Paramount Pictures has released the first trailer for The Angry Birds Movie 3, and this is sure to remind people that, yes, the movie series is still going.

The third movie follows Red (Jason Sudeikis) as faces his "greatest challenge yet," which is being a dad ... and also saving the world. Releasing December 23, The Angry Birds Movie 3 features a big cast of celebrities in addition to Sudeikis, including Josh Gad, Danny McBride, Tim Robinson, Sam Richardson, Keke Palmer, Nikki Glaser, Lily James, and even Mr. Beast.

The trailer has a number of standout scenes, including a memorable sequence where the baby bird continuously pees through a colander, prompting Bomb (McBride) to remark, "It's like the Bellagio fountain!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9DB_aUMzME

The original Angry Birds Movie came out in 2016, with the sequel arriving in 2019, so this is a film franchise that's been running for a decade now. The original movie made $352 million worldwide, but the sequel made less than half ($148 million globally).

As for the Angry Birds game series, Sega acquired the Rovio franchise in 2023 for $776 million. It hasn't been such a successful acquisition for Sega, at least not yet. Sega CEO Haruki Satomi said, "We have unfortunately not achieved the level of results that had been expected prior to the acquisition," according to GI.biz.

Paramount is also behind the upcoming Call of Duty movie from Taylor Sheridan and Peter Berg and the next Sonic the Hedgehog movie. The company is about to take ownership of numerous more popular franchises by way of its $111 billion buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery.

The current generation of gaming has only gotten more expensive lately, and it looks like the next generation of PlayStation consoles will also be a pricy purchase. With concern growing about the yet-to-be-revealed PS6 possibly selling for $1,000 or more when it launches, Sony confirmed that it's not prepared to take a "significant" hit on absorbing some of the costs for its next-gen hardware.

When quizzed about hardware pricing and profitability for the "next-generation platform" during a Q&A session at Sony's Game & Network Services division, Sony executives said that they recognize that hardware is ultimately the most important part of a gaming experience, and they want consumers to recognize this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrvZEiWD7ZM

"As for pricing, it is not realistic for us to absorb all component cost increases, and we have already implemented some price increases outside Japan," Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Hideaki Nishino said. "At present, however, sales are proceeding as planned, and we do not believe this has led to a decline in customer demand. "As a principle, we do not intend to sell hardware at significant losses. At the same time, we are carefully monitoring the market and continuing to evaluate our approach. We believe it is important for us to make every effort to ensure that customers fully understand the value we provide in relation to pricing."

One thing worth noting from Nishino's comments is that sales are still within Sony's projections, even though PS5 consoles have only gotten more expensive with time. Despite that, May was a dismal month for PlayStation in the United States. Spending on PS5 consoles dropped 43% year-on-year, and overall unit sales fell dramatically by 58%, making May the lowest month for PlayStation sales in 26 years. It was also a bad month for Microsoft, as it suffered the worst May performance since the Xbox console first debuted in November 2001. 

The ongoing shortage of memory chips and rising costs have also reportedly thrown Sony's PS6 plans into disarray, with some experts believing that it will only launch toward the end of the decade. Earlier this year, Sony increased the price of the PS5, and the company also said that it has yet to determine pricing or a launch date for its next-gen console.

Meanwhile, things aren't looking too good at Microsoft either. The Xbox Series X|S consoles are also more expensive than ever, and Microsoft hasn't ruled out the possibility of another price hike in 2027.

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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 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.

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, stock is not going to sell out. Despite that, people are already trying to flip their preorders on eBay for big premiums.

GTA 6 is scheduled for a November 19 launch. It “features a single-player experience,” 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 behind that $20 extra paywall.

Even though Rockstar and Take-Two have already said GTA 6 is a digital-only game, some have held out hope for a disc-based version. A new report says GTA 6 will not have a disc-based version at launch or months after, as some have speculated.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "There are no plans for Grand Theft Auto VI discs to be printed--not at launch, and not months after."

This came after a fan posted a screenshot of a conversation they said they had with a Rockstar Support agent who informed them, "You will be able to acquire a physical copy during the following months."

GTA 6 won't be on a disc at launch or months after, apparently.

This email was indeed real, THR said, but it's being misinterpreted. The report said the "physical copy" wording was in reference to the physical copies of GTA 6 that will be sold at retailers with a code in the box, not a disc.

The line from the Rockstar Support agent about being able to get a physical copy "during the following months" was described as a "clunky" reference to months after preorders going live on June 25, not the game's November 19 release date.

Why is GTA 6 not releasing on a disc?

There are a number of reasons, experts have said, and many of them come down to Rockstar making more money. No discs also helps mitigate the possibility of the game leaking early. The codes that come in the physical copies do not unlock until November 19 (though preloading begins November 12).

A lot of people love physical media and want to own GTA 6 on a disc, but shipping as a digital-exclusive game won't have any impact on sales overall, experts say. Still, it's a major bummer for people looking to own the game on a disc, even if that disc is merely provides a license that can be revoked at any time.

