Xbox Price Hikes, Massive Bungie Layoffs, GTA 6 Pre-Orders Live
Jun 25, 2026 · 26d ago
The gaming industry is facing a turbulent day of massive corporate shifts, hardware price hikes, and highly anticipated pre-orders. While you rush to secure your copies of Grand Theft Auto VI, Microsoft and Sony are making drastic moves behind the scenes. From sudden console price increases to devastating studio layoffs, the reality of modern game development is shifting rapidly.
Xbox Series X/S Prices Increase Globally Amid Studio Restructuring
Microsoft has announced a significant worldwide price increase for its Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles, effective August 1, 2026 . The price of the consoles will rise by $100 USD for 512GB models and $150 USD for 1TB models, with the cheapest Xbox console now starting at $499.99 . Microsoft blamed skyrocketing RAM and storage component costs for the decision, while also confirming that the 2TB Xbox Series X model is being sunsetted .
At the same time, reports of a major "Xbox Reset" are materializing as layoffs begin at South of Midnight developer Compulsion Games . Over a dozen employees have departed the studio this week, following industry rumors of impending Xbox restructuring and potential studio closures . Former Xbox employees have publicly warned current staff to protect themselves, suggesting that these layoffs could be used by studio executives to target critical voices .
Sony Confirms Massive Layoffs at Bungie After Destiny 2 Ends
Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie have confirmed a substantial "reduction in force" that will affect the majority of the Destiny 2 development team and several employees working on the upcoming shooter Marathon . The layoffs come just weeks after the release of Destiny 2's final major content update, with Bungie admitting that the long-running looter-shooter ultimately fell short of commercial expectations .
The restructuring has also resulted in the departure of Bungie's studio head, alongside cuts to supporting teams across Sony's broader PlayStation division . In the wake of the announcement, Bungie community leaders have urged grieving fans not to blame themselves for the game's end . The studio is now shifting its remaining resources to focus on Marathon and other unannounced projects .
Grand Theft Auto VI Pre-Orders Launch With $80 Price Tag and No Disc
Rockstar Games has officially opened pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S ahead of its November 19, 2026 release date . The base game is priced at an unprecedented $79.99 USD, while the Ultimate Edition will cost $99.99 USD . UK players, however, were spared a direct currency conversion hike, with the standard edition listed at £69.99 on the PlayStation Store .
The announcement has sparked intense industry debate after Rockstar confirmed that physical editions of the game will not include a disc, shipping instead with a digital download code in the box . This decision has prompted some retailers to refuse to stock the game entirely, while raising broader concerns about the future of physical media . However, industry insiders claim that a proper physical edition containing a Blu-ray disc is planned to launch later in December . In response to the controversy, Insomniac Games has quickly reassured fans that its upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive Marvel's Wolverine will indeed ship with a physical disc in the box .
Nintendo Switch 2 Drives Physical Sales Growth as New R&D Center Begins Construction
The Nintendo Switch 2 has successfully revitalized the physical games market, helping US physical game spending achieve its first year-on-year increase since 2009, according to data from Circana . The console's strong performance comes alongside major new software releases, including the shadow-drop of Sonic Frontiers - Definitive Edition and the launch of Star Fox on the platform .
To support its ongoing hardware and software development, Nintendo has announced the construction of a massive new research and development facility in Kyoto, Japan . Officially named the Technology Development Center, the 10-floor building represents a ¥121 billion investment and is scheduled for completion in March 2029 .
