As the wait for GTA 6's next trailer continues, fans are poring over all the little details from the new batch of screenshots that recently went live. One piece of information that fans are now obsessing about is what they believe will be a system in the game that lets you get swoll.

As relayed by GamesRadar, fans are convinced that a newly released image that shows main character Jason being less jacked than he was in a previous image is evidence that the game will have some kind of fitness/bodybuilding system.

The commenters rightly point out that lighting and angles can make a person's build look different from image to image, not to mention the effect of a good pump on making muscles pop. However, what we're looking at here in the images seems to be more than that. As you can see in the image on the right, Jason's biceps, triceps, traps, and back are looking absolutely huge, whereas the image on the left shows a much more average-looking Jason.

https://twitter.com/playb0y4L/status/2071725574716842475

This follows on from the trailer for GTA 6 released in May 2025 showing Jason throwing up some heavy weight on the bench somewhere on the beach in Vice City. We dug deep to try to find out how much Jason could bench.

It’s likely pumping out sets could be an activity in GTA 6, as Rockstar is known to allow players to do much of what they see in trailers for their games. Given that, it stands to reason that putting in the work would lead to some proper gains like the ones people are noticing in the comparison image above.

GTA San Andreas had a bodybuilding system whereby CJ could lift weights to build muscle that was then reflected in his character model and gameplay attributes, so it seems GTA 6 might be bringing that back.

Jason is one of two playable characters in GTA 6, the other being Lucia. GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and while the game will have a physical edition, it comes with a code in the box, not a disc.

Hideo Kojima's Xbox console-exclusive horror game, OD, is reportedly safe amidst reports and rumors of studio closures, layoffs, and game cancellations at Xbox loom.

According to a report from IGN, a source familiar with Microsoft's Xbox plans has stated OD remains in development at Kojima Productions and will still be published by Xbox.

Not much is known about OD, but it was announced during an Xbox showcase in June 2022, with only a few brief glimpses since. It is set to star three actors-- Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and the late Udo Kier--and is being made in collaboration with director Jordan Peele. 

Kojima said in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly that while pitching OD, most people didn't understand the concept. Former Xbox CEO Phil Spencer, however, understood, resulting in a partnership between Kojima Productions and Xbox.

When OD will release is unknown, but news that its development will continue comes as Xbox seems poised to undergo a painful transition under new CEO Asha Sharma. It was just earlier today that 007 First Light developer IO Interactive announced layoffs after it was confirmed by Bloomberg that Microsoft had pulled funding for the studio's upcoming Project Fantasy game. 

In a statement, Microsoft said it would not be "reducing our overall investment in games," but changing "where we're investing and the kinds of projects we're backing."

A number of Xbox studios and games are reportedly on the chopping block, with the possibility of some being spun out from under Xbox, being sold to other companies, or being closed entirely. One game said to be in danger of cancellation is Marvel's Blade, from developer Arkane. Blade was announced in 2023 but no gameplay has been shown. In a quote from May, Bethesda's Todd Howard said he recently saw the game and that Arkane was doing a "really, really great job." 

According to a report from The Verge, at least five studios, including Arkane, Compulsion Games (which has already reportedly seen layoffs), Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs, are all in danger. Mass layoffs are said to be coming around July 6, according to the report, and will hit "most parts of Xbox."

Microsoft has confirmed that it pulled out of funding Hitman developer IO Interactive's new fantasy game, and it's because the company is re-focusing its spending on the "highest priorities" for the business.

Speaking to Bloomberg, a Microsoft spokesperson said Xbox is "taking a fresh look at where we invest so we're focusing on our highest priorities."

Major changes are afoot at Xbox.

The statement went on to claim that Microsoft is "not reducing our overall investment in games," adding that the total amount of investment this year should be about the same as it was last year.

"What's changing is where we're investing and the kinds of projects we're backing," Microsoft said.

IO Interactive said its fantasy game, which is in development under the working title Project Fantasy, "will see the light of day." However, it remains to be seen how IO will go about doing that.

As part of the shakeup, IO is laying off staff, though it's not immediately clear how many people are affected. In addition to Project Fantasy, many are hoping to see IO make a sequel to 007 First Light.

As for Xbox, the company is undergoing a "reset" of its business under the leadership of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. This is reportedly going to include mass layoffs, studio closures (or divestitures), and game cancellations. A report said the cuts will begin on July 6.

