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Amazon Luna Introduces Its Most Ambitious Feature Yet In A Rough Month For Cloud Gaming
Amazon Luna has launched a new Remote Play feature allowing up to seven users to play games together remotely, regardless of subscription status. This update arrives during a challenging period for cloud gaming, highlighted by Xbox's new monthly hour limits for Game Pass cloud play. Luna also added several new multiplayer and single-player titles to its catalog.
Nintendo of America thanks fans for dealing with tariff-related price hikes by encouraging them to spend more money in a new sale
Nintendo of America announced a "Customer Appreciation Sale", framing it as a promotion made possible by tariff-related refunds. This announcement comes amidst a class action lawsuit where customers claim Nintendo did not pass on these refunds. The company's justification for price increases and the subsequent sale has drawn criticism online, with many questioning the framing of the promotion.
PlayStation Dropping Physint Has Fans Trying To Figure Out What Went Wrong
Sony has reportedly dropped Hideo Kojima's upcoming game Physint, leading to the project being picked up by Xbox and Microsoft for publishing. This decision has drawn criticism from fans and industry observers, who question Sony's strategy after investing in Kojima Productions. Physint, a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid, is now expected to have a longer development cycle.
Free Play Days – EA Sports Madden NFL 27, Borderlands 4, F1 25 2026 Season Edition, Dustborn, and More
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members can play Borderlands 4, F1 25: 2026 Season Edition, Surviving Mars: Relaunched, and CarX Drift Racing Online for free from September 10-13. Dustborn will have a two-hour trial during the same period. EA Sports Madden NFL 27 is also available as a free trial for all Xbox members.
GTA 6 extended reveal caused a surge in PS5 and Xbox Series X sales, analysts say – now imagine the response if…
The extended reveal of Grand Theft Auto 6 on Netflix led to a significant surge in PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S sales in the US and UK. Analysts noted a 14% increase in combined console hardware unit sales in the US following the presentation, though the article speculates that higher console prices and RAM shortages may have limited an even larger sales jump.
Microsoft Flight Simulator Introduces One of the World’s First Business Jets into the Marketplace
Microsoft Flight Simulator has added one of the world's first business jets to its marketplace. This update expands the simulation's offerings for players interested in aviation.
Nintendo’s Latest Sale Is Made Possible By Tariff Refunds It’s Not Giving You
Nintendo of America announced a "Customer Appreciation Sale" offering 30% off games and access, attributing the promotion in part to tariff-related refunds. While Nintendo absorbed most costs, these refunds helped make the sale possible. Unlike Nintendo, the company behind the Playdate handheld, Panic, stated it would pass its own refunds onto customers.
Newzoo: Most established live-service and evergreen titles were flat or down year over year in H1 2026
Newzoo reports that most live-service and evergreen games saw flat or declining year-over-year performance in the first half of 2026, with growth limited to a few titles. Digital revenues declined in Western markets, attributed to free-to-play and annualised premium weakness. Console player growth is projected to increase to 3% in 2026, largely driven by the anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6.
Blizzard must now 'discuss, evaluate, and bargain' its AI usage with its developers
Blizzard Entertainment's union, in partnership with the Communications Workers of America, has secured a new contract that requires the company to discuss and bargain over the implementation of generative AI in the workplace. This landmark agreement, impacting around 1900 workers, also includes wage increases, job protections, and enhanced severance for layoffs, offering a significant victory for labor rights in the gaming industry.
Why Real-Money Casino Games Rarely Come to Xbox Consoles
Real-money casino games are rarely released on Xbox consoles not due to hardware limitations, but due to the complex regulatory and distribution challenges. Satisfying both gambling regulators and Microsoft's store policies, alongside managing location-specific licensing and payment processing, makes native Xbox apps impractical for operators compared to mobile or browser-based distribution. The inherent differences in console commerce and user verification further complicate the integration.