GTA 6 is releasing with an $80 standard edition and a $100 ultimate edition, the latter of which locks away lots of cool content behind that extra paywall.

The Steam Machine isn't even out yet, though Valve has begun sending out confusing emails about whether people are in the "queue" or on the "waitlist" for the device. That hasn't stopped netizens from doing the inevitable, though: listing their reservations on eBay to make a quick buck.

If you head over to eBay—or GameBay (?), since GameStop really wants to buy the online marketplace—and search for the Steam Machine, you'll see a handful of postings for Valve's upcoming living room PC. The system is already expensive, running between $1050 and $1430 depending on the model, but these listings go for about double the regular price.

The Steam Machine listings GameSpot has viewed so far are all for "confirmed reservations." This means that the eBay seller received one of those perplexing emails from Valve securing their spot in the "queue"—not the "waitlist," which is an important distinction we just broke down. Some of the sellers even state that they'll ship the not-a-console console to you as soon as it ships to them, which could be sometime in early July. It's at a markup, though, with the cheapest going for $1363.70 (now sold) and the most expensive running your wallet a cool $3200.

This isn't all that surprising to see, since this tends to happen with most in-demand or sold-out hardware from the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X to the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Steam Deck. Still, it is kind of curious, particularly since one listing called the Steam Machine "a piece of gaming history." There's no doubt that Valve's upcoming device is fascinating, with early impressions calling it a tiny but mighty piece of gaming hardware. Maybe the hyperbole will help the seller sell their reservation, which is listed for $2600.

With Valve's Steam Machine releasing on June 29, you may be confused as to when you'll be able to actually purchase the not-a-console console. It's a little perplexing, so let us help you make sense of the email you might've just gotten in your inbox.

Valve has begun sending out preorder emails notifying you about the outcome of the randomized drawing you were able to sign up for recently. That email, though, isn't the actual one that allows you to buy the device. Instead, it's a notification telling you whether you'll soon be sent a second email to place an order, or if you'll have to wait for more supply to become available at some point in the future.

What's confusing is the terminology the company's using. If you're in the "queue," you can buy the specific model of Steam Machine within three days of your email. If you landed on the "waitlist," you'll have to wait until more supply becomes available.

This is the email sent to those in the queue, who can place an order soon: "When your Steam Machine 512GB becomes available, we will send you a separate email with the option to purchase. You'll then have 3 days to complete the purchase before we cancel your reservation and move on to the next person in the queue. This is the only email you will receive about the results of the randomization. If you ended up with a reservation queue spot for more than one model, you were allocated a reservation for the highest-end model, and were removed from all the others."

And this is the email sent to those placed on the waitlist: "When we did the one-time randomization of the list, your place in line ended up beyond the number of units we'll have in this production run. As we work our way through the reservation queue, some customers may cancel their reservations. If that happens, you may be moved into the reservation queue, and you'll be notified via email that you have a reservation after all. This is the only email you will receive about the results of the randomization. If you ended up with a waitlist spot for one or more models, you'll be placed on the waitlist for the model that you were closest to the front of."

Early impressions of the Steam Machine sound promising, as it operates as a living room PC that appears to be a novel way into PC gaming. It runs well, runs quiet, and runs small. It also runs your wallet, with prices as low as $1050 and as high as $1430. I hope you have half of a month's rent just lying around somewhere.

With Grand Theft Auto 6 a few months away from blowing up the entire industry on November 19, some retailers appear to be getting antsy, as a new leak floating around online is providing new details about the crime sim.

Posted to the notorious GamingLeaksAndRumors subreddit on June 25, gameplay details on GTA 6 appear to come from the Brazilian version of Amazon. Some of this information doesn't seem particularly new—like the dual-protagonist system or the higher graphical fidelity—but other parts sound kinda enticing ... if it's to be believed.

For example, the supposed leak mentions that this rendition of Vice City is "the most massive, dense, and insane map" developer Rockstar Games has ever created. There will be dangerous swamps, crowded beaches, and realistic suburbs "designed to deliver brutal immersion and total freedom."

The two protagonists—Lucia and Jason, who people speculate are either lovers or siblings—possess unique abilities that "directly influence the criminal ecosystem and the tactical intelligence of the missions." That doesn't sound too dissimilar from the roles the triple characters of Grand Theft Auto 5—Franklin Clinton, Michael Townley, and Trevor Philips—had, but with a bit more impact on the game's narrative development and gameplay interactivity.

What may be most fascinating, though, is the role social networks play in GTA 6. If this leak is true, your in-game phone will allow you to follow Vice City influencers, discover "secret side missions" and "world events," and watch viral videos. So, think TikTok, but in GTA. Maybe RobTok? TikCrime? We'll workshop those names.

