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Xbox to focus on "efficiency and affordability alongside performance" for next-gen console amid rising hardware costs and innovations in AI
Xbox is prioritizing efficiency and affordability alongside performance for its next-generation console, acknowledging rising hardware costs and advancements in AI. Xbox boss Asha Sharma stated that the industry needs to innovate in affordability and efficiency to provide players with more choices. Sharma also discussed the company's stance on AI, emphasizing a commitment to human-crafted games and avoiding 'soulless AI slop'.
Anthropic Wants Investors to Buy a $30 Trillion Market Story [IPO]
AI company Anthropic is preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) and plans to present investors with a total addressable market (TAM) of over $30 trillion. This figure surpasses SpaceX's previously claimed $28.5 trillion TAM. The article highlights the ambitious nature of these projections compared to current tech industry revenues and suggests focusing on Anthropic's actual quarterly revenue growth and future projections for a more realistic assessment.
Xbox CEO Wants to “Make Sure People Have a Choice” Between Physical and Digital Media
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that the company wants to ensure players have a choice between physical and digital media, acknowledging the love for physical game discs. Microsoft is also introducing a disc-to-digital initiative for Xbox One and Series X titles, allowing players to convert physical copies into digital licenses.
Double Fine Productions Makes Brutal Legend Free for 666 Minutes to Honor Tim Curry
Double Fine Productions is offering Brutal Legend for free on PC for a limited time to honor actor Tim Curry. The promotion lasts for 666 minutes, ending on Thursday, August 27. This comes as Double Fine has regained the rights to its catalog after becoming independent from Microsoft.
Gamescom 2026 live hub: The latest news and previews from the biggest gaming event of the year
This article serves as a live hub for Gamescom 2026, providing updates on news, previews, and announcements from the event. Key reveals include a new Dungeons & Dragons game called Warlock, Rainbow Six Tactics, a new PUBG title set in the '90s, and Nodusfall from Hoyoverse. The Grand Theft Auto 6 showcase, though not officially part of Gamescom, is also highlighted as a major event of the week.
Blue Dragon has been stuck on the Xbox 360 for 20 years, but no longer: a fantastic unofficial PC port unlocks the FPS,…
An unofficial PC port named re:Blue has been released for the Xbox 360 JRPG Blue Dragon, developed by Mistwalker. This fan-made project allows the game to run natively on modern PCs, offering features like 4K resolution, unlocked frame rates, and improved graphics, addressing the long-standing issue of the game being unavailable on current platforms.
Unlike The Big Console Makers, Playdate Is Refunding You Those Tariff Fees
Panic, the maker of the Playdate handheld console, is refunding customers the tariff fees it previously added to the product's price. This move contrasts with larger console manufacturers like Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, who have not passed on similar government refunds to consumers. Panic stated that the tariff fees were not their money to keep and that refunding them felt like the right decision.
Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026: Every Major Announcement, Reveal and Trailer | Invision Game Community
Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 showcased numerous game announcements and trailers, with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered and its new expansion, Songs of the Past, being major surprises. Other highlights included new looks at Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Path of Exile 2, and Gears of War: E-Day, alongside reveals for new titles like Nodus Fall and Afterworld. The event also confirmed release dates for several games targeting 2026 and 2027, indicating a strong lineup for the coming years.
I got my greasy mitts on a host of RTX Spark laptops running, what else, games at Gamescom 2026—and there's a…
At Gamescom 2026, Nvidia showcased new RTX Spark laptops featuring their custom Arm-based SOC with RTX Blackwell GPU cores, promising performance comparable to RTX 5070. Several manufacturers, including Asus and Dell, demonstrated these laptops running games like Arc Raiders and Doom: The Dark Ages at high frame rates, with Nvidia's frame generation technology in use. While specific pricing and configurations remain undisclosed, the article highlights the Asus ProArt P14 and Dell XPS 16 Creator Edition as impressive models, contrasting them with the less compelling Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra.