Hitman and 007 First Light developer IO Interactive is the latest in a growing list of studios suffering layoffs, this time, this time in relation to a franchise that it hasn't even launched yet.

Project Fantasy, IO Interactive's first attempt at crafting a fantasy RPG, is still in development, but the end of a recent external partner relationship has forced the studio to make some cuts to its team. In a statement, IO says that these are short-term consequences, and that the proposed layoffs are currently in progress.

"This means we have to adapt to this new reality and its short-term consequences, including staffing decisions, which is what is happening as we write this update, and we are fully committed to supporting those affected through this challenging transition," the statement reads.

In spite of the setback, IO's statement ends with a promise that Project Fantasy is not dead. "This wonderful universe will see the light of day," the statement concludes.

Although the identity of the partner has been speculation throughout Project Fantasy's development, Xbox confirmed today that it was working with IO Interactive on the IP. In a statement to Bloomberg, Xbox confirmed that it had pulled its funding, saying, “We expect to invest about the same in content as we did last year. What's changing is where we're investing and the kinds of projects we're backing.”

IO Interactive's latest game and its first outside of the Hitman franchise in a while, 007 First Light, has been a critical and commercial success, with the studio celebrating 3 million copies sold in the first two weeks after launch.

Helldivers 2's latest campaign calls for Super Earth's finest to aid in the construction of a "Celestial Fence" to keep out the ongoing Terminid menace.

It's up to the Helldivers community to help deploy what Super Earth Command has billed as a "flawless, updated, and entirely safe Terminid Control System wall" that will "permanently quarantine" the "fascist" Terminids. The Helldivers are tasked with defending construction sites, gathering necessary resources for the campaign, and holding the line against the Terminids to "guarantee eternal planetary security."

Should the Helldivers succeed, players will be awarded with a "morale boosting freedom incentive, the R-4 Hyena Marksmen rifle.

This follows a previous successful campaign against the Illuminate's Voteless hordes, which Super Earth Command has informed players have now been sent to "humanitarian processing facilities." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5xxT-LWRYY

Considering Super Earth's last attempt to deploy Termicide resulted in a mutant strain of new, even deadlier Terminids and a subsequent order to shut down all the Terminid Control System towers players had just helped build, it remains to be seen how effective this new "flawless" solution will be.

One in 2026 does not issue an order to build a wall without intentionally echoing the campaign promises of current US President Donald Trump for a border wall between the US and Mexico. Developer Arrowhead Studios, which is based in Sweden, knows this.

Arrowhead has always worn its Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers-inspired brand of satire on its sleeve when it comes to Helldivers 2. Whether it's invading desert-like Terminid planets for what is essentially their oil or battling against "communist" cyborgs, Helldivers 2 has always leaned into the farce that is Super Earth's authoritarian government for comedic effect. Under the facade of "Managed Democracy," Super Earth sends millions of soldiers to their deaths in pointless, preventable wars that are often the result of Super Earth's own disastrous policies. 

It's not exactly subtle. Helldivers 2 is clearly tongue-firmly-in-cheek satire, but much like Verhoeven's 1997 sci-fi classic, that hasn't stopped some from missing the point entirely. A US Marines anniversary celebration from last October saw one member of the armed forces walk out to Helldivers 2's iconic music and even repeat lines verbatim from the game's opening cinematic, asking the audience if they had the "strength and the courage to be free" and to join the Marines.

Whether players will succeed in stopping the Terminids (not likely) with the new Terminid Control System remains to be seen, but Arrowhead will no doubt continue laying on the satire thick, regardless of if players are in on the joke.

Helldivers 2's previous campaign brought a much-welcome update to Arrowhead's shooter, including the ability to reload while diving and major buffs to orbital stratagems and vehicles. Arrowhead recently announced it has delayed its June Warbond, stating it needs "more time to cook." A Warhammer 40K and Helldivers 2 crossover is still slated for later this year.

A new report claims that Microsoft is considering cancelling the upcoming Marvel's Blade game and closing its developer.

According to The Verge, Microsoft is considering closing at least five studios, one of which is Arkane, the developer of the upcoming Blade game. The report said Blade was originally set to launch in 2026, but was delayed to late 2027 and is over budget.

