we did here. We wanted to make a racing adventure where story and character are very important. But we've wrapped it up inside a runs-based structure. Runs-based games are games that are designed for infinite replayability, and we think racing thrives on replayability. Our assertion was that those things were going to be a great mix, and now, as that comes to life, people are coming for the Star Wars arcade racing action, but there's a boatload of depth in there."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acy2Cixyya0

That all sounds like a fun recipe for single-player fun, but what about multiplayer? Online competition is a vital part of any racing game, and with a roguelite-influenced structure, you'd imagine that this wouldn't translate well to multiplayer racing. Fuse Games says that it has found a great balance for players who want to race against their fellow humans, as Galactic Racer's multiplayer leans heavy into the underworld aspect of Star Wars and allows you to place bets on how well you'll do in competitions.

"Multiplayer is amazing in this game, because what we've done is we've taken that sort of run-based chase, and we've compressed it into about 25, 30 minutes," Webster explained. "So, in Speeder Tours, there are 12 players, Pod Racing Tours has eight players, and the tours follow the same structure, which is six events. The first five events are a build chase, so your finishing position determines what rewards you get and what parts are available to you. But importantly, you bet on your finishing position. If I'm confident, I'm going to go all in, I'm going to say I'm going to come, I'm going to place in the top three. If I achieve that, I get an epic reward. If I don't get there, I don't get as good a reward. Or you might say top nine."

"If you achieve that, you get a decent part drop. So, every time, there's a decent opportunity for you to progress, and that solves a great challenge that we have in the past where if you didn't come first in a series of races online, you're kind of like, 'Well, I'm done. I'll just try my bet somewhere else.' Now, everybody has a chance, and I'm serious, where we've seen this, everyone has a chance to claw that back victory because the first five events are about building the best vehicle you can for the showdown event. The very last event is one where you put it all on the line, and there you're betting on who's going to win."

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The Best Star Wars Games Of All Time View Images

Video game console price increases could be back on the menu, as the Trump administration is reportedly weighing implementing a new round of tariffs on imported computer chips.

According to Politico, the administration is considering expanding the number of tech products subject to the duties, and they could include everyday electronics that use these chips--including gaming consoles, data center servers, and laptops. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is reportedly aiming to use these tariffs to push foreign tech companies to build manufacturing plants inside the US if they want tax relief.

While this plan hasn't been finalized and could change in the coming months, Politico's sources say that these new tariffs will be implemented slowly if they are approved. Tech companies have already warned that these taxes could backfire and hurt the US's efforts to win the artificial-intelligence race. The advanced chip factories required to produce crucial components like semiconductors and memory cost billions to establish and take years to build.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiYNNGR4uLo

This wouldn't be the first time that console prices have risen because of US President Donald Trump's tariffs, as Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft hardware have all increased in price. While the companies haven't directly attributed the price hikes to tariffs--citing global economic instability and other factors as reasons their products became more expensive--they did directly mention that tariff refunds have helped their bottom line. Both Sony and Nintendo, for example, got nice little paydays earlier this year after the US Supreme Court declared Trump's tariffs to be unlawful.

None of these refunds have been passed back to consumers, but the makers of the PlayDate handheld, Panic, confirmed this week that it'll be refunding anyone who bought the device when its price was increased to cover the tariffs.

At long last, Rockstar will lift the veil on GTA 6 today, August 27, via an "Extended Look" on Netflix. But how long will the broadcast be? Now we know.

According to an updated listing for the showcase on the Netflix app, the Extended Look event will run for 26 minutes. That's pretty significant, but it should be, given Rockstar and Netflix are calling it "extended."

This suggest it's more than a trailer but instead a proper deep dive into the world of GTA 6. That's exciting news for fans, as Rockstar has only delivered two trailers for the game since 2023, and only sparing other details along the way.

Additionally, Netflix's blog post announcing the Extended Look was updated with confirmation that the content in the broadcast was "captured entirely from in-game footage on PlayStation 5." That's no surprise, either, as the May 2025 GTA 6 trailer was also captured on PlayStation 5, and not the PS5 Pro.

Sony and Rockstar have a co-marketing agreement for GTA 6, which is why this is happening. It may also help explain why GTA 6 features consoles and controllers that resemble PlayStation's own devices.

The Extended Look begins today at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET, and while the broadcast will initially air on Netflix, it will come to YouTube at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET. For more, be sure to read GameSpot's breakdown of how to watch and what to expect from the GTA 6 Extended Look event.

The Netflix event comes after GTA 6 has suffered numerous, significant gameplay leaks. Rockstar reacted to the scandal, saying the leaks are "heartbreaking" for the developers.

GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It's coming to market with an incredible amount of hype behind it, in part because fans have been waiting 13 years for the sequel to GTA 5.

