Game News Round-Up - 26th June 2026

Sources:

• Microsoft is raising the price of Xbox consoles due to the ongoing hardware shortages: https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/25/xbox-console-price-update/
• Sony confirms it’s laying off ‘most of the Destiny team’, ‘some’ Marathon devs as well as members across SIE teams that 'support Bungie's operations': https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/bungie-announces-layoffs-as-it-acknowledges-destiny-2-fell-short-of-expectations/
• At least a dozen people have departed award-winning South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games this week, following reports that Xbox is planning major restructuring that could result in "significant" layoffs and studio closures: https://www.eurogamer.net/xbox-layoffs-compulsion-games-south-of-midnight
• VC fund VGames launches new $10m Indie Fund. The venture is providing project financing in exchange for revenue share rather than equity deals: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/vc-fund-vgames-launches-new-10m-indie-fund
• San Francisco-based video game investment house Denmu announces 'auteur-first' $50 million fund for game devs: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/investment-house-denmu-announces-auteur-first-50-million-fund-for-game-devs

Game News Round-Up - 25th June 2026

Sources:

• Rockstar confirms Grand Theft Auto 6 Price and Details Ahead of Pre-Order Window Starting: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/rockstar-confirms-grand-theft-auto-6-ultimate-edition-and-pre-order-bonuses-but-still-no-price/
• Jagex confirms "landmark publishing partnerships" to bring RuneScape to Japan, South Korea, and South East Asia. The Partnerships are with Japanese publisher Graph, a branch of Active Gaming Media, and South Korean and South East Asia publisher H2 Interactive: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/jagex-confirms-landmark-publishing-partnerships-to-bring-runescape-to-japan-south-korea-and-south-east-asia
• Atari and MobyGames launch new career development platform called Moby Professional, intended to help industry professionals seek out new jobs, network with colleagues and for studios to persue business development opportunities: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/atari-and-mobygames-launch-new-career-development-platform-called-moby-professional

Game News Round-Up - 24th June 2026

Sources:

• Sega and Iam8bit are re-releasing the original NTSC Sonic Genesis games (Sonic 1 and Sonic 2) on $100 cartridges. Set to sghip in Q3 2026 with pre-orders open now: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sega-is-re-releasing-the-original-sonic-genesis-games-on-100-cartridges/
• Capcom’s next Capcom Spotlight presentation will take place this week, Thursday, June 25 at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 10pm BST: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/capcoms-next-capcom-spotlight-presentation-will-take-place-this-week/
• Konami Is Suing To Unmask Whoever’s Responsible For The Major Metal Gear Solid 2 Source Code Leak: https://kotaku.com/metal-gear-solid-2-source-code-leak-konami-lawsuit-2000709572
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds free character updates Classic Sonic, Axel (Crazy Taxi), and Amigo (Super Monkey Ball) announced: https://www.gematsu.com/2026/06/sonic-racing-crossworlds-free-character-updates-classic-sonic-axel-and-amigo-announced
• Tencent is reportedly in talks to sell its shares in some Japanese studios, even if that means taking a loss: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/tencent-is-reportedly-in-talks-to-sell-its-shares-in-some-japanese-studios-even-if-that-means-taking-a-loss/

Game News Round-Up - 23rd June 2026

Sources:

• Valve has revealed the price of the Steam Machine, ahead of its release: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/steam-machine-costs-over-1000-significantly-more-than-valve-originally-wanted-to-charge/
• French Union Le Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV) Has Called For ‘Entire (French) Video Game Sector’ To Strike Later This Week , on June 25th, dubbing it their "Summer Greve Fest".: https://kotaku.com/video-game-union-industry-strike-stjv-layoffs-summer-greve-fest-2000709023
• SteamOS 3.8 released for AMD GPU-backed PCs. Previously, only specific devices had the ability to install SteamOS 3. NVIDIA powered PCs are still not supported at this time: https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2026/06/22/you-can-now-install-steamos-3-8-on-your-standard-gaming-pc-with-amd-gpu/
• Nicolas Cage arrives in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone for a special Nick Cage focused event pass. The event starts June 25th: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/play-as-nicolas-cage-in-call-of-duty-for-season-4-reloaded/
• Obsidian sued in class action lawsuit over alleged "systematic pattern of wage and hour violations". The studio has denied the allegations: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/obsidian-sued-in-class-action-lawsuit-over-alleged-systematic-pattern-of-wage-and-hour-violations
• EA conducts layoffs in Hyderabad, India and the US. The latest round of layoffs reportedly impacts workers across the 'recruitment, customer support, trust and safety, and IT teams. If the rumours are correct, an unknown amount of people are affected: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/report-ea-conducts-layoffs-in-hyderabad-india-and-the-us

