Xbox Price Hikes, EA Goes Private, Switch 2 Hits 23 Million
Microsoft’s Xbox price increases become the week’s clearest sign of a tougher console market, while Electronic Arts completes a $55 billion take-private deal led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners . Nintendo provides a sharp counterpoint as Nintendo Switch 2 passes 23 million sales and continues building momentum with major RPGs and platform upgrades
.
Xbox Series X and S Price Hikes Reshape Console Competition
Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S price increases are now in effect across the UK and Europe, with some models rising by as much as 50 percent on August 1, 2026 . The 1TB Xbox Series X with a disc drive now costs £669.99 in the UK and €799.99 in Europe, while the 512GB Xbox Series S rises to £429.99 and €499.99 respectively
.
The Xbox Series S is now more expensive than Nintendo Switch 2 in European markets, creating an awkward value comparison for Microsoft as Sony’s PlayStation 5 maintains its pricing advantage ahead of Grand Theft Auto VI . Sony has indicated that PS5 pricing should remain stable through early 2027, according to the same reporting
.
Microsoft is also reportedly preparing a broader backward-compatibility push that brings selected Xbox 360 games to PC, Xbox PCs, handheld devices, and the next-generation Project Helix console . The leaked plans reportedly span original Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series games, but individual titles would require developer participation rather than gaining support automatically
.
Nintendo Switch 2 Passes 23 Million as Its RPG Library Expands
Nintendo reports that Nintendo Switch 2 sells more than 23 million units in its first 13 months, making it the company’s fastest-selling system . Nintendo also reports a 150.5 percent year-over-year increase in operating profit, with game sales and a US tariff refund contributing to the result
.
The platform’s software pipeline grows across both new releases and upgraded classics. Final Fantasy XIV Online is scheduled to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 4 following an extended gameplay showcase, while Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave receives a dedicated Direct ahead of its worldwide September 17 release .
Mojang confirms that Minecraft arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on October 27 with the Vibrant Visuals upgrade and a digital upgrade path for existing Switch owners . Monolith Soft’s Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Switch 2 Edition is already available and delivers a locked 4K resolution at 60 frames per second while docked, addressing major image-quality and performance problems from the original Switch version
.
Final Fantasy VII Revelation Defines the Remake Trilogy’s Ending
Square Enix positions Final Fantasy VII Revelation, which is due next year, as the definitive final chapter of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy . Director Naoki Hamaguchi says the team is focused on delivering a complete conclusion without leaving unresolved threads for future DLC, while also addressing speculation about connections to Advent Children
.
The reveal already produces a commercial boost for the earlier games. Square Enix reports that Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are selling several times better than internal expectations following Revelation’s Summer Game Fest 2026 announcement .
Grand Theft Auto VI Gets a Netflix-First Extended Look
Rockstar Games announces that Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look premieres on Netflix on August 27 at 3 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. BST . Netflix subscribers receive the preview first, with the same footage reaching YouTube six hours later
.
The platform-exclusive window frustrates some Grand Theft Auto VI fans, who object to needing a Netflix subscription to see the footage before the wider audience . The rollout adds another layer to the console competition already intensified by Microsoft’s European price increases and the anticipation surrounding Rockstar’s next blockbuster
.
Electronic Arts Goes Private as Game Studios Cut Staff
Electronic Arts is now a private company after an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners completes its $55 billion acquisition . The deal includes $20 billion in debt financing, and the Public Investment Fund reportedly owns 93.4 percent of the new company, making the transaction the largest leveraged buyout ever reported
.
The week also brings significant staffing turmoil at studios tied to major licensed games. Refractor Games, the developer of Netflix’s FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition, reportedly loses roughly 85 percent of its staff less than two months after launch, with staff attributing the shutdown to co-owner Delphi Interactive .
Halo Studios faces a separate but related disruption after long-serving contractors depart shortly after Halo: Campaign Evolved launches. Follow-up reporting describes the changes as external contractor shifts rather than confirmed layoffs among full-time employees .
Ubisoft Refreshes Ghost Recon Wildlands While Testing Its Next Game
Ubisoft releases Ghost Recon Wildlands: Last Rites as a free update on PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S . The update adds a linear story mission against La Llorona and the Los Penitentes cult, new customization features, 4K and 60fps support on PS5 and PS5 Pro, and hundreds of previously paid in-game items at no cost
.
The publisher also opens the Ghost Recon Insider Program for closed testing of the next Ghost Recon, described as a tactical action game built around large-scale operations, military storytelling, and the Ghost Unit . Ubisoft further gives away the PC version of Ghost Recon: Future Soldier for one week as part of the franchise’s 25th-anniversary celebration
.
Quake 30th Anniversary Adds Free Dawn of the Machine Campaign
Quake’s 30th-anniversary celebration adds the free Dawn of the Machine campaign to the 2021 enhanced edition on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch . Created by MachineGames with id Software, the expansion contains 19 campaign maps, new enemies and weapons, a new soundtrack, and a Deathmatch map
.
The release gives the classic shooter a substantial new gameplay offering rather than a cosmetic anniversary update, although Dawn of the Machine is not included with the Epic Games Store or GOG versions of Quake .