Following the report that said Battlefield 1's Jack Lowden is circling the role of James Bond for the next 007 movie, it’s now rumored that another actor who appeared in a video game, Jack Barton, could be in the mix as well.

PageSix reported that Bond 26 director Denis Villeneuve and casting director Nina Gold are looking at a "stream of unknowns" to play James Bond next. One such person is Barton, who played Messmer the Impaler in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.

That is Barton's only video game credit. On TV, he appeared in Steven Knight's SAS: Rogue Heroes and the TV show War of the Worlds. In film, Barton appeared in Yorgos Lanthimos' Oscar-winning 2023 movie Poor Things.

The report went on to say Barton will do a screen test to play James Bond, as will other contenders, including Lowden. These tests will begin in early September and will also reportedly include people like Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, and Harris Dickson.

In May this year, Bond movie production company Amazon MGM Studios said the search for the next James Bond actor was underway and that the film studio would not comment on the casting process.

It has been a long wait for the next James Bond movie, as the latest entry, No Time to Die, was released in 2021. However, it was expected to be release much sooner, but had three delays due in part to COVID.

Daniel Craig played James Bond in five 007 films, and wrapped up his run with No Time To Die. Amazon MGM Studios bought the franchise and reportedly paid a lot of money to regain creative control from the longtime series stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.

The new James Bond movie will be directed by Villeneuve, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker known for the Dune franchise. He’s also directed the movies Prisoners, Sicario, Blade Runner 2049, and Arrival.

Sony has already confirmed that it's headed toward an all-digital future soon, but what about Xbox and its next-gen console, Project Helix? In a new interview, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma didn't give any concrete answers about whether Project Helix will have a disc drive, instead focusing on the topic of next-gen hardware affordability.

"This next generation, we have to be thinking about efficiency and affordability alongside performance," Sharma said to the BBC. "All of the industry needs to start to innovate on affordability and efficiency. That is something that we have not had to do [previously]. But with the crisis that's currently happening in hardware and components, it is absolutely something all of us need to be thinking about, innovating on, and giving people more choice in terms of how they play their console and how they purchase their console."

On the topic of physical media, Sharma said her focus was on giving players choices for how they purchase their games. "I want to make sure people have a choice. There are stacks of games on everybody's shelves," she said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ANSUtDfr5A

While Sony's pivot to digital has been poorly received so far, Xbox has been laying the groundwork for this shift away from physical games for several years now. Options like Smart Delivery, Play Anywhere, and the recently announced disc-to-digital program has helped make the transition easier while still giving Xbox owners the option to purchase physical games. In comparison, PlayStation owners will be limited to a single storefront run by Sony, one that currently doesn't offer consumer-friendly services like refunds or gifting, as Valve's Steam platform does. It's no wonder that the decision to go digital has been so unpopular and has resulted in a flood of negative comments whenever Sony posts anything online.

Xbox, on the other hand, is primed to win a war of opinion if it offers some form of physical ownership of its games, even if that section of its market only makes up a tiny number of sales. Project Helix is still rumored to be a digital-only console so that Microsoft can cut costs on its production, but according to rumors, it'll be backwards-compatible with older games. Given how the new disc-to-digital program works, it might be worth keeping an Xbox Series X or Xbox One console around so you can bring your physical games with you, in case it doesn't have a disc drive of its own. 

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xboxs-disc-to-digital-program-officially-announced-and-it-sounds-pretty-great/

Ahead of today's GTA 6 Extended Preview on Netflix, developer Rockstar Games has revealed plenty of new details on the highly anticipated open-world game. In a new interview, Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson divulged how the game, similar to GTA: San Andreas, will require you to take good care of the protagonists Jason and Lucia, as the duo will need to engage in exercise, healthy eating, and relaxation if they want to stay in shape. Just like real life, but with more immediate gains.

Getting physical

First off, Jason and Lucia's physiques will change according to how you take care of them between missions. Working out will visibly build muscle for the pair, while gorging on food will make them get noticeably heavier. Rockstar says it wants to enable "self-expression" amongst players without losing "the essence" of the characters. On that topic, Jason is ex-military and a drug runner, while Lucia has just finished a stint in prison when GTA 6 starts.

You'll also need to ensure that Jason and Lucia get some rest between their outings, as staying awake for several days or constantly evading the police will take a toll on them. Players will have the option to play as the couple or go solo in the game, and swapping between them is designed to be a seamless experience. "The thing we love about this medium is the way these characters aren’t empty avatars that you can do whatever you want with," Nelson said to Dazed (via Shinobi602). "Their story becomes a journey you share with them."

Contrary to what your parents told you, looks do matter--especially in Vice City. Nelson says that Vice City is built around vanity, and how Jason and Lucia appear will "carry significant weight" as players interact with social media stars, celebrities, and tourists.