Game News Round-Up - 22nd June 2026

Sources:

• Bobby Prince, the composer of Doom’s iconic soundtrack, has died at 81: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/bobby-prince-the-composer-of-dooms-iconic-soundtrack-has-died-at-81/
• Ubisoft co-founder, Claude Guillemot, dies in plane accident: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-co-founder-claude-guillemot-dies-in-plane-accident/
• Meccha Chameleon has Sold over 7 Million Copies: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/4704690/view/710026912607505791?l=english
• Roblox details how much creators will pay for brand integrations (using a "cost-per-mile" / CPM aka per thousand visit basis system): https://www.gamesindustry.biz/roblox-details-how-much-creators-will-pay-for-brand-integrations
• Marvel Contest of Champions developer Kabam is consolidating its office in Los Angeles in a move that has resulted in an unknown number of layoffs: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/kabam-making-layoffs-after-choosing-to-consolidate-la-office

Game News Round-Up - 19th June 2026

Sources:

• Grand Theft Auto 6 cover art revealed as Rockstar locks in November 19th release date. Pre-orders start June 25th: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/grand-theft-auto-6-cover-art-revealed-pre-orders-start-next-week/
• MSI prices its latest handheld at $1,800 as exec says ‘it will be a tough year for us and the gamers’: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/msi-prices-its-latest-handheld-at-1800-as-exec-says-it-will-be-a-tough-year-for-us-and-the-gamers/
• The Epic Games Store and Epic Games Launcher is Getting a “Ground-Up Rebuild,” Roadmap Shows Long-Awaited Features on their way: https://wccftech.com/epic-games-store-epic-games-launcher-ground-up-rebuild-roadmap/
• Crime Boss: Rockay City Hits 1M Copies Sold and Celebrates Two-Year Steam Anniversary with a Massive 2.0 Update: https://wccftech.com/crime-boss-rockay-city-1m-copies-sold-2-0-update/

Game News Round-Up - 18th June 2026

Sources:

• Fortnite Is Getting Over 30 New Gaming Collabs in 2026 (Sonic, Vampire Survivors & More): https://www.vice.com/en/article/fortnite-is-getting-over-30-new-gaming-collabs-in-2026-sonic-vampire-survivors-more/
• Treyarch and Iron Galaxy are Bringing Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 to PS5. The ports are expected to release in July: https://wccftech.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-black-ops-2-ps5-ports-treyarch-iron-galaxy/
• Rockstar Games announces free "next-gen" upgrades for any PS4 version and digital (only) Xbox One versions of Grand Theft Auto V: https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/517k8ak75ao327/the-next-big-score?utm_source=discord&utm_medium=o_social&utm_campaign=gtao_announcement_kch-20260617
• Xbox Announces Gamescom Presence and Fanfest Event in Cologne: https://x.com/XBOX/status/2067231219608096990
• Epic reveals details about Unreal Engine 6 Plans: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/epic-reveals-unreal-engine-6-is-integrating-ai-models-so-developers-can-reduce-tedious-work/
• OtherSide Entertainment lays off 17 staff following game cancellation (project codename Argos): https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/otherside-entertainment-lays-off-17-staff-following-game-cancellation
• Epic announces Lore, open source version control for games: https://www.phoronix.com/news/Epic-Games-Lore-VCS
• Co-Founder of 3D Realms, George Broussard, claims that redundancies at Microsoft owned Zenimax have begun: https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2026/06/17/report-redundancies-at-microsoft-owned-zenimax-have-begun/

