gamingThursday, June 25, 2026
Today's gaming news is dominated by two sides of the same coin: the rising cost of gaming. Rockstar's GTA 6 pricing strategy has fans worried about the franchise's future, while Xbox's CEO openly admits the industry has an affordability crisis. Meanwhile, a few quieter stories offer hope, Todd Howard's update on Marvel's Blade and Sega's continued indie partnerships.
Two stories today frame the affordability problem from opposite ends: one from a publisher's pricing, the other from a platform holder's admission.
GTA 6's $99.99 Ultimate Edition has fans worried about microtransactions and pay-to-win, even as the $69.99 standard edition is cheaper than expected. The backlash signals growing sensitivity to monetization in blockbuster franchises.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma publicly acknowledges that gaming is becoming unaffordable and says the industry needs to address accessibility. It's a rare moment of candor from a platform holder about a problem everyone feels.
Behind the pricing headlines, there are updates on game development and hardware that suggest a healthier side of the industry.
Todd Howard says Arkane Lyon is 'doing a really, really great job' on Marvel's Blade, offering reassurance after the studio missed Xbox's showcase. It's a small but meaningful update for fans worried about the project's fate.
The Verge's hands-on with the Steam Machine paints a messy but promising picture: driver issues and compatibility woes on day one, but genuine potential as a living-room PC. It's not a console competitor yet, but it's something new.
Sonic Manie's success changed how Sega works with indie studios, leading to the new Sonic Pico Park. A nice reminder that collaboration can reshape a franchise's approach to development.
The best Amazon Prime Day RAM deals to survive the memory crisiswww.polygon.com
Feature: 10 N64 Games We Played In A Wondrous Alternate Timelinewww.nintendolife.com
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 Releases New Gameplay Trailerbleedingcool.com
PSA: Deltarune Chapter 5 Is Now Available For Switch 1 & 2, Crash Issue Identifiedwww.nintendolife.com
Neptunia Unlimited second trailer, screenshotswww.gematsu.com
Former Xbox Employees Warn Layoffs Could Be Used for Retaliationinsider-gaming.comDEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round DLC character Minato announcedwww.gematsu.com
Koei Tecmo and Team NINJA have announced a new DLC character named Minato for DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round, arriving this summer. The game is set to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam on June 25. A launch trailer teasing the character has been released.
Grand Theft Auto 6 Physical Copies Won't Include a Disc, Will Just Be a Code in a Boxwww.ign.com
Rockstar has announced that physical copies of Grand Theft Auto 6 will be available for pre-order starting at midnight, but these "physical" copies will only contain a digital download code inside the box — no disc will be included. Physical copies will be available from November
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