Gaming News — 2026-06-24#

Top Story#

The biggest story today is undoubtedly Grand Theft Auto 6, with Rockstar confirming an eye-watering $80 base price and launching preorders on June 25. To add insult to injury for physical media collectors, the boxed edition won’t even include a disc—just a digital download code—which has already prompted retailers like Video Games Plus and Loot Box Gaming to boycott selling the title.

News & Reviews#

Star Fox Review · IGN Nintendo’s highly anticipated Star Fox remake for the Switch 2 proves the Arwing is still in style, earning an 8/10 for its brilliant visual upgrades and fresh cutscenes. The brand-new Challenge mode adds excellent replayability and depth, though the limited multiplayer component leaves a bit to be desired. It is a fantastic nostalgia trip that effectively modernizes a beloved classic for a new hardware generation.

Tim Sweeney Interview: Epic Games CEO on AI in UE6 · IGN Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney revealed that Unreal Engine 6 is aiming for early access by the end of 2027, with a massive focus on connecting in-game economies across different titles. The new engine will heavily integrate AI to eliminate tedious development tasks, and Sweeney hopes true cross-platform social ecosystems will help combat the “winner-takes-all” dynamic dominating the current multiplayer landscape.

Bungie Communications Manager Says Destiny 2 fans Shouldn’t Blame Themselves · IGN Following Bungie’s abrupt announcement that it is ending new content support for Destiny 2, Communications Manager Dylan Gafner stepped up to reassure a mourning community. He urged fans not to blame themselves for the game’s fate, thanking them for nearly a decade of support as the studio shifts its focus entirely to Marathon amidst reports of significant impending layoffs.

Monster Fantasy Combines the Thrill of Monster Hunter with the Cosy Chill of Animal Crossing · IGN Developer Jotoyo is blending two wildly different genres with Monster Fantasy, an upcoming action-RPG that perfectly pairs the beast-slaying of Monster Hunter with the community-building of Animal Crossing. Players can hunt massive bosses across detailed biomes using fluid class-swapping combat, or simply hang back in the village to catch bugs, harvest resources, and recruit NPCs.

Dead or Alive 6 Last Round Review So Far · IGN Our review-in-progress for Dead or Alive 6: Last Round praises the game’s returning Triangle System and robust character mechanics, cleanly bundling all past DLC into one complete package. While the fighting is as satisfying and brutally impactful as ever, the baffling lack of rollback netcode in this updated edition remains a massive disappointment for competitive online players.

Free Games & Deals#

Amazon Prime Day is serving up some absolutely killer discounts on must-play titles. Square Enix fans can snag Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake for just $24.99 and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade for $19.99 on PS5 or $29.99 on Switch 2. Over in the Sega camp, the exceptional Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds has hit an all-time low of $20 on the Switch, and Sonic X Shadow Generations is a steal at $15. If you need a premium visual upgrade for your handheld gaming, the RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR glasses are also currently $60 off.

Also Worth Knowing#

• Micron CEO Expects RAM Shortage to Last Through 2027: Bad news for PC builders and future console hardware prices: Micron expects the ongoing RAM shortage to persist through 2027 due to insatiable AI data center demands.
• Valve: RAM Companies State Prices Monthly: Further confirming the memory crisis, Valve admitted they have zero bargaining power with RAM manufacturers, driving up the cost of their new Steam Machine to $1049.
• Fortnite Begins Reselling Old Battle Pass Skins in Next Update: Epic Games is finally ditching its FOMO-driven exclusivity model by bringing past Battle Pass skins, starting with Chapter 5’s Marvel Absolute Doom season, into the regular shop.
• Kadokawa Should Be Making More Money From Elden Ring: Activist investor Oasis Management is pressuring FromSoftware parent company Kadokawa to self-publish its blockbusters like Elden Ring globally to stop losing profits to third-party publishers like Bandai Namco.
• Thief: Pulse of Promise Brings the Hit Stealth Gaming Franchise to Comics: The beloved stealth franchise is expanding with a new 147-page graphic novel bridging the narrative gap between The Dark Project and The Metal Age.