Game News Round-Up - 17th June 2026

Sources:

• Twisted Metal TV show casts Mark Hamill as Pope Charlie Kane: https://www.eurogamer.net/twisted-metal-season-three-mark-hamill
• Persona 4 Revival English voice cast announced: https://www.gematsu.com/2026/06/persona-4-revival-english-voice-cast-announced
• Hellraiser: Revival is releasing October 8th: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/saber-open-the-hellraiser-revival-release-date-box-and-show-its-coming-in-october
• Xbox reveals its next six Game Pass titles: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/xbox-reveals-its-next-six-game-pass-titles-including-ea-sports-fc-26-and-call-of-duty-vanguard/
• PlayStation Plus Removing 12 Games In July: https://thephrasemaker.com/2026/06/16/playstation-plus-removing-12-games-in-july-2026/
• UK video games trade body TIGA appoints nine industry veterans to board of directors: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tiga-appoints-nine-industry-veterans-to-board-of-directors
• The Team Behind Luna Abyss from Kwalee Labs has Been Laid Off, CEO Reveals, Weeks After Luna Abyss’ Launch. 9 people have been affected: https://wccftech.com/luna-abyss-studio-kwalee-labs-entire-team-laid-off/

Game News Round-Up - 16th June 2026

Sources:

• Temporary Fortnite Island (Crunchyroll Anime Island) announced, focusing on the anime Dr. Stone. The island is available between June 19th - June 21st: https://www.ign.com/articles/exclusive-dr-stone-comes-to-fortnite-with-crunchyroll-anime-island
• Dead by Daylight movie adaptation has found its director. Thordur Palsson, known for The Valhalla Murders and horror film The Damned, has been announced to direct the live-action film: https://www.eurogamer.net/dead-by-daylight-film-director-announced
• Dead by Daylight unveils modding support, a visual overhaul, and a Scooby-Doo collaboration, a Terrifier collaboration and more during 10th anniversary celebrations: https://www.eurogamer.net/dead-by-daylight-year-11-roadmap-unveiled
• Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan and chief of staff Louise O’Connor to depart: https://www.gematsu.com/2026/06/xbox-game-studios-head-craig-duncan-and-chief-of-staff-louise-oconnor-to-depart
• Treyarch studio head Mark Gordon to depart after 22 years at the company: https://www.gematsu.com/2026/06/treyarch-studio-head-mark-gordon-to-depart
• Electronic Arts launches EA Advertising, which it says will add brands into games in a ‘non-disruptive’ way: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/electronic-arts-launches-ea-advertising-which-it-says-will-add-brands-into-games-in-a-non-disruptive-way/
• Studios in Microsoft’s Xbox Division Brace for Closures. Certain studios are in active negotiations with Xbox and may be given the chance to go independent / find a buyer. The studios named in the rumors are Compulsion Games, Double Fine and Ninja Theory: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-15/studios-in-microsoft-s-xbox-division-brace-for-closures

Game News Round-Up - 15th June 2026

Sources:

• Grid Legends’ servers will shut down on PlayStation and Xbox on September 11. The shutdown doesn't seem to affect the Switch 2 version yet: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/grid-legends-servers-will-shut-down-on-playstation-and-xbox-later-this-year/
• RPG Maker forum users are racing to archive almost 15 years of valuable resources, as game engine maker announces impending shutdown of the forums. The forums are planned to shutdown 11th December 2026: https://www.eurogamer.net/rpg-maker-forum-shutting-down
• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Says Xbox Must Finally Become a Sustainable Business After 25 Years of Investment: https://wccftech.com/satya-nadella-xbox-sustainable-business/
• Xbox CEO Asha Sharma Reportedly Wants To Speed Up Release Of Next Halo, Fallout and Elder Scrolls Games. Sources Have Also Claimed Spinning Off The Xbox Business Entirely Isn’t Completely Off The Table: https://kotaku.com/xbox-ceo-reportedly-wants-to-speed-up-release-of-new-halo-and-fallout-games-but-spinning-off-the-business-entirely-isnt-completely-off-the-table-2000706047