Choice and consequences

Rockstar is also aiming to make the world of GTA 6 more reactive to players, with repercussions for certain actions. Rockstar says that the consequences will "cut much deeper" than in previous GTA games.

NPCs are more distinct than ever

The various GTA 6 leaks have so far shown off an impressively populated city, and Nelson said that Rockstar has done a lot of research to create diverse crowds of NPCs. The studio spent years in Miami and its surrounding areas to nail the feel of the game, meeting with people from all walks of life. Rockstar met club promoters, infamous individuals, law enforcement, ex-criminals, and even gun dealers, and the NPC variety includes a wide range of factors to make large groups of unique NPCs.

Rockstar says that it developed new tools to "build the most detailed and varied character population" for GTA 6. With multiple branches across the world, Rockstar's LA office was dedicated solely to working on NPCs.

The developer also brought in over 50 real street artists to create murals for the game, and when it came to vehicle handling, real race-car drivers were hired to help fine-tune how cars behave in Vice City.

Following several days of leaks, the first new look at GTA 6 will debut exclusively on Netflix later today, followed by a wider release on platforms like YouTube. Rockstar addressed the leaks this week, describing them as "heartbreaking" for the team ahead of the game's November launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-extended-look-how-to-watch-what-to-expect-and-more/

Former President of PlayStation Studios, Shuhei Yoshida, has praised Microsoft's recently announced disc-to-digital program, writing that it is a "great move by team Xbox."

The former executive posted his opinion on the program on X with no other commentary, but it's a notable remark given how much of Yoshida's career was spent at Xbox's main competitor. That's especially true when you consider the differences in approach Microsoft and Sony seem to be taking as we march towards an all-digital future, with Sony announcing that it plans to stop PlayStation disc production for new titles from January 2028. It, unlike Xbox, hasn't yet announced a method for current physical game owners to continue using their discs on a potentially digital-only PlayStation 6.

Xbox's approach is relatively straightforward. After inserting a disc into an Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S console, you will be granted a digital license for the game which enables you to play it across Xbox, PC (where compatible), and Xbox Cloud Streaming without requiring the disc any longer. The catch is that if you happen to sell the disc or lend it to a friend, that digital license will be revoked from your profile and associated with any new one that makes use of the disc itself. It's a smart way to ensure your physical library is still playable in the case of a new Xbox shipping without a disc drive, for an example.

Yoshida spent over 30 years working at Sony, eventually becoming President of SIE Worldwide Studios (now known as PlayStation Studios) from 2008 to 2019. Yoshida then became the head of PlayStation Indies before retiring in 2024. Earlier this year, Yoshida revealed that he'd been fired from his former presidential role for not listening to Jim Ryan, the former CEO and chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Yoshida has remained vocal within the games industry, providing consulting services and appearing at conventions and conferences as a speaker. He recently discussed the role of AI in game development, saying that "from a developer’s standpoint, it’s going to be a really tough future."

The countdown to Grand Theft Auto 6 is winding down, and ahead of its launch in November, developer Rockstar Games has a new look at the game on the way. But unlike other trailers or developer previews, this one won't be dropping on YouTube first, as Netflix has an exclusive on it for several hours. If you're planning to watch--and you have a Netflix subscription--here's everything you need to know about the upcoming GTA 6 preview.

When to watch on Netflix

Grand Theft Auto 6: An Extended Look will premiere on Netflix at the following times on August 27:

• 3 PM ET
• 12 PM PT
• 8 PM BST
• 9 PM CEST
• 10 PM SAST
• 12 AM GST (August 28)
• 5 AM JST (August 28)
• 7 AM AEST (August 28)

When to watch on YouTube

Following its six hours of Netflix exclusivity, the GTA preview will be available to watch on YouTube and the official GTA 6 website.

• 9 PM ET
• 6 PM PT
• 2 AM BST (August 28)
• 3 AM CEST (August 28)
• 4 AM SAST (August 28)
• 6 AM GST (August 28)
• 11 AM JST (August 28)
• 1 PM AEST (August 28)

Netflix subscriptions: How much do they cost?

While you absolutely do not need Netflix to watch the Extended Look--since it will be free on YouTube a few hours later--if you can't wait, there are  several options available, ranging from ad-supported to pricier premium subscriptions.

• Netflix Standard with ads -- $9 per month
• Netflix Standard -- $20 per month
• Netflix Premium -- $27 per month

What to expect

Unsurprisingly, Rockstar Games is keeping mum on what will be shown during the preview--but one leaker hasn't been dropping a ton of pilfered content lately. There's no word yet on how long the Extended Look will run for or what parts of the game it'll cover, but fans are expecting brand-new footage and a proper look at how GTA 6 will play. If it's anything like the previous games in the series, expect driving, shooting, and a closer look at Vice City.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-leaks-a-timeline-of-the-events-so-far/