Xbox responds to Sony physical media debacle with new disc-to-digital feature
Microsoft is introducing a new disc-to-digital feature for Xbox One and Xbox Series X owners, allowing them to claim digital entitlements for supported physical games. This initiative aims to enhance game preservation and provide digital benefits like Xbox Play Anywhere and Cloud Gaming. The feature will initially be available to Xbox Insiders before a wider release, while Microsoft also announced a limited edition Xbox Series X25 console for $899.99.
Xbox announces disc-to-digital conversion plan as part of its "commitment to game preservation," and while it's a good idea the red flags have me scared
Microsoft announced a new disc-to-digital conversion feature for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, allowing players to claim digital entitlements for physical discs. While framed as a commitment to game preservation, concerns are raised about potential licensing issues and a possible shift towards an all-digital future, contrasting with PlayStation's approach.
The Most Expensive Xbox Ever Now Includes Another Special Perk
Microsoft has opened preorders for a 25th-anniversary edition of the Xbox Series X, priced at $900. This limited edition console features a translucent green design, an "Xbox 25" logo, and includes a download code for Halo: Campaign Evolved. The special edition controller is also available for separate purchase.
Following Xbox Breakup, State Of Decay 3 Will Return With A Closed Beta Playtest
Undead Labs announced that State of Decay 3 will begin a closed beta playtest before the end of 2026, with more players gaining access over time. The beta aims to stress-test the game's large map and untethered multiplayer, building on lessons learned from a previous alpha test. The game is currently slated for a 2027 release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Xbox’s Disc-To-Digital Program Officially Announced, And It Sounds Pretty Great
Microsoft has officially announced its Disc-To-Digital program for Xbox, allowing players to digitize their physical game discs for Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles. This feature grants digital benefits like Xbox Play Anywhere and Cloud Gaming, though it is tied to the specific disc and account. The program will exclude Xbox Series S owners and is expected to roll out to Xbox Insiders on August 31st before a wider release.
Xbox announces disc-to-digital program, will begin testing with Xbox Insiders next week
Xbox is launching a new 'disc-to-digital' program that will allow players to claim digital versions of supported physical games they own. The feature will begin testing with Xbox Insiders next week and will include titles for Xbox Series X and Xbox One. This move comes as the industry appears to be shifting towards digital-only distribution.
I've seen the IKEA x Xbox collection at Gamescom, and among some goofier products, there's one handy item I…
The IKEA x Xbox collection, launching October 1, blends IKEA's minimalist design with Xbox's gaming aesthetic. While featuring playful items like a thumbstick stool and D-pad cushion, the collection also includes practical solutions such as a monitor stand with integrated cable management and a side table with hidden storage. IKEA Product Design Developer Philip Dilé stated the goal was to create furniture people genuinely want in their homes, not just accept for gaming needs.
Pre-orders Begin Today for the XBOX 25th Anniversary Collection
Pre-orders have begun for the Xbox 25th Anniversary Collection, which includes a limited edition Xbox Series X console and a special edition controller. The collection celebrates 25 years of Xbox history and comes with a full-game download of Halo: Campaign Evolved. The console launches on November 13, 2026, for $899.99 USD, with pre-orders limited to one per customer.
Rockstar responds to GTA 6 leaks – "This is obviously not how we intended for you to see the game after all this time"
Rockstar Games has responded to the recent Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks, calling them "heartbreaking" and "obviously not how we intended for you to see the game." The developer expressed hope that players will still wait to experience the game for themselves on November 19. Take-Two Interactive is investigating the source of the leaks and has subpoenaed Microsoft, Discord, and X for user data.
Rockstar acknowledge GTA VI leaks ahead of the upcoming Netflix Extended Look
Rockstar Games has acknowledged the recent Grand Theft Auto VI leaks, apologizing for spoilers ahead of an upcoming extended look on Netflix. The company is investigating the source of the leaks and has previously dealt with employees sharing information with trade unions.
Rockstar officially responds to GTA 6 leaks: "This is obviously not how we intended for you to see the game after…
Rockstar Games has officially responded to the recent Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks, calling the situation "heartbreaking" and acknowledging that it's not how they intended players to see the game. The developer expressed regret for the long development time and stated they are determined to exceed player expectations with the upcoming gameplay reveal. Despite the spoilers, Rockstar hopes players will still wait to experience the game for themselves upon its release.