Earlier in June, a report said Marvel's Blade was not canceled, despite it being a no-show at the Xbox Games Showcase. The game was announced in 2023, but no gameplay footage has ever been released.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=basLDO2bj2k

Microsoft is also said to be exploring the possibility of selling Arkane Studios, though The Verge's report did not name any potential buyers. This reporting follows previous stories that said Microsoft is also trying to offload Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs.

"If buyers are found for these studios, then they’ll avoid being closed, but sources stress these talks could take months in some cases," The Verge said.

Marvel's Blade is in development at Arkane's office in Lyon, France. The company's US-based counterpart in Austin, Texas--the studio that made Redfall--was shuttered in May 2024. Microsoft acquired the Arkane teams as part of its buyout of parent company ZeniMax years prior.

Layoffs could begin July 6

The report also included more information on the job cuts coming to Xbox, saying they will begin on July 6 and "hit most parts of Xbox." Unconfirmed reporting from other sources said the layoffs could be as many as 1,000. If the five studios are shuttered, that would amount to at least 500 employees, The Verge said.

This is happening as part of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's plan to "reset" the Xbox business with the aim of making it the "No. 1 gaming and entertainment company."

Think fast!

You might think that you've got the memory of a vengeful elephant, but according to science, your ability to recall colors isn't so hot. Research has claimed that humans are terrible at remembering certain shades of color, and that's where this new timesink of a game is aiming to improve things. The goal is simple: Look at the Pantone swatch shown on your screen, try to match it as closely as possible, and see how well you do over a run. It's a concept that can easily gobble up hours of your time as you work to out the exact shade of green or red that you were briefly exposed to.

Play Dialed

By the way, my top score is 48.4 out of 50. Top that, if you can (and without cheating, please).

Created by the father-son duo of Geoff and Sam Teehan, Dialed launched back in February, and the vibe-coded game quickly racked up millions of plays. The tools are easy to use, as you're given sliders for color, saturation, and brightness, with your final result determining your best score out of 10 based on how close you get to matching the original color. A player will have to match five colors in total, and each challenge is accompanied by some text that either mocks you gently for being way off the mark or serves you up a sardonic congratulations on your color-matching skills.

"I think we just figured out a simple formula that works," Geoff Teehan said to Fast Company in May. "You're going to perceive a stimulus, then you're going to re-create it from memory using simple inputs or controls. "We're stripping out everything else that's unnecessary. There are no instructions, there are no sign-ups or logins. There's no onboarding. There's no app to download. You just click a link, and you're playing."

If this sounds like your idea of a good time, you can also check out What's My JND, a color perception game. Another easy-to-play game in your desktop browser, the goal of this one is to see how good you are at noticing the differences between colors and clicking on the border between them. For example, you can easily see the line separating teal from orange, but as you progress, the hues and colors become increasingly more difficult to separate.

19 Games Like Wordle To Spend Lunchtime With In 2025 View Images

A class-action lawsuit has accused the three biggest memory manufacturers of colluding to fix pricing in the midst of an unprecedented increase of consumer RAM and storage pricing.

Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix has been targeted in the lawsuit, filed on June 25 at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The lawsuit claims that the three manufacturer form a monopoly and accuses them of undertaking "concerted anticompetitive behavior." It goes on to detail how all three retreated from the manufacture of consumer-level memory, such as DDR3 and DDR4, simultaneously, switching instead to feed the growing demand for HBM (High-Bandwidth Memory) and its use in AI data centers.

In another market, this orchestrated supply constraint would often allow other players to take advantage and secure a larger portion of an ignored consumer market. But, as the suit goes on to explain, the capital and, more importantly, time required to construct factories that are capable of manufacturing memory are so high that it's almost impossible to compete with the established trio at the top.

"No new entrant can discipline [Samsung, SK Hynix, or Micron] in the conventional DRAM market," the complaint reads, "A single modern DRAM fab costs fifteen to twenty billion dollars and takes years to build; the extreme ultraviolet lithography machines it requires come from one supplier in the Netherlands, committed years ahead to the incumbents; the process recipes that make a fab yield usable chips comprise decades of accumulated trade secrets."

The lawsuit also points towards similar collusion between the companies in the past. In 2005, SK Hynix and Samsung were fined $180 million and $300 million respectively after pleading guilty to price-fixing DRAM pricing. It is suggested that the same occurred between 2016 and 2018 when prices spiked again, although no legal ruling was passed at the time.