Hideo Kojima spy action game Physint switches publishing allegiance from PlayStation to Xbox, probably increasing the chances it'll hit PC
Hideo Kojima's upcoming action espionage game, Physint, has switched publishers from PlayStation to Xbox. PlayStation initially informed Kojima Productions they planned to cancel the project, leading to a three-month search for a new partner. Xbox will now publish Physint, increasing the likelihood of a PC release, though the move also brings awareness to ongoing boycotts against Microsoft.
Physint goes from PlayStation to Xbox as Sony "unexpectedly" drops Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid…
Xbox has announced it will publish Hideo Kojima's upcoming action-espionage game, Physint, after PlayStation unexpectedly canceled the project. Kojima stated that PlayStation Studios informed him of the cancellation in mid-June, prompting a three-month search for a new partner, which led to the collaboration with Xbox. The article also touches on Sony's recent strategic decisions and Xbox's own challenges.
PlayStation tried to cancel Hideo Kojima's Physint, now Xbox is publishing it
Hideo Kojima's upcoming game, Physint, will now be published by Xbox after PlayStation Studios attempted to cancel the project. Kojima Productions is moving forward with the 'tactical espionage action' title, which Kojima described as "both a game and a movie at the same time."
Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid Spiritual Successor Physint Will Now Be Published by Xbox Instead of Sony
Hideo Kojima's upcoming game Physint, considered a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid, will now be published by Xbox instead of Sony. This partnership also includes the horror game OD and expands to film and television projects.
The Rare SNES game that became Banjo-Kazooie has been preserved thanks to a leaker who wants you to "delete…
A leaker has released the ROM files for Project Dream, a canceled Super Nintendo pirate RPG prototype that served as the basis for Rare's Banjo-Kazooie. The leaker cited concerns about the current state of the game industry, including layoffs, anti-preservation tactics, and Microsoft's management of Rare, as reasons for the release. The leaker also expressed strong negative sentiments towards Microsoft and Sony, urging boycotts.
Almost 1,900 Blizzard workers ratify first union contract with Microsoft
Blizzard Entertainment employees, represented by newly formed unions, have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with parent company Microsoft. The contract, lasting four to five years, includes protections for generative AI use, crediting, remote work, and layoffs, establishing a 60-day notice period for job cuts and 14 months of recall rights. Meanwhile, Activision's subsidiary King has rejected a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish trade unions.
Gears Of War: E-Day Has A Smash Mouth-Inspired Achievement, And That’s Fantastic
Gears of War: E-Day will feature a "HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL STAR…" achievement inspired by Smash Mouth's "All Star," famously used in Shrek. The game is set to release on October 6 for Xbox Series X|S and PC, and will be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. The article also touches on Microsoft's recent studio closures and game cancellations, and mentions a rumored but denied PlayStation 5 version.
Call of Duty introduces a gun skin that you can only see on an Xbox console
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is introducing a gun skin, the 'Inner Circuit' blueprint, that appears differently on Xbox consoles compared to PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. While the weapon performs identically across platforms, the Xbox version features exclusive visual elements tied to the original Xbox's design and branding, a move the article criticizes as confusing platform-specific marketing.
We’ve Never Seen Anything Like This In Call Of Duty Before
Activision has detailed a preorder bonus for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, offering an Inner Circuit M4 weapon blueprint. Xbox preorders will receive a unique translucent green version of the blueprint to celebrate Xbox's 25th anniversary, though all versions are functionally identical. Microsoft, which owns Activision, is also offering a $5 credit to Xbox players purchasing the game on the platform.
Blizzard Workers Win Historic Union Contract That Could Set A New Standard For Game Developers
Blizzard Entertainment employees, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), have secured a historic union contract with Microsoft. The agreement includes workplace flexibility, guaranteed wage increases, AI job automation guardrails, and job-recall rights for laid-off employees. This contract is seen as a potential blueprint for other video game industry unions.
