Gaming News — 2026-06-25#

Top Story#

Grand Theft Auto 6 preorders are officially live at $80 for the Standard Edition, but Rockstar Games has ignited a massive controversy by confirming the physical release will only include a digital download code rather than a game disc. While industry analysts point out this is a calculated move to kill the second-hand market and strictly control game pricing, fans are furious—especially after the preorder launch arrived without the highly anticipated Trailer 3.

News & Reviews#

Sony Confirms ‘Significant’ Bungie Layoffs · IGN In a brutal blow to the studio, PlayStation CEO Hermen Hulst confirmed heavy layoffs impacting most of the Destiny team and some Marathon developers. Bungie openly admitted that Destiny 2 fell short of expectations, leaving the future of the once-titan franchise looking remarkably bleak as the studio downsizes.

Microsoft Hikes Xbox Series X/S Prices · IGN Thanks to an ongoing component crisis heavily fueled by the AI boom, Microsoft is jacking up console prices starting August 1. The 512GB Series S jumps by $100 to $499.99, while the 1TB Series X will now cost a staggering $799.99, pricing many gamers out of the current console generation.

Deltarune Chapter 5 Shatters Records, Chapter 6 Due in 2027 · IGN Toby Fox’s indie juggernaut continues to dominate, with the newly released Chapter 5 shattering its previous Steam record by hitting over 290,000 concurrent players. Fox also confirmed the story isn’t over, slating Chapter 6 for a 2027 release as development smoothly continues.

Beast of Reincarnation Preview · IGN Game Freak is stepping away from Pokémon to deliver a stunning post-apocalyptic action-RPG featuring an excellent sword-swinging protagonist and her magical dog companion, Koo. The tactile, companion-assisted combat and slick traversal mechanics look absolutely incredible, making this a must-watch title ahead of its August 4 release.

DC Announces Three New Animated Shows · IGN DC Studios unveiled a stacked slate of animated projects, including an adult adaptation of the highly acclaimed Absolute Batman comic run. We’re also getting DC’s first-ever anime, Joker: Laugh Riot, and a new kid-friendly Krypto series, expanding DC’s television footprint in a big way.

Free Games & Deals#

The Epic Games Store is absolutely delivering this week with two excellent freebies to claim before July 2, 2026: the 2D cosmic horror action-platformer Voidwrought and the beloved management classic RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition. On the hardware front, if you’re trying to beat the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 price hike, Woot is currently offering the console for just $399 using the promo code “CHEAPSWITCH2”.

Also Worth Knowing#

Wolverine Physical Edition Includes Disc (IGN): Capitalizing on the GTA 6 disc controversy, Insomniac Games quickly reassured fans that Marvel’s Wolverine will indeed have a physical disc in the box.
FGC Hero Stops Knife Attack (IGN): Fighting game commentator and Sumo wrestler Koustics heroically bodyslammed a knife-wielding Apex Legends player at an NYC gaming lounge mid-stream.
Olivia Rodrigo Drops into Fortnite (IGN): The pop superstar is the latest music icon to join Epic’s battle royale, bringing new skins, emotes, and Jam Tracks to the Festival mode.
Peppa Pig AI Controversy (IGN): Hasbro is facing intense industry backlash for allegedly forcing child actors to sign away their AI voice rights in a strict contract ultimatum.
Valve Clarifies Steam Machine Specs (IGN): Following backlash over the $1,049 console’s performance, Valve quietly updated its store page to claim the device does “up to” 4K gaming rather than a locked 60 fps.