The lawsuit seeks both damages and "injunctive relief" that would end the collusion and offer relief to consumers. "Micron disagrees with the allegations contained in the complaint," reads a statement by the US-based manufacturer, provided to Rock Paper Shotgun. "We compete vigorously, fairly and in compliance with all applicable laws wherever we do business. We will defend ourselves against these claims."

The supply constraints for both RAM and storage has had a detrimental impact on the electronics industry, and especially so for PC and gaming hardware. Valve's Steam Machine and its $1000+ price tag is the most recent example, hot on the heels of the company increasing the price of its 2022 Steam Deck by almost 50%. Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft have all increased prices of the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2 respectively, while even Apple was forced to adjust pricing across its product range after attempts to find alternatives failed. Microsoft also doesn't expect prices to come down soon, stating recently that "console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027."

The Splatoon Raiders Direct outlined the structure of the upcoming single-player-focused title, and it looks packed with challenging encounters against hordes of Salmonids. If any raids get a little too punishing, an online feature will lend solo players support in a way that recalls modern Monster Hunter games.

As detailed in Nintendo's video presentation, you can send out a call for help before beginning a raid--other players can select a "Go Help" option on the map to be matched with another player seeking help and join their lobby.

Failing a raid results in players losing all the loot they collected in that session, but succeeding will give the helper a "help bonus" in the form of "nifty in-game rewards." If the raid is successful, there will be a cooldown period before you can call for help again.

It's not unlike the SOS Flare mechanic from Monster Hunter World (and Monster Hunter Wilds). The big difference here is that in Monster Hunter, your player character will quite literally shoot up a flare in-game during a quest instead of calling for help from a menu.

Of course, Splatoon Raiders lets you team up with up to three other players through online or local wireless play, but difficulty will scale depending on the number of players. GameSpot's preview of Splatoon Raiders observed how players' different builds can synergize with each other, and said that "multiplayer seems like a fertile ground for high-level raids against tough opponents."

Preorder at Amazon

Splatoon Raiders is the first spin-off and the first Switch 2 entry in the series. It launches on July 23 alongside other heavy hitters that month.

Every Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive (So Far) View Images

Microsoft's stock price is currently down bad, but just how much have shares slid lately? A lot. So much so that June 2026 is expected to be Microsoft's worst month since December 2000 based on percent decline in a single month. The stock is down about 20% in June, which would be the worst since the 24% decline in December 2000.

This is happening at the same time that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is implementing a "reset" of the Xbox business that may include mass layoffs and studio closures.

A year ago, Microsoft's total market cap was around $4 trillion, but it's dropped off mightily since then, falling more than 25% in the past year to around $2.75 trillion today.

But why is Microsoft stock falling while the company continues to grow revenue and beat Wall Street estimates? One theory is that Microsoft is spending a lot of money on capital expenditures as part of its huge AI-based infrastructure buildout. This negatively affects free cash flow, putting limits on how much Microsoft can pay in dividends and spend on stock buybacks, both of which investors normally like to see.

How does Xbox factor in?

Xbox's struggles of late have been well documented, and in response, Sharma is putting Xbox through a "reset" that is expected to result in major changes that include layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations. We could learn more about these plans soon, as Microsoft's fiscal year ends today, June 30, and that's the timeline some have reported regarding when changes could be announced.

Windows Central reported that Microsoft CFO Amy Hood is driving the upcoming cuts at Xbox. The report said she has "demanded a variety of savings at Xbox to offset losses."

Major changes are coming to Xbox.

Microsoft is a gigantic company--one of the largest on Earth--and Xbox is just one part of the overall business. It remains to be seen if the changes coming to Xbox would move the needle in any way with regards to Microsoft's stock price. The human cost of the forecasted Xbox cuts could be severe, with Microsoft reportedly looking to close beloved developers and cut staff.

Recently, Sharma confirmed that Xbox’s accountability margins only amount to a 3% profit, which isn’t exactly great considering how Microsoft has invested billions of dollars in acquiring studios and publishers in recent years.

The return on investment is not looking good, especially when games are becoming more expensive and are sold to a much smaller playerbase when compared to the PS5 and Nintendo Switch, while recent Game Pass price hikes saw millions of people cancel their memberships.

