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.

Gaming News — 2026-06-30#

Top Story#

Microsoft’s gaming division is reportedly bracing for a “bloodbath” as it considers shutting down multiple studios—including Arkane and Undead Labs—which could lead to the cancelation of highly anticipated titles like Marvel’s Blade and State of Decay 3. While Hideo Kojima’s Xbox-published horror game OD is reportedly safe, this aggressive corporate “reset” has both fans and developers rightfully on edge.

News & Reviews#

Civilization 7 Review Update · IGN Firaxis dropped the 1.4 Test of Time update for Civilization 7, attempting to address player feedback by reverting some mechanics to feel more like older entries in the franchise. Unfortunately, replacing age-specific objectives with simplistic point races for victories feels like a step backward, leaving the late game feeling hollow despite some much-needed quality-of-life improvements to the UI.

Gaming News — Week of 2026-06-27 to 2026-07-03#

Story of the Week#

PlayStation’s aggressive assault on physical and digital media ownership is easily the most staggering and offensive industry shift of the week. After stripping over 550 purchased Studio Canal movies from user accounts without offering refunds, Sony dropped a bombshell: physical disc production for all new PlayStation games will end in January 2028. The move has sparked massive backlash from preservationists and gamers alike, with 90% of our audience rejecting the all-digital future and Xbox already seizing the opportunity to tout physical media for its upcoming titles like Halo: Campaign Evolved.