This all comes together in a vibrant "living world controlled by artificial intelligence." Vice City, according to the leak, will pulsate in "a hyper-realistic way," with NPCs going about their lives based on advanced AI, creating a more immersive experience that allows you to participate in random events and walk into interactive establishments. It's giving Watch Dogs 2, but with what sounds like "a greater sense of immersion." Take it all with a grain of salt, though.

This leak comes right on the heels of Rockstar Games peeling back the curtain on how much GTA 6 will cost—$80, though there is a more expensive $100 Ultimate Edition—and the fact that you only get a download code in the box instead of a disc. Going download-only makes sense in theory in 2026, but while preorders are now live, people have thoughts about the price. This is especially true following Xbox's upcoming price increase, which now means you gotta be rich to buy GTA 6 and a console come November—if your retailer is even carrying the game, that is.

Ahead of its release next month, Ubisoft has released a playable part of Assassin's Creed Black Flag: Resynced online--playable sea shanties, that is. This is technically correct, which is the best kind of correct. Available online through various streaming platforms, the collection includes all the original shanties from the game, brand-new compositions, and the unreleased rendition of The Parting Glass by Sarah Greene. In total, that's 57 tracks to accompany you on your next voyage.

You can listen to it through the links below, but we all know that you're going to have "The Wellerman" on a loop:

https://open.spotify.com/album/59KZr80YaeZ6bT9Nt1sCY3

• Spotify
• YouTube Music
• Apple Music
• Deezer
• Amazon Music
• Qobuz
• Tidal

The original Black Flag's soundtrack required some work to completely unlock, as dozens of shanties had to be located and caught. Appearing in the game as glowing pieces of sheet music, players had to perform acrobatics to acquire each one, and once in their possession, protagonist Edward Kenway's crew would sing them while players were sailing. You could even take these seaworthy tunes on the go with you, as an Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag companion app synced to the game and downloaded the tracks to your smartphone. Sadly, the app has long been discontinued.

Recorded in Montreal by a group of contemporary folk singers and musicians, the Black Flag soundtrack's catchy collection of sailing songs predated the rise of ShantyTok on TikTok around 2021. Scottish musician Nathan Evans recorded a rendition of The Wellerman that quickly went viral, and it wasn't long before more users began to join in with their own performances. For Black Flag, Ubisoft hired musician and professor David Gossage to produce the in-world music, which was then adjusted to fit the game's time period.

Another interesting fact is that the singers recruited for the shanties had to dial back their singing so that they could sound like sailors, not a well-rehearsed choir.

Assassin's Creed Black Flag: Resynced launches on July 9 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Preorders opened up for the game a few months back, and to kick off the marketing for the Black Flag remake, Red Bull Gaming tasked several athletes with recreating Edward Kenway's signature leaps of faith. 

Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced - Standard Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X)

$60 | Releases July 9

Preorder at Amazon View at other stores Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Target Preorder at GameStop Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Digital Deluxe Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X, PC)

$70 | Releases July 9

Preorder at Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Collector's Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X, PC)

$200 | Releases July 9

Preorder at Amazon View at other stores Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Target Preorder at GameStop Preorder at PS Direct

Opinions are mixed on some of the changes that the remake will introduce, but overall, it looks like fans can expect a mix of graphical overhauls and quality-of-life updates.

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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.

Generally, it seems the past year of price hikes 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, Forza Horizon 6, and Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight.

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 that May 2026 "will be last month with HW growth for a… while. Pricing and Switch 2 launch comp will be a nasty combo."

With GTA 6 launching in a few months, Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone's Haunted Chocolatier is teeing up to be the next big "when the heck is it coming out" game. Announced five years ago, Barone has given a few updates and interviews on the status of the game, and in a new blog post, he wrote about the progress on his Stardew Valley follow-up.

"I know it's taking a long time. A big part of that is that I am being very thoughtful about every aspect of the game," Barone wrote. "The things in the game which the player will be interacting with or using very often need to be 'perfect.' They need to be seamless, clear, intuitive, satisfying, aesthetic."

Barone added that he'd spent time recently revisiting the recipe book for making chocolates, adding that this was one aspect of the game in particular he wanted to be flawless. Since this will be a major component in Haunted Chocolatier's gameplay, Barone wants it to present "just the right amount" of data to players that doesn't overwhelm. That's no easy task and a function that most players will likely take for granted, Barone wrote, saying that the process takes several rounds of iterations before he's finally satisfied.

Beyond that look behind the curtain, Barone explained that this process was also one of the reasons why he hadn't shown off much of Haunted Chocolatier at all. "Partly, it feels like I'm serving a half-baked bread. I would rather serve a fully baked bread. Also, I know that many parts of the game will likely evolve and change before release, so if I reveal them early, I risk disappointing players if the final product does not match their expectations," Barone concluded.

Haunted Chocolatier doesn't have a release date yet, but Barone is aiming for his tale of creating sweet treats and running a confectionery store to be a spooky experience. For now, Barone and the rest of his team remain "knee-deep" in development on it.

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