Reporter Jason Schreier reminded people that a business with 3% margins--which means for every $100 made, the company spends $97 and keeps $3--could be doing just fine. However, he pointed out that some of Microsoft's other businesses have 40%+ margins, which in turn makes it more challenging to convince higher-ups to invest in a business like Xbox.

One possibility for the future of Xbox is having it get spun out from Microsoft, but it remains to be seen if that will actually happen. Keep checking back with GameSpot for more.

GTA 6 preorders are now available, and anyone placing an order might have noticed that they also get a free month of GTA+ with their purchase.

The fine print states that this membership auto-renews, so if it's not something you want to keep, you should be sure to cancel it prior to the end of the first month. Otherwise, you'd be on the hook for paying $8 for another month.

It's not immediately clear, however, when the clock begins ticking on the first month. These details should become more clear as launch approaches.

How to cancel GTA+

GTA+ members can cancel their subscription on console through the platform where they subscribed in the first place. On PC, this can be done through the Rockstar Games Launcher, Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Xbox app for PC. You can see detailed instructions on how to cancel at Rockstar's website.

GTA 6 releases in November. What is GTA+?

GTA+ is Rockstar's subscription service that gives subscribers an allotment of $GTA 500,000 per month to spend in GTA Online. Members also get access to The Vinewood Club in GTA Online, where they can claim a free vehicle each month. There are also rotating monthly benefits for GTA Online, which can include things like GTA$ and RP multipliers for certain modes.

Another perk of the membership is access to a catalog of Rockstar Games titles. Some of the games currently in the catalog include GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption, GTA: Vice City, Bully, and LA Noire.

GTA 6's online mode remains a mystery

When Rockstar announced the preorder date for GTA 6, the company said GTA 6 would feature a "single-player experience" and made no mention whatsoever of multiplayer. Given the enormous success of GTA Online, it stands to reason that GTA 6 will have its own online mode, too, but this remains to be confirmed. Given that GTA+ comes with GTA 6 preorders, it follows that GTA 6 would leverage GTA+ in some capacity, but, again, it's unknown how it will do so.

The existing version of GTA Online has a huge userbase of passionate players, so many are wondering what's going to happen when GTA 6 launches. GameSpot's Mark Delaney ran through some possibilities, including having a separate, standalone GTA Online mode for GTA 6 that lives alongside GTA 5's GTA Online. Another possibility would be Rockstar giving GTA Online a massive update based on GTA 6. Delaney also theorized that a new version of GTA Online could replace the existing GTA Online. In each scenario, people will be upset.

GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Controversially, Rockstar is not offering the game on a disc.

Ahead of the game's release on August 27, GameSpot can exclusively premiere the track "Patera" from Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, by Olivier Deriviere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOz444jbArY

You might recognize Deriviere thanks to his past musical work on games such as Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, Streets of Rage 4, South of Midnight, Dying Light 2, and more. Now, he's turned his hand to the Plague Tale series. The Greek-Cypriot score follows Sophia's journey to the Minotaur Island in search of clues to her past.

In order to authentically support the score, which needed to be very different to the other games in the series as Resonance itself is very different, Deriviere had Greek-Cypriot musicians record in their native language. Deriviere worked with The Amalgamation Choir, made up of 20 female vocalists led by the renowned Vasiliki Anastasiou.

Speaking about the track Patera specifically, Deriviere told GameSpot, "'Patera,' meaning 'father,' is a deeply introspective song. One of the central themes in Resonance explores the role of fathers, and Sophia faces some profoundly difficult situations. The lyrics and music speak to a strong yet invisible connection with her own father. That said, I believe the song reaches far beyond the game’s narrative. It can powerfully evoke the experiences that many children carry with them throughout their lives. Vasiliki’s performance as the female soloist is incredibly touching and intimate, while the choir provides both emotional and musical support that feels truly essential."

We already noted that Resonance doesn't feel like A Plague Tale game in our first preview, later adding that the combat is reminiscent of Assassin's Creed. The game releases on August 27 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. It's also an upcoming Game Pass Day One title.

Resident Evil Requiem saw its co-protagonist Leon S. Kennedy deal with yet another zombie outbreak, but will he ever get a happy ending? Resident Evil 2 game director Hideki Kamiya certainly hopes so, and he has an idea for a retirement game that would be radically different from the survival-action adventures that starred Kennedy.

Kamiya--who directed the first Resident Evil game to star Kennedy and recently mused about a non-scary game mode in Requiem--elaborated on his idea after one of his followers asked him about it. According to Kamiya, if he were given the opportunity to direct Kennedy's retirement game, he'd wrap up the video game icon's career with a cozy Stardew Valley-inspired send-off.

https://youtu.be/Nt6mVYnXaHk

"If I made it, it'd turn into a game where [a] retired Leon goes fishing in the countryside, forages for wild veggies, bakes bread, walks the dog, tends a home garden, drives 50 km to the general store for supplies, invites old buddies over for a barbecue, fixes the neighbor grandma's oven at her request, [and] sells homemade lemonade at the local festival--but that'd be cool," Kamiya wrote on X/Twitter (via Google Translate).

While there's no way to tell just how serious Kamiya is with his comments, a cozy Resident Evil game would likely do very well. Wholesome games have become a fixture in the industry, with numerous developers putting their own spin on digital experiences that are relaxing to play--pretty much the polar opposite of a Resident Evil game, as those are made to keep their players on edge.

As for what's actually in store for Leon, Capcom isn't saying anything yet. Following the release of the new game mode Leon Must Die in Resident Evil Requiem, a new story expansion is in development for the hit survival-horror-action game. Capcom also announced its upcoming remake of Resident Evil: Veronica, which will hit PC and console in 2027, and if you're looking for Stardew Valley with spooky vibes, Moonlight Peaks looks like it'll fill that niche quite nicely when it launches in July.

Best Resident Evil Requiem Mods To Download In 2026 View Images

NBC Universal and Comcast are splitting into two companies, and when that happens, NBC Universal could go after gaming assets as it looks to grow. This is according to a report from Reuters, which clarified that nothing is locked down as of yet, and any potential transaction would not happen until Comcast and NBC Universal officially split in about a year.

In any event, the report reminded everyone that Comcast CEO Brian Roberts has been interested in gaming for a long time, previously pondering acquisitions of Activision and Electronic Arts, as well as an investment in Fortnite studio Epic Games.

Those plans never came to be, but Roberts' son, Tucker Roberts, is currently running Comcast's gaming division and is reportedly keen to do more in the area.

Comcast previously tried to buy Activision and EA, reportedly.

Comcast is already involved in gaming adjacently through its partnership with Nintendo for the mega-successful Mario animated movies that are made at Comcast's Illumination studio.

Additionally, NBC Universal has an existing partnership with the generative AI gaming startup Wolf Games, which released its first game, Law & Order: Clue Hunter, earlier this year, based on the popular NBC TV show. 

NBC Universal will be run by Michael Cavanagh when the company splits from Comcast. He told Reuters that the companies breaking up provides the "freedom now to explore adjacent businesses where we have the right to play."

The Reuters report mentioned names like Take-Two and Xbox in the report, but not specifically as acquisition targets. The report did not include any further specifics about NBC Universal's reported plans for gaming.

This news comes at the same time that Xbox is reportedly looking to close or sell a number of its development studios as part of a strategic "reset" under Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. There has also been chatter of Microsoft considering the possibility of spinning Xbox out, which in theory could make it an acquisition target. As for the report's mention of Take-Two, the company is about to release the biggest game ever, GTA 6, and there is no indication that it is looking to sell.

If NBC Universal does make a bigger play in gaming, it wouldn't be the only media giant doing so. Paramount is in the process of buying Warner Bros. Discovery, and as part of this, the company will take ownership of a number of game studios, including NetherRealm, Avalanche Software, Rocksteady, TT Games, WB Games, and more.

Following the enormous critical and commercial success of Larian's Baldur's Gate 3, the studio passed on making Baldur's Gate 4 to produce a new Divinity instead. A fourth Baldur's Gate game is as close to a sure thing as possible, but who will make it? That remains to be seen, but Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast pitched one of its studios, Archetype Entertainment--and they said no as well.

Archetype is headed by James Ohlen and Kevin Martens, both of whom were co-lead designers on Baldur's Gate 2. Hasbro CEO Chris Cox called Ohlen after learning that Larian was passing on Baldur's Gate 4 to ask if he would do it.

"He called me. 'Hey James, what do you think about doing Baldur's Gate 4?' And I was like, 'I don't, I would fail, and here's why I would fail,'" he told PC Gamer.

He said he would not want to compete with Larian's legacy. He said working on Archetype's current project, Exodus, was hard enough. "Having to compete against Baldur's Gate 3? That would be insanity," he said.

Part of what made Baldur's Gate 3 special was that it was built on Larian's own engine. Ohlen said it would "at least half a decade of horror" to build a new version for Baldur's Gate 4. Ohlen said he asked Cox if Larian could license its engine for Baldur's Gate 4, but even if this was possible, Ohlen said Baldur's Gate 4 would still lack the special sauce of being made at Larian.

He said Larian CEO Swen Vincke is "always going to be the master of building those kinds of things. It's really hard to take him off that throne, just because of everything—the tools, institutional knowledge, team."

Baldur's Gate 3 sold more than 20 million copies and won multiple Game of the Year awards. Given that, Larian has said it feels "more pressure" to deliver with Divinity.

Cyberpunk 2077 is enjoying another resurgence in popularity, with the game's player count on Steam being at its highest level in over two years. While the game has averaged around 30,000 concurrent players per day (via SteamDB) over the last month, currently, that number has spiked over the last week and has peaked at over 87,000 players so far. What's the driving force behind this increase in chooms headed to Night City? A simple answer: It's dirt-cheap to buy right now.

With the Steam Summer Sale in full swing, Cyberpunk 2077 has been discounted to $18 for the duration of the event, a price reduction of 70%. The award-winning Phantom Liberty expansion is on sale for the same price--a discount of 40%--making this a particularly good deal given the numerous updates and upgrades that CD Projekt Red has poured into Cyberpunk 2077 following its disastrous launch back in December 2020.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBnPNwv6C0E

On top of that, the new trailer for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 also went live this week, and it looks like the anime sequel series will drive more people to pick up the game. The first series streamed through Netflix had this very same effect on Cyberpunk 2077, pushing sales to 20 million units sold and helping developer CD Projekt Red achieve its most profitable quarter in its history. At one point, more than 1 million people were playing Cyberpunk 2077 daily, and the first anime series is considered to have played an instrumental part in saving the game, alongside organizational changes at CDPR. 

As of mid 2025, 35 million copies of Cyberpunk 2077 have been sold across PC and consoles, and in the wake of that success, work on the Cyberpunk 2 sequel continues.

With GTA 6 setting its price point at $80, the general consensus is that it may be a trendsetter that will encourage more publishers to sell their games at this new baseline MSRP. According to analysts, while this new sticker price baseline is possible, only a handful of games might be able to get away with it.

Speaking to GamesRadar, DFC Intelligence's David Cole believes that $80 games will become more commonplace over time, thanks partly to GTA 6 and Nintendo being the first company to wade into these waters with Mario Kart World. "The issue is there are only a handful of premium games that command this price point," Cole explained, adding that "only the most in-demand games with a built-in initial audience" will have the sway to convince people to pay extra for them.

Business professor and author, Joost van Dreunen, echoed those beliefs on his Substack, saying that studios attempting to charge $80 on games that don't offer the same perception of value "will likely come to regret that."

"Gaming is increasingly becoming a luxury category," van Dreunen wrote. "Its economics have historically centered around a winner-takes-most model, and GTA 6 raises the bar again. Publishers who can clear it will pull further ahead, and those who cannot will have to compete on distribution instead, finding new channels, bundles, and pricing models to reach players the blockbusters don't."

It's worth noting that GTA 6 publisher Take-Two Interactive is credited with setting a $70 precedent for video game prices back in 2020, and the rest of the industry quickly followed in its footsteps. The idea of a new Call of Duty or a Super Mario game commanding an $80 price tag wouldn't be unusual, but at least there are more affordable options out there. Live-service games like Marathon and Helldivers 2 launched for $40, and Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced is launching for $60 in July.

Between those AAA games, live-service titles, and remakes, indie games are typically priced at $30, and some of the breakout hits of the year have offered a lot of value for their modest price point. Of course, the best way to not pay $80 for a game is to wait it out, as they typically go on sale not long after release--unless that game is from Nintendo, that is.

GTA 6: 241 Screenshots To Ease The Wait View Images

Amid reports that Microsoft is planning massive layoffs in its Xbox gaming division, first-party studios like Double Fine, Compulsion Games, and Ninja Theory have been rumored to be in talks to avoid total closure. Now, State of Decay developer Undead Labs is said to be facing the same fate if a potential buyer can't be found.

According to GamesBeat and Windows Central, Undead Labs is one if the studios that Microsoft may unload following the end of its current fiscal year on June 30. What makes this move so surprising is that Undead Labs' State of Decay 3 has been given a promotional push by Xbox, including a new trailer that debuted earlier this month. That title is believed to be nearly finished, and it's unclear if State of Decay 3 will even be released if Undead Labs closes beforehand.

Bloomberg's Jason Schreier offered some clarification about the studios reported to be on Microsoft's chopping block. Schreier didn't confirm Undead Labs to be among them, but he stated that it's "possible (even likely) ... that some of the studios that are lined up for closure will be spun out and taken independent again by their management, potentially saving some jobs." However, it appears that some layoffs will be inevitable.

State of Decay 3 is currently expected to hit Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC in 2027. In the meantime, developers from numerous first-party Xbox studios have called for Microsoft to provide them with layoff protections before any potential cuts this summer. Even the future of Xbox itself may be on the line, as rumors suggest that the division may be spun out of Microsoft as a separate company.

Microsoft recently raised the price of Xbox consoles again and more price hikes may be coming in 2027. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has indicated that Xbox has to begin pulling its weight financially. That may mean more drastic steps are ahead to achieve that goal.

Earlier this month, rumors began to spread about potentially massive layoffs coming to Microsoft's Xbox gaming division this summer. While the majority of those those cuts don't appear to have happened yet, game developers under Xbox have come together to push for more layoff protections for their members.

Members of the United Video Game Workers and representatives from workers at Microsoft's first-party studios--including Bethesda's parent company Zenimax, as well as Activision Blizzard--were present at a press conference conducted by the Communications Workers of America. Collectively, they pushed for enhanced layoff protections for all Xbox workers, including advance warning of impending layoffs, temporary hiring freezes to give the remaining devs a chance to advance internally, and two years of recall rights for affected employees.

As reported by Kotaku, speakers noted that Microsoft has paid its executives exorbitant amounts of money while investing billions in AI while recently raising the price of Xbox consoles again.

"The money is there, leadership is simply choosing where it goes and who pays," said CWA District 9 vice president Frank Arce, who added that Xbox employees "will not be treated as disposable."

During the press conference, union representatives noted that Microsoft has been slow to address layoff protections with its current unions. Developers from Zenimax and Activision both noted that Microsoft hasn't responded to their proposals, while workers from Blizzard's World of Warcraft team reportedly said they had seen "positive movement" on the issue.

South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games has reportedly already been hit with some layoffs as it--and other developers like Double Fine and Ninja Theory--negotiate with Microsoft to avoid full studio closures. The head of Xbox Game Studios, Craig Duncan, has also departed from Microsoft after 15 years.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently shared his desire for Xbox to begin pulling its weight financially. That's led to rumors that the entire Xbox division may be spun out of Microsoft as a separate company. It's also been reported that more price hikes may be coming to Xbox consoles in 2027.

The new college football season begins soon, and ahead of that, EA's College Football 27 is launching this week, at least for early access. In this post we're rounding up the key details on how to play early, and when you can get in.

The official global release date for CFB 27 is July 9, but MVP+ subscribers can jump in starting July 2. People who own the deluxe edition or the MVP bundle can begin playing on July 6. Everyone else can play on July 9.

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EA Sports CFB 27 early access release times

July 2 (MVP+ members)

• 11 AM PT
• 2 PM ET
• 7 PM GMT

July 6 (deluxe edition and MVP bundle)

• 11 AM PT
• 2 PM ET
• 7 PM GMT

July 9 (worldwide launch for everyone else)

• 11 AM PT
• 2 PM ET
• 7 PM GMT

CFB 27 launches this week, at least for some.

New for this year's release, MVP+ is a $150 annual subscription bundle that provides access to the deluxe editions of not only CFB 27, but also Madden NFL 27 later this summer. It also comes with the earliest early access, along with a range of other perks like Ultimate Team packs.

For more, check out the top 10 best teams